China Adoption

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Adoption from Mainland China Paused

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, recruitment of adoptive families for Holt’s mainland China program is temporarily paused.

Families may still complete a homestudy and submit a dossier, but in an effort to control the spread of COVID-19, China is not allowing foreigners to travel to China. Adoption processing is expected to resume once the pandemic is under better control. During this time, we are encouraging families to explore our two other adoption programs in the China region — Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Mainland China Adoption Program

Due to COVID-19, adoption processing from mainland China is temporarily paused.

China Adoption Info

Hong Kong Adoption Program

The Hong Kong program needs loving, permanent families for boys and girls, ages 1-15, with special needs.

Hong Kong Adoption Info

Taiwan Adoption Program

Children in the Taiwan program with varying levels of special needs, ages 2-15, are waiting for families.

TAiwan Adoption Info

Children in China Who Need Families

The China program matches girls and boys with moderate to complex special needs.
Children without identified special needs or who have mild correctible conditions are adopted via in-country adoption in China. As a result, children who fit this profile are no longer matched with families via international adoption.
Children ages 4-15 are waiting for families.
Older children and those with more involved special needs are featured on our waiting child photolisting.
Waiting children can be matched with families who have an approved homestudy.
We rarely see biological siblings from China.
Families may not adopt two unrelated children at the same time.

Meet the children waiting for a family

To preserve children’s confidentiality, you will be asked to log in or sign up before you access the waiting child photolisting.

Waiting Child Photolisting

Eligibility Requirements & Fees

Eligibility Requirements to Adopt from China

Parent’s Age

Both parents must be at least 30 years of age at the time of dossier submission.
There can be up to a 50-year age difference between the child and the younger spouse.

Length of Marriage

Couples must be married at least two years at the time of dossier submission.
If either spouse has two divorces, the minimum length for the current marriage is five years.
Cohabitation can be included in the total length of the relationship.

Divorce

No more than two divorces per spouse.

Children in Family

Families can have up to five children under the age of 18 in the home.
The youngest child in the home must be at least 3 years of age at the time of dossier submission.

Single Applicant

Only single women may apply.
Single applicants must be at least 30 years old at the time of dossier submission.
There can be up to a 45-year age difference between the child and the applicant.
Single applicants may have up to two children under the age of 18 in the home, and the youngest child must be at least 3 at the time of dossier submission.
The minimum annual income is $30,000 plus $10,000 for each child currently in the home.
The minimum net worth for singles is $100,000.
There are additional requirements for single applicants who live with a male partner.
Single applicants will be required to have a companion when traveling to China.

Travel

At least one parent is required to travel to China, although travel by both parents is strongly encouraged.
The average trip length is 14 days.
Solo spouse travelers and single applicant travelers are required to have a traveling companion.

How Long It Takes

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the temporary pause in adoption processing, it is not possible to predict the amount of time an adoption from China may take.
The information below pertains to the process prior to the pandemic and will be updated once adoption processing is able to resume.
For a waiting child who is older or has more involved special needs, the process takes about 12 months from application to placement.
For younger children with manageable/correctable conditions, most families are currently completing the process in about two years.
Due to recent changes in China, we expect this time frame to expand in the coming year.
Families need to be as flexible as possible in terms of age, gender and special needs to receive a referral in a reasonable period of time.
Time frames are subject to change and we will keep you informed on a monthly basis as you make your way through the adoption process.

Waiting Child Program

Many children who are older or have more involved special needs appear on Holt’s China waiting child photolisting.
Families may request files for waiting children, but they may not be matched until they have an approved homestudy.

Additional Information

Minimum of a high school diploma or GED is required for both parents.
China requires a minimum annual income of $30,000 plus $10,000 for each child currently in the home, and a net worth of $80,000 for couples and $100,000 for singles.
Body mass index (BMI) cannot exceed 40 for each applicant.
If one spouse is healthy, China is open to a chronic, well-controlled medical condition in the other spouse.
For skin, thyroid, breast or testicular cancer, the applicant must be cancer-free for at least three years.
For other types of cancer, the applicant must be cancer-free for at least five years.
China is open to one or both applicants with a well-controlled mental health condition, such as anxiety or depression, with a positive mental health letter.
For families coming back into the process, the soonest they can submit a dossier or LOI for another child is 12 months after the last adoption was registered.
Homestudies for China MUST be done by a Hague- or COA-accredited agency.
You can find a list of accredited homestudy agencies in your state on our homestudy page.

Fees for China Adoption

We are open and transparent about our fees and want you to be aware of all potential costs involved in an adoption, including third-party costs and travel.

Holt is a Christian, private, nonprofit, licensed and accredited child welfare and family service organization. Our adoption work is entirely financed through adoption fees and donations. It is not government subsidized. We believe that children are the highest priority, and we want as many children as possible to have families. To that end, we strive to keep our fees within a reasonable range. All fees are subject to change and are charged at the rate that is current at time of billing. Holt may increase fees if Holt’s direct costs for providing a service increase substantially after time of application. Families will be notified in writing of any fee increase. Holt International accepts the following for adoption fees: personal check, cashier’s check or money order. If you would like to pay by credit card, there will be a 3% convenience fee added to your total. Fees due upon invoice.

Download China fees pdf

Application

Due with completed application. This is a non-refundable fee.

Description	Paid To	Fee Type	Amount
Application Fee	Holt	U.S. Expenses	$350

Adoption Fee 1

Due when Holt approves your application.

Description	Paid To	Fee Type	Amount
Agency Fee 1	Holt	U.S. Expenses	$5,065

Homestudy Assessment (Holt branch office states only)

Due before your first homestudy visit. Find out if your state has a Holt branch office.

Description	Paid To	Fee Type	Amount
Homestudy Fee	Holt	Homestudy	$2,500 – $2,900
Homestudy Update Fee (if needed)	Holt	Homestudy	$750
Travel for Home Visits (if Holt provides)	Holt	Mileage/Travel	Varies

Homestudy Assessment/Post Adoption Reporting Fees (non-Holt branch office states)

Description	Paid To	Fee Type	Amount
Homestudy Fee	Service Provider	Homestudy	$1,500 – $5,000
Homestudy Update Fee (if needed)	Service Provider	Homestudy	$250 – $1,000
Post Adoption Reporting Fees	Service Provider	Post Placement/Adoption	$1,500 – $2,000
Travel for Home Visits	Service Provider	Mileage/Travel	Varies

Adoption Fee 2 & Document Processing Service (optional)

Due when Holt approves your homestudy.

Description	Paid To	Fee Type	Amount
Agency Fee 2	Holt	U.S. Expenses	$6,500
Foreign Country Fee 1 — Pass-Through to CCCWA	Holt	Translation and Documentation Expenses	$1,240
Document Processing Service (Optional – Families may elect to have Holt staff process their dossier documents for an additional fee)	Holt	Translation and Documentation Expenses	$750 (optional)

Adoption Fee 3 & Post Adoption Reporting Fees

Due when you accept the assignment of a child. In the case of siblings, Agency Fee 3 is increased by $3,815 per child and Foreign Country Fees 1 and 2, and Post Adoption Report Processing Fee are charged per child.

Description	Paid To	Fee Type	Amount
Agency Fee 3	Holt	U.S. Expenses	$3,000
Program Fee 1	Holt	Foreign Country Program Expenses	$2,000
Foreign Country Fee 2 – Pass Through includes In-Country Legal and Document expenses ($2,182) and Post Adoption Report Processing Fee ($900)	Holt	Translation and Documentation Expenses	$3,082
Post Adoption Reporting Fees (if Holt provides)	Holt	Post Placement/Adoption Reports	$2,000 – $2,500
Travel for Home Visits (if Holt provides)	Holt	Mileage/Travel	Varies

Additional Fees to Anticipate

Description	Paid To	Fee Type	Amount
USCIS	USCIS	Third Party	$860 – $1,330
Adoption Education Classes	Varies	Third Party	$150 – $500
Psychological Exam	Provider	Third Party	$250 – $2,500
Dossier Preparation	Varies	Third Party	$100 – $1,000
Pre-Adoption Medical Review of Child Material	Provider	Third Party	$250 – $1,000
Airfare, Lodging, Meals & Transportation	Provider	Mileage/Travel	$8,000 – $10,000

Summary of Estimated Fees

Description	Amount
Homestudy	$1,500 – $5,000
U.S. Expenses	$14,915
Foreign Country Program Expenses	$2,000
Care of the Child	$0
Translation and Documents Expenses	$4,322 – $5,072
Contributions	$0
Post Adoption Reporting Fees	$2,000 – $2,500
Third Party Fees	$1,610 – $6,330
Travel Costs and Accommodations	$8,000 – $10,000
TOTAL	$34,347 – $45,817

Fee Refunds

Agency Fees are non-refundable.
Program Fees are non-refundable
Pass Through – 100% refundable until tendered to CCCWA
Post Placement Reporting and Processing Fees are refundable if not required

Any fee refund will be processed within 60 days.

Financial Assistance for Adoption

Holt believes finances should not stop a child from having a loving family. Although many resources exist to help adoptive families offset the cost of adoption, it’s not always clear where to start looking or what opportunities are best suited for your family. To help you consider all your options, Holt provides an outline of financial assistance, as well as a list of resources categorized by type.

Financing Your Adoption

couple sitting at home viewing virtual adoption financing webinar on their laptop

Need help funding your adoption?

Families adopting through Holt receive free, professional guidance and support from a one-on-one finance coach throughout their adoption process. Even if you’re just considering adoption, email us to set up your first consultation today!

email [email protected]

Stories About Adoption from China

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In Good Hands | A China Adoption Travel Thank You Message

China Adoption FAQs

Can singles adopt?

Can I select my child’s gender?

Do all children from China who need families have special needs?

Yes. The majority of children in China waiting for families have some sort of medical or developmental special need. This is due to a number of factors. Namely, in recent years, China has eased their one-child-per-family policy, causing fewer families to abandon children. With China’s growing economy, Chinese families also now have greater resources to care for their children — another factor that has contributed to fewer overall cases of child abandonment. In-country adoption is also becoming increasingly common, allowing for children — primarily healthy infants — to join loving adoptive families in China before being considered for international adoption.

However, many families are still unable to care for a child with special needs, leaving many children with special needs waiting for a loving adoptive family through international adoption. When applying, families determine their openness to age, gender and types of special needs.

Nearly half of the children Holt places from China have conditions that can either be corrected with surgery or managed with treatment, such as:

Cleft lip and palate
Orthopedic issues like limb differences or clubfoot
Heart defects requiring less-involved surgery
Atresias, such as ear atresia or anal atresia
Prematurity/low birth weight with accompanying developmental delays or medical issues
Skin conditions such as birthmarks, angiomas or removable tumors
Developmental or speech delays

Families who are open to more involved special needs may be matched with a child with these types of conditions:

Complex heart defects
Cerebral palsy
Spina bifida
HIV
Hydrocephalus
Urogenital abnormalities
Thalassemia requiring regular blood transfusions
Vision or hearing loss
Dwarfism
Albinism
Down syndrome

How long does it take to adopt from China?

Should I search for a child online and then work with whatever agency is assigned to that child?

This approach doesn’t work out for most families and can actually be counterproductive. Not all children waiting for adoptive families have online profiles, so you are only seeing a very limited number of children in need of a family when you browse various China agency photolistings. In fact, most of the children with more minor special needs never appear on an agency photolisting, and per China’s requirement, these children can only be matched with a family who has already sent their dossier to China. Your options will be broader and your process faster if you select an agency and begin your homestudy and dossier paperwork before identifying a child you wish to adopt. Families cannot be matched with a child or have a child’s file held for them without an approved homestudy. If you see a child online for whom you would like to be considered to adopt but have yet to start the process with that agency, there may be other families with the agency who have begun or completed paperwork, which allows them to move forward with the matching process.

Are all children eligible to adopt through Holt on the China photolisting?

Only children who need extra help finding families — often older children or children with more involved needs — have online profiles posted for families to browse on their own. Children with more manageable special needs are matched directly with families. If you are interested in adopting a younger child or a child with less significant special needs, the best thing you can do is to start the process and submit a dossier so that you are eligible for a referral of a child with this profile.

Vietnam children in orphanage waiting to be adopted

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