International Adoption Programs Open to Single Parents

by Pam Connell | More from this Blogger

29 Oct 2007 09:11 PM

As I mentioned in my last blogs, U.S. adoptions are open to single men and single women. In international adoption, two of the more well-known countries with adoption programs welcoming single parents have had big changes in their adoption programs recently. China has announced that it will no longer be open to single parents. Guatemalan adoptions are in flux as we wait to see whether Guatemala will comply with the Hague Convention on International Adoption. If it does not, adoptions to the U.S. (a signee of the Hague document) will cease. Although there is hope that adoptions currently in progress will be completed, most agencies are not accepting new applications until the situation is resolved.

It should be noted that many countries will make exceptions for children who are hard to place because of age or special medical or developmental needs. Also, while some countries, such as China and Korea, state that they are "not open to single parents", others countries, such as Kazakhstan, state that they are "not currently accepting applications from single parents". Perhaps this implies that they may be open to single parents in the future if the need for adoptive parents increases.

The following countries have programs available to single parents. This information is a summary of information from websites and recent publications of Holt International, World Association for Children and Parents (WACAP) and Children's Home Society and Family Services. Programs do change and people should contact adoption agencies for the latest information. If possible, speak to the program director for the region you are interested in adopting from as well as the coordinator of the "Waiting Child" program about possibilities for your specific situation.

Many countries are open to single women applicants but not single men. I have conflicting information on Haiti and India, some indicating singles of either gender and some indicating single women only. I have one source saying single men may adopt from Vietnam and the Philippines; other agencies' literature indicates that Vietnam will accept single men as well as single women "on a case-by-case basis". U.S. adoptions are open to either men or women.

The following countries have indicated they are open to single parents (again, check with your agency for confirmation. Ask how many single parents have in fact adopted from these countries.).

The following countries are open to single women: Ethiopia, Haiti, India (conflicting information; different regions have different regulations), Kazakhstan (conflicting information; may be open to singles depending on need), Kyrgyzstan, Russia, the Philippines (singles should be open to children with medical needs or over age five), the United States, and Vietnam.

Please see these related blogs:

Types of Adoption Part Three: International Adoption

Different Countries have Different Criteria for Adoption

Learn more about Pam Connell

Pam Connell is a mother of three by both birth and adoption. She has worked in education, child care, social services, ministry and journalism.

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Pam Connell (2658) 30 Oct 2007 04:31 PM

Additional countries open to singles are: Colombia (single women may adopt children over 7 years; single men may adopt boys over 9 years), and Peru (single women can adopt children over 5 years; single men can adopt boys over 9 years).