Adopt from Philippines
(Last updated 8/08)

The Children
Children available for adoption in the Philippines are generally 15 months of age and older. Children are generally cared for in orphanages with a good ratio of caregivers to babies.

Parent Requirements
Adoptive parents seeking to adopt infants must be between the ages of 27-45 for the youngest possible child. Couples must be married for at least three years, and at least five years if one or both of the spouses have previously been divorced. Parents may have up to 3 other children already in their household. Although it is not a requirement, the Philippines program has a strong preference for applicants who plan to raise their children in a religious tradition.

Single women may adopt children over the age of 7. Single applicants may be no more than 47 years older than the child they wish to adopt. Parents must be open to either gender. The Philippines will not allow the adoption of a child by a gay or lesbian person.

The Process
A typical Filipino adoption takes 12-20 months from application approval by the Intercountry Adoption Board of the Philippines to referral. (You can expect a shorter wait if you are pursuing the adoption of an older child or sibling groups. The wait is also shorter for families of Filipino heritage.)

At the time of referral of a specific child, prospective parents can expect to receive a few pictures and statistics on height, weight and head circumference.

Travel and Costs
Travel usually occurs 3-5 months after you have accepted a referral. One parent is required to travel to the Philippines for 5-7 days. Many parents choose to stay longer to learn about their child's birth country and culture.

Most people in the Philippines speak English, which makes travel to this country relatively easy for Americans.

Quick Reference Guide

All fees subject to change without notice.

* Other expenses include: air transportation to and from Russia, US CIS ���fee, hotel stay, meals, parents' and child's visa, and medical exam.