Russia Adoption Overview

What's Involved in Adopting a Child From Russia

The children available for adoption from Russia are orphans (either through the death of their birthparents or because their birthparents abandoned them) cared for in the governmental orphanage system. All Russian adoptions are processed through the Russian Ministry of Education (the government bureau overseeing the orphanages). Contrary to the stereotype, not all Russian children available for adoption are Caucasian looking. In fact, Russia is a melting pot of ethnicities, in much the same way that the U.S. is a cultural melting pot. The children available for adoption include a variety of ethnicities such as Asian, Gypsy, Mediterranean, and Caucasian.

All children must have been listed in the Russian government's database of children without parental presence for at least six months. Children of all ages, including sibling groups, are in the database, however the U.S. authorities require that the child be under the age of 16 at the time the visa petition is filed. Your agency must be accredited by the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation. [Ed.]

Two trips are necessary to adopt a child from Russia. First, the adoptive parents travel to Russia to meet their child and to apply for a court date. The parents can return to the United States after applying for a court date. However, their prospective adoptive child must remain in Russia during this time. Adoptive parents must travel to Russia a second time to attend the court hearing. After the court hearing, the parents will receive the adoption certificate and a new birth certificate showing the child's new name, and the adoptive parents as the child's parents.

In a Nutshell

Children Available: Healthy children (both boys and girls), 10 months old and older. Special needs children are also available for adoption from Russia. Contrary to popular stereotypes, Russian children are from a variety of ethnicities including Caucasian, Asian, Gypsy, and Mediterranean.

Parent Requirements: Married couples, single men, and single women may adopt from Russia. Parents must be at least 16 years older than the child to be adopted.

Travel Requirements: Two trips are usually required for both parents. The first trip is a one-week stay in Russia; the second trip requires a two- to three-week stay.

Time Frame: Child referral usually happens three to six months after your dossier and supporting documents are received in Russia. However, it may take longer to get a referral for a healthy girl under six months of age.

Number of Children Adopted by Americans in 2003: 5209

Additional Information: