Thailand Adoption

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

In Thailand, children waiting for permanent, loving families are typically 2-3 years old at the time they join their families and have minor to moderate physical or developmental special needs. Most of the children in Holt’s Thailand adoption program spend the first several weeks of their life with their birth mother, and then stay in the nurturing care of a Holt foster family while they wait to join their adoptive family. For more than 45 years, we have worked alongside our in-country partner, Holt Sahathai Foundation (HSF), to guide families through the adoption process. We will work closely with you to anticipate needs, overcome obstacles and support you throughout your journey to welcome a child into your family.

Children in Thailand Who Need Families

Children are typically 2-3 years old at the time of placement.
Children have minor to moderate physical or developmental special needs.
Families must be open to a child of either gender.
Most children stay in nurturing foster families and receive exceptional in-country care while they wait to join their families.
Older children and children with moderate to major special needs may be adopted through a unique process with more flexible family eligibility criteria. Contact our adoption team at [email protected] to learn more.

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 Thailand

Intake for the Thailand standard program is currently closed, and we are not accepting applications. (Exceptions can be made for returning Thai adoptive or Thai heritage families). Holt’s Thailand Special Needs Project is accepting applications.

Parent’s Age

For the standard program, the prospective adoptive mother must be under 40 years old and the prospective adoptive father under 45 at time of application.
When adopting a waiting child, parental age requirements may be more flexible. Contact us at [email protected] for more information.

Length of Marriage

Couples must be married for at least two and a half years before applying.

Divorce

Each applicant may have up to one divorce.
Two prior divorces are accepted on a case-by-case basis for parents adopting children with special needs.

Children in Family

For the standard program, a family may have up to one child already in their home and the child must be at least 2 years old at the time of application.

Single Applicant

Single applicants are considered on a case-by-case basis for waiting children.

Travel

Both parents are required to travel and should expect to spend about two weeks in Thailand.

How Long It Takes

From application to placement, we anticipate the entire process will take approximately 2.5-3 years.

Waiting Child Program

The majority of waiting children are 5 years old or older.
Eligibility requirements around adoptive parents’ ages, family size and length of marriage are flexible for families considering the waiting child program.
Please contact us for more information.

Additional Information

College degree preferred, high school education required.
Body mass index (BMI) cannot exceed 40 for each applicant. (This requirement can be flexible for families adopting a waiting child).
Any applicant with an arrest, medical or mental health history, or BMI between 35-40 must be pre-screened.
For the standard program, families may request the opposite gender of the child already in their home. Otherwise, families must be open to a child of either gender.

Note

Thailand is a Hague Convention country.

Fees for Thailand 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 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 thailand 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 Placement Reporting Fees	Service Provider	Post Placement/Adoption	$1,500 – $2,000
Travel for Home Visits	Service Provider	Mileage/Travel	Varies

Adoption Fee 2

Due when Holt approves your homestudy.

Description	Paid To	Fee Type	Amount
Agency Fee 2	Holt	U.S. Expenses	$6,500
Program Fee 1	Holt	Foreign Country Program Expenses	$2,000

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.

Description	Paid To	Fee Type	Amount
Agency Fee 3	Holt	U.S. Expenses	$3,000
Program Fee 2	Holt	Foreign Country Program Expenses	$5,310
Post Placement Reporting Fees (if Holt provides)	Holt	Post Placement/Adoption Reports	$1,500
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	$5,000 – $10,000

Summary of Estimated Fees

Description	Amount
Homestudy	$1,500 – $5,000
U.S. Expenses	$14,915
Foreign Country Program Expenses	$7,310
Care of the Child	$0
Translation and Documents Expenses	$0
Contributions	$0
Post Placement Reporting Fees	$1,500 – $2,000
Third Party Fees	$1,610 – $6,330
Travel Costs and Accommodations	$5,000 – $10,000
TOTAL	$31,835 – $45,555

Fee Refunds

Agency Fees are non-refundable.
Program Fees are non-refundable
Post Placement Reporting 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]

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Thailand Adoption FAQs

Why do children from Thailand need families through adoption?

As everywhere, children in Thailand are placed for adoption for a variety of reasons. The most common reasons in Thailand, however, include a cultural stigma against single mothers, poverty, family illness and crises such as parent incarceration. Most children are relinquished by their birth parents, though some are left at child caring facilities or in other public places

Who cares for my child during the adoption process?

Most children stay in the care of nurturing, experienced foster families while they wait to join adoptive families. At any given time, between 90-100 children, ages birth-6, live with Holt Sahathai Foundation’s 90 foster families. Waiting children — children who are older or who have more involved special needs — are typically cared for in government-run child care centers.

What does “special needs” mean?

How long does it take to adopt from Thailand?

What are the travel requirements?

Vietnam children in orphanage waiting to be adopted

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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

Click below to complete our inquiry form or email us at [email protected] to connect with one of our adoption specialists.

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Apply Online

Ready to start your adoption journey? The first step is to create a Holt portal account, then submit an application. Click below to log in or create a new portal account. If you’re already in touch with Holt or have worked with Holt previously and do not have a portal login, email [email protected] to access your account!

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