WHY ADOPT FROM UKRAINE?          1. Ukraine was the seventh-largest country for overseas adoptions to the U.S. in 2006. Economic factors lead to most relinquishments of children.            2. Married couples and singles (prior divorce is acceptable) are eligible to adopt from Ukraine. By Ukrainian Law, there are no restrictions on the number of children already living in the home.            3. Prospective adoptive parents have to be at least 18 years old. There must be at least 15 years difference between the age of the adoptive parent and the prospective adopted child. Adoption Plus feels that it is reasonable for the difference between the adoptive child and the adoptive parents to be no more than 45 years. Meanwhile there is no specific maximum age criterion in Ukraine's adoption law.

         4. Formally, children are put on the registry at around 14-16 months. Younger children with medical conditions may by also be available. According to Ukrainian Law, prospective parents have the right to have medical evaluations that can be conducted by a private doctor.

5. All of the children reside in orphanages. Both boys and girls are available, as well as occasionally sibling groups. If parents are open to the adoption of siblings, they should have all their paperwork approved for 2 children. If siblings happen to be available when they are in Ukraine, then they can adopt siblings. There will not be any advance notice of the availability of siblings. Currently, Ukraine does not permit the adoption of 2 unrelated children, unless parents submit two dossiers and make an additional trip or two to Ukraine for the second child.

         6. In Ukraine, the only officials permitted by law to show referrals or give any information on children is the State Department for Adoption and Protection of Children's Rights (SDAPCR), under the Ministry of Family, Youth, and Sports.

7. You will be able to personally choose your child(ren) in Ukraine. This is done on the same trip you adopt. This means that you can personally meet and bond with the child before making the final decision to adopt. When you go to the SDAPCR you describe the kind of child you would like and they will show you the matches to your wishes and which are close to them. This process can be done a few times until your decision is made.

         Recent U.S. immigrant visa statistics reflect the following pattern for visa issuance to orphans (IR-3 and IR-4 combined):*

FY-1993: 273 FY-1994: 164 FY-1995: not available  FY-1996: not available FY-1997: not available FY-1998: 180   FY-1999: 323

FY-2000: 659 FY-2001: 1246 FY-2002: 1106 FY-2003: 702 FY-2004: 723 FY-2005: 821 FY-2006: 460

         *Immediate Relative (IR)-3 visas are issued to orphans adopted in Ukraine. IR-4 visas are issued to orphans adopted or re-adopted in the United States. The visa requirements and paperwork are substantially the same.

         If you would like more detailed information, click here

         Ukraine is the second largest country in Europe and is located between Poland and Russia. While Ukraine has a long relationship with Russia and the former Soviet Union it gained independence following the collapse of the Soviet Union, and achieved statehood in 1991. In the past decade, economic decline has contributed to an increased number of orphans throughout the entire country.

Much of the southeastern part of the country borders the Black Sea. Ukraine has a population of about 50 million people. An estimated 68 percent of Ukrainians live in urban areas, with over three million inhabitants in the capital Kyiv, the largest city. Ukrainians make up more than three-fourths of the population; there is a significant minority of Russians (22%). The official language is Ukrainian. Many speak Russian as a first or second language.   Much of the southeastern part of the country borders the Black Sea.

         Adoption Plus is one of the first international child adoption agencies to be accredited and to have its representatives accredited in the Ukraine under their new adoption authority. International child adoption agency Adoption Plus submits the family's dossier to the Ukraine State Department for Adoption and Protection of Children's Rights (SDAPCR) for pre-approval. An invitation to travel to Ukraine is usually issued from 1 week to 1 month after the submission of the dossier. Prospective parents travel to Ukraine for an official meeting with the SDAPCR. During the meeting, parents will see file information/pictures of one or several children that match the family's request. Parents will then choose a child to meet with. If the prospective parents decide to adopt that child, the international child(ren) adoption process is then completed. If the parents decline that child(ren), they return to the SDAPCR and choose another child(ren). If 3 referrals are declined during the trip, the international child(ren) adoption process stops. It may be resumed after a brief interruption. After the Court hearing, one parent may leave early to return home. After submitting the application to the international child adoption agency Adoption Plus, it will usually take about 8-10 months for your adopted child(ren) to be home.

         ADOPTED CHILDREN MUST BE REGISTERED WITH THE LOCAL UKRAINIAN CONSULATE WITHIN 30 DAYS OF ARRIVING HOME.

         In 2007 the timeline for the annual Post Placement Report on the adopted child has been changed. This applies to all adoptive families regardless of when they adopted from Ukraine. Parents must send a report once a year until the child reaches 18 years of age.

         The difference between Ukraine and many other countries is that Ukraine does not permit pre-identification of children. The child identification process is done during the adoptive parents visit to the country. In 2006, U.S. citizens adopted approximately 460 children from Ukraine. Children available for adoption include toddlers from 14 months of age, older and special needs children.

Travel can consist of one trip of 3 or 4 1/2 weeks, with the option of one parent coming home after the court hearing. Parents may choose to make 2 trips. The first trip would last 2-3 weeks and then the parents would return home. Then 2-3 weeks later, one or both parents may return to Ukraine for a trip of 1 week to bring home their child. Families arriving in Ukraine are greeted at the airport by our Ukrainian in-country director. They are escorted to their hotel or apartment, as well as to all official appointments.

         The following is a typical schedule for international adoption in Ukraine based on approximately 3.5 weeks for one trip in Ukraine ( the time frame may vary depending on a number of factors).

         Note: Due to the nature of international adoption, all information contained on this webpage is subject to change without notice.

Printing friendly version of Ukraine Child Adoption Program for non-residents of the state of New York

Printing friendly version of Ukraine Child Adoption Program for residents of the state of New York

Embassy of United States of America in Ukraine

Bureau of Consular Affairs

Embassy of Ukraine to the United States of America

The Consulate General of Ukraine in New York

The Consulate General of Ukraine in Chicago

The Consulate General of Ukraine in San Francisco

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