International Adoption » Ukraine
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Ukraine is on hold for new applications
NEW INFORMATION on the Ukraine:
"Information received from the Embassy of Ukraine outlines the amendments in the Procedure for foreign adoptions adopted by the Ukrainian Cabinet of Minister's Decree No. 1377 of August 28, 2003 which became effective on January 1, 2004. This information can be found on the consular section of the Ukraine Embassy's web-page at http://www.infoukes.com/ukremb/ under consular issues in the section "other services" and is entitled "Adoption of Children Who are Citizens of Ukraine and Their Consular Registration."
Please read the section on "Effectuating the supervision to preserve the rights of children adopted by foreigners." This notes that there is a new requirement for annual post placement reports for the first three years of the child's adoption and then once every three years thereeafter until the child reaches the age of 18. The adoptive parents also agree to have the child retain Ukrainian citizenship until age 18.
Available Children
All children available for adoption in Ukraine live in orphanages. Both boys and girls are available. Only children who have been registered in the national databank for one year may be adopted internationally. All children will be at least 12 months of age at the time of proposal, and are usually over 15 months of age upon adoption finalization. Many of the children have some delays in their psychomotor development due to lack of adequate stimulation and nutrition.
Adoptive Parents
Adoptive Parents must be at least 25 years old, at least 15 years older than the child, and a maximum of 45 years older than the child they would like to adopt. Couples must be married. No single applicants or same sex couples are accepted.
The Adoption Process
No proposal information about the child is provided until the adoptive parents are in the Ukraine. Child referral information comes directly from the Ukrainian National Centre for Child Adoption in Kiev, and consists of a report covering birth parents' and child's medical, social and physical history. The medical will also include test results for a range of genetic and contagious conditions and the child's vaccination report, along with photos. Parents travel to the child's orphanage to meet the child and confirm selection before formally accepting the proposal. Parents must attend a court hearing in Ukraine to finalize the adoption. Parents can see their child every day during their stay in the Ukraine.
Required Time to Process the Adoption
The usual stay in the Ukraine to complete the adoption is five to six weeks.
Post Placement Reports
Post placement reports are required every year for the first three years after the adoption finalization, and then every three years after until the child reaches the age of 18.
Adoptions from Ukraine are completed with the assistance of an experienced facilitator from CARC.