Holt International Adoption Agency
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   Click on a country name to view that countries' adoption criteria. These are the current requirements and practices of the sending country as best understood or interpreted by Holt International and its affiliate/associate agencies.


ethiopia link to nepal adoption criteria
Bulgaria
Children Available
• 2 to 6 years at time of placement.
• Families needed for boys.
Parent's Age
• Minimum 25 years old.
• No more than 45 years age difference between parents and child.
Length of Marriage
Minimum 2 years of marriage.
Divorce
Up to two divorces per spouse considered on a case by case basis.
Children in Family
Up to 4 children
Single Applicant
• Single women 30 - 50 years old.
• Contact Holt before applying.
Travel in Country
• Two trips.
• First trip is approximately one week.
• Second trip, which occurs approximately 3-5 months after first trip, is 2 weeks.
• Escort available for second trip.
How Long it Takes
• Application to placement: approximately 18 - 24 months.
• New Program, time frames will vary.
Waiting Child Program
Same as country guidelines.
Additional Information
Back to the map at the top

China
Children Available
Standard Process: Girls 8-36 months at time of placement.
Special Needs Process: Girls and Boys 8 months-7 years at time of placement.
• Children with minor to moderate health conditions.
• Families needed for boys.
Parent's Age
Standard Prcoess:Couples 30-49.
• If both spouses are over 45, child referrals tend to be over 18 months, depending on the age of available children.
Special Needs Process:Couples 30-54.
Length of Marriage
• Minimum 2 years marriage.
• Minimum 5 years if previously married.
Divorce
Up to 2 divorces per spouse considered on a case-by-case basis.
Children in Family
Standard Prcoess:Up to 4 children in a home.
• Only childless couples considered for twins.
Special Needs Process:May be flexible regarding number of children in the home.
Single Applicant
Single Applicants not accepted.
Travel in Country
Required for one parent; travel by both parents strongly encouraged; 12 days average
How Long it Takes
Standard Process:Approx 31**months from dossier sent to placement (Application through placement is 35-40 months).
Special Needs Process:12-18 months from application through placement.
Waiting Child Program
• Open to couples 30-54.
• Boys and girls 8 months to 6 years available.
• Families may select gender.
• Families needed for boys.
• Expedited process.
• May be flexible regarding children in the home.
Additional Information
Income requirements: $30,000 minimum annual income plus an additional $10,000 per child currently in the home (not including the child to be adopted), and minimum $80,000 net worth (total assets-total liabilities) Primarily girls available for standard process. Expedited process for parents of Chinese heritage
Learn more about Holt's work in the China.
Note
*Toddlers 24 months or older referred through the standard process are likely to have a minor special health need.
**Wait times are expanding. While we cannot predict how long it will take for the CCAA to clear the backlog of families with dossiers in China, once it clears, we expect processing time to shorten for new families coming into the process. Please contact Holt directly for more information regarding the wait.
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Ethiopia
Children Available
Boys and girls 6 months to 7 years at time of placement.
Parent's Age
• Couples 25-44.
• Couples with husband over 45 and wife under 45 accepted on a case-by-case basis.
Length of Marriage
Minimum 2 years of marriage.
Children in Family
Up to 5 children in the home.
Single Applicant
Single applicants not accepted.
Travel in Country
• Required for both parents.
• One trip approximately 10 days.
How Long it Takes
• Application through placement: approximately 12-18 months.
• As a new program, this timeframe may vary.
Waiting Child Program
Processing times and flexibility regarding family eligibility guidelines for waiting children has yet to be determined.
Additional Information
As this is a new program, families should be open to potential delays and unknowns.
Learn more about Holt's work in the Ethiopia.
Note
Childless couples and families who already have a girl must be open to a child of either gender.
Back to the map at the top

Haiti
Children Available
24 months to 7 years at time of placement.
Parent's Age
• Couples 35-50.
• Contact Haiti program if one applicant is over 50 years old.
Length of Marriage
Minimum 5 years marriage.
Divorce
• One divorce each accepted.
• More than one divorce each considered on a case by case basic.
Children in Family
• Childless couples preferred.
• If you have children of one gender, you can adopt the opposite gender (but not the same).
• Families with no more than 2 children accepted.
Single Applicant
• Single women 35 – 50 years old accepted.
• Contact the Haiti program before applying.
Travel in Country
• Family travel within Haiti currently not encouraged due to political instability.
• Two short trips now recommended--a 3 day trip to file for child's via with DHS and then an airport pick-up of child 2-3 weeks later.
How Long it Takes
Application through placement: 28+ months average.
Waiting Child Program
Waiting children from Haiti are often physically healthy, older, or part of a sibling group.
Additional Information
• Families should be open to delays and unknowns.
• Often good child & birth family information is available.
• Children are very well cared for in Holt-sponsored care.

Learn more about Holt's work in the Haiti.
Back to the map at the top

India
Children Available
18+ months for Indian passport/OCI holders.
Parent's Age
• Minimum age 30.
• Maximum of 85 years difference between combined age of parents and child.
• No more than 45 years between older parent and child.
Length of Marriage
5 years, minimum 3 years at application when marriage is strong.
Divorce
1-2 divorces total for applicants.
Children in Family
Up to four children in or out of the home.
Single Applicant
• Single applicants 30-45 on a case-by-case basis.
• Contact the India program before applying.
Travel in Country
8-11 days for one parent.
How Long it Takes
Application through placement: 21-24 months.
Waiting Child Program
• May be flexible regarding number of children already in the home.
• Families needed for boys.
• Parents may be up to 55 for child with special needs above 6 years.
• Children under 30 months old may be available.
Additional Information
Families should be open to delays, unknowns and potential changes in process.
Learn more about Holt's work in the India.
Back to the map at the top

Korea
Children Available
9 months to 20 months at time of placement.
Parent's Age
• Couples 25-42.
• No more than 10 years age difference between husband and wife.
• Branch office states: Parents through age 42 at time of application may apply for a child with no known special health needs.
Length of Marriage
Minimum 3 years.
Divorce
1-2 divorces total for applicants.
Children in Family
Up to 4.
Single Applicant
Single applicants not accepted.
Travel in Country
Optional (escorts available); 3 business days -- one or both parents may travel.
How Long it Takes
Due to new regulations, timeframes are lengthening. Timeframe from application through placement: 21-24 months
Waiting Child Program
• Family’s residence accepted in an additional 18 states (see below).
• Children up to 3 years and occasionally up to 6 years with special needs may be available.
• If home study completed, assignment process may be quicker; travel processing time frame remains the same.
Additional Information
• Families must be open to a child of either gender unless:Family is applying for a Waiting Child.
• Family may request a girl if parents are Korean-American or family has 2 or more boys and no girls.

Learn more about Holt's work in the Korea.
Note
The Korean government generally requires Holt to work directly with prospective parents. Holt can place Korean children in the following states: Arkansas, California, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, Oregon, South Dakota and Texas.Holt may place waiting Korean children with special needs (or healthy children to Korean-American parents) in the following States: Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Hawaii, Kentucky, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Washington DC, West Virginia and Wyoming.
Back to the map at the top

Nepal
Children Available
1-5 years old at time of placement.
Parent's Age
• 30-55 years old.
• Parents 30-45 may request a child as young as possible.
• Parents 45-50 must be open to a child 1 year old or older.
• Parents 50-55 must be open to a child 2 years old or older.
Length of Marriage
Minimum 4 years marriage.
Divorce
1 divorce each accepted.
Children in Family
• Childless couples may request a child of either gender.
• Couples with one child may request a child of the opposite gender.
• Couples with two children of the same gender may request a child of the opposite gender.
• Couples with three or more children of the same gender considered on a case-by-case basis.
Single Applicant
• Single women 35-55 years old.
• Contact Holt before applying.
Travel in Country
One trip required for both parents for 2 to 3 weeks.
How Long it Takes
Application through placement: 12-18 months*
Additional Information
Parents must own their own home.
Note
*New program - time frames will vary.
Back to the map at the top

Philippines
Children Available
• 15 months to five years.
• The majority 15-24 months at time of placement.
• Families must be open to a child of either gender, unless adopting from the Waiting Child program.
Parent's Age
• Minimum age is 27.
• Matches are based on primary caregiver's age at time dossier is submitted.
• Parents under age 43 can be considered for a child ages 0-2 years, Parents 43-49 can be considered for children 3-4 years, Parents over age 50 can be considered on a case by case basis for children 5+ years.
Length of Marriage
• Minimum 3 years.
• Number of years of common-law marriage can be accepted, but parents must be legally married for at least 1 year.
Divorce
1 divorce each accepted.
Children in Family
• Childless couples are given priority.
• Up to 3 children accepted.
• 4 children considered on a case-by-case basis.
• Please contact country program prior to applying.
Single Applicant
Single women considered for child 7+ years old through the Waiting Child program.
Travel in Country
Required for one parent; minimum 5 days.
How Long it Takes
Application through placement: 24-28 months average.
Waiting Child Program
• Families with 4+ children may qualify on a case-by-case basis.
• Families are able to select gender.
• Single women considered for child 5+ years old.
Additional Information
Filipino-American families are given priority for child placement, thus reducing timeframe.
Learn more about Holt's work in the Philippines.
Back to the map at the top

Thailand
Children Available
• 14 months to 2 years at time of placement.
• Children over 2 years may have some special needs.
Parent's Age
• Minimum 25 years.
• Up to 40 years between younger parent and child.
• Couples with one person over 50 accepted on a case-by-case basis.
Length of Marriage
Minimum 3 years.
Divorce
1 divorce each accepted.
Children in Family
• Up to 2; flexible for older or special needs children and for families who have previously adopted Thai children.
• Youngest child in home should be at least 2 years old at time of application.
Single Applicant
Not currently accepting applications from singles.
Travel in Country
Required for both parents; 8-10 days.
How Long it Takes
Application through placement: 24-30 months.
Waiting Child Program
Number of children in family may be flexible.
Additional Information
No new applications are being accepted at this time, unless family has adopted from Thailand previously.
Childless couples and families who already have a girl must be open to a child of either gender.
• Any medical issue will require pre-approve by Thailand government.
• Please contact Thailand program before applying.

Learn more about Holt's work in the Thailand.
Back to the map at the top

Ukraine
Children Available
Only accepting applications for families open to children from the Waiting Child program (children with special health needs, older children, and sibling groups).
Parent's Age
• Couples 30 - 55 years.
• Up to 45 years age difference between parent and child.
Length of Marriage
Minimum 2 years marriage, exceptions considered on a case by case basis.
Divorce
Up to 2 divorces each considered on a case by case basis.
Children in Family
Up to 4 children in home.
Single Applicant
Not accepting applications from singles.
Travel in Country
One trip for both parents required for 4-6 weeks.
How Long it Takes
Application through placement: estimated 12+ months.
Waiting Child Program
May be flexible regarding number of children at home.
Additional Information
• At this time, Holt is accepting applications only for families interested in children 36 months and older.
• As this is a new program, families should be open to potential delays and unknowns.

Learn more about Holt's work in the Ukraine.
Note
New Program - timeframes may vary.
Back to the map at the top

Vietnam
Children Available
• 1-5 years at time of placement.
• Majority are 12-24 months at time of placement.
Parent's Age
• Minimum 25 years old.
• Parents over age 50 considered on case-by-case basis.
Length of Marriage
Minimum 2 years.
Divorce
• 2 divorces each accepted.
• More than 2 on a case-by-case basis.
Children in Family
Up to 5.
Single Applicant
Not currently accepting applications from singles.
Travel in Country
One trip is required for both parents for 3 weeks.
How Long it Takes
Application through placement: 24-30 months.
Waiting Child Program
• Number of children in family may be flexible.
• Flexibility in parents ages.
• Singles up to age 50 accepted on a case-by-case basis.
• Good developmental information from care centers.
Additional Information
No new applications are being accepted at this time.
Families must be open to either gender.

Learn more about Holt's work in the Vietnam.
Back to the map at the top


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