Haiti Adoption

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Many children in Haiti are waiting for a permanent, loving family.

In Haiti, children waiting for families are typically older than age 5 and have special medical or developmental needs. Holt’s Haiti teams both in country and in the U.S. are highly experienced in the field of adoption and will support you throughout your process — including as you travel to Haiti to complete your adoption. As an organization, Holt has also participated in advocacy efforts to influence best practice in the service of children and families from this region. We will go above and beyond to provide all the support and resources you need, and ensure you feel informed and prepared every step of the way.

Children in Haiti Who Need Families

Most children are 5-13 years old at the time of placement and living in institutions.
Most have medical and developmental special needs.
Children may be HIV positive or have suffered from trauma, abuse or neglect.
Sibling groups are in need of families, especially when at least one sibling is older than 6.
More boys than girls are waiting for families.

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

Parent’s Age

If parents have been married at least five years, only one parent needs to be 30 or older.
If parents are married less than five years, both must be 30-50.
Single applicants must be at least 35.
For both single and married applicants, the upper age limit is 50 years.

Length of Marriage

Applicants must be married for at least five years at the time of application.
Proven cohabitation may be counted towards the length of marriage.
Unmarried applicants with documented cohabitation of at least five years may also be eligible.

Divorce

For married couples or single applicants, one divorce each is accepted.

Children in Family

There is no regulation regarding children already in the home.

Single Applicant

Single women between 35 and 50 years of age are eligible.
Applicants 48+ years of age should contact the Haiti program prior to applying.

Travel

Two trips are required for the Haiti program.
The first trip lasts two weeks and occurs 3-4 weeks after a family or single applicant is matched with a child.
The second trip occurs 12-13 months after the first trip and will last approximately one week.

How Long It Takes

From application through placement, the estimated time frame is approximately 4-5 years.

Additional Information

We encourage interested families to contact Holt to discuss program dynamics, profile of child available and family eligibility.

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 adoption expenses in the foreign country increase substantially after time of application. Families will be notified in writing of any fee increase. Holt International accepts the following for adoption fees: 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 haiti fees pdf

Application, Homestudy & Adoption Fees

Description	Paid To	Fee Type	Amount
Application Fee Due with completed application. Non-refundable.	Holt	U.S. Expenses	$350
Agency Fee 1 Due when Holt approves your application. Non-refundable.	Holt	U.S. Expenses	$5,065
Homestudy Fee* Due before first homestudy visit.	Holt	Homestudy	$2,500 -$2,900
Homestudy Update Fee* (if needed)	Holt	Homestudy	$750
Travel for Home Visits*	Holt	Mileage/Travel	Varies
Agency Fee 2 Due when Holt approves your homestudy. Non-refundable.	Holt	U.S. Expenses	$6,500
Program Fee 1 Due when Holt approves your homestudy. Non- refundable.	Holt	Foreign Country Program Expenses	$2,000
Foreign Country Fee Pass-Through 1 Refundable until tendered to IBESR.	Holt	Translation and Documentation Expenses	$2,743

*If homestudy and post-adoption reporting services are provided by a partner agency where Holt does not have a branch office, fees are estimated as follows:

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 & Post Adoption Reporting Fees

Due when you accept the assignment of a child. In the case of siblings, the Agency Fee 3 will increase by $3,815 per child, and you will be billed for an additional Pass-Through Fee of $9,500 per child as well.

Description	Paid To	Fee Type	Amount
Agency Fee 3 Non-refundable.	Holt	U.S. Expenses	$3,000
Program Fee 2 Non-refundable.	Holt	Foreign Country Program Expenses	$4,335
Foreign Country Fee Pass-Through 2 Refundable until tendered to IBESR.	Holt	Translation & Document Expenses, Care of the Child, Contributions	$12,372
Post Adoption Reports	Holt	Post Adoption Reports	$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	$5,500 – $13,000

Summary of Estimated Fees

Description	Amount
Homestudy	$1,500 – $5,000
U.S. Expenses	$14,600
Foreign Country Program Expenses	$6,335
Care of the Child	$7,200
Translation and Document Expenses	$5,846
Contributions Contributions are not part of the adoption process and no profits are obtained through adoption fees.	$2,069
Post Adoption Reports	$2,500
Third-Party Fees	$1,610 – $6,330
Travel Costs and Accommodations	$5,500 – $13,000
TOTAL	$47,160 – $62,880

Fee Refunds

If for some unforeseen reason you need to withdraw from the adoption process before a child joins your family, Holt’s refund policy is as follows. Pregnancy after child assignment is considered a family cancellation/withdrawal. Any fee refund will be processed within 60 days.

Fee	% of Refund
Application	0%
Agency Fees	0%
Program Fees	0%
Pass-Through Fees	100% refundable until tendered to IBESR
Post Adoption Reporting	100%

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 Haiti

Adoption

The Road that Led to My Son – Haiti Adoption Story

smiling girl adopted from Haiti wearing flamingo swimsuit and green inner tube at the beach

Adoption

A Miracle for Gracie

Adoption

Finding Our Amazing

Adoption

Why International Adoption Is Still Needed

Haiti Adoption FAQs

Since there are many families on the list of approved applicants, waiting for a child referral may be the longest part of the process for your family. Typically, families receive a referral one to two years from when their dossier is submitted to and approved by the central adoption authority in Haiti. Once you are matched with a child, it will take anywhere from 6–12 months to complete rest of process.

See how the process of international adoption works

Vietnam children in orphanage waiting to be adopted

Help Protect International Adoption for Children

Your gift today will help a child be adopted, care for them while they wait, and even ensure that they receive critical post-adoption help for life!

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Start Your Journey in Adoption

Whether you are considering adoption or are ready to apply to adopt, we have many free ways for you to explore our programs or get started.

Request Free Adoption Information

Email [email protected] to connect with one of our adoption specialists.

Adoption Info Meetings

Check out our free adoption information meetings through our branch offices.

Learn more

Apply Online

If you’re ready to start your adoption process, applying online is secure and easy.

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Inquire About Haiti Adoption

Thank you for requesting information on Holt's international adoption programs!

We'll be sending information to your email with more information about adoption. Around the world, so many children are growing up without families to love them and nurture their growth. And so many families are waiting with love to give. It is our mission to bring you together as you consider growing your family and providing a loving home to a child in need. We look forward to assisting you in your adoption journey.