Latvia Adoption

Children of All Nations is no longer accepting applications for Latvia Adoption.

[Waiting Child Photolisting] – [Latvia News & Updates]

About Latvia Adoption

Adopt from Latvia - Latvia adoptionLike the United States, Latvia is a Hague Convention Country. Latvia adoption is facilitated under the Ministry of Welfare. Children of All Nations is directly accredited by the Ministry of Welfare. For many years, Latvia required months-long bonding periods before adoptions were complete. However, recently, laws have shortened the bonding period. Adoptive parents are required to spend up to two weeks, rather than months, in Latvia. In 2011, Americans adopted 56 children from Latvia.

If you would like more information about our Latvia adoption program, call our  Latvia adoption consultants today at (512)323-9595 or send us an email.

Children Available

Children in Latvia become eligible for international adoption at age nine or older, unless they are part of a larger sibling group or have special medical needs. Latvian children usually have gray, brown, or blue eyes and blonde or brown hair. Children may speak Latvian or Russian. Most children older than 10 years have studied English. Latvian children in orphanages generally receive a high level of care.

When selecting a child, consider that you may adopt the following:

  • Boys and girls 9 years and older
  • Children with special needs
  • Sibling groups of two or more

Children available for Latvia AdoptionWe are currently placing children considered Waiting Children in our Latvia adoption program. To access our list of children available for adoption, please visit the Latvia Waiting Child Listing, devoted to waiting children around the world. These listings are password protected, so you will need to first request a password before you are able to view the listings.

Children of All Nations is also proud to be an advocate for children exposed to HIV. The Gift of Hope: HIV/AIDS program provides education, resources and advocacy for children effected by HIV/AIDS. To learn more, please visit our Gift of Hope webpage.

If you would like more information on Latvia adoption, please give us a call today at (512)323-9595 or send us an email.

Latvia’s Waiting Children

Special needs and older children, as well as sibling groups are also desperately in need of loving homes. Children with special needs will have disabilities ranging from minor to severe. Latvia’s waiting children range in age.

The Ministry of Welfare in Latvia issues updated profiles 3 to 4 times a year, allowing us to update our listings according to their schedule. Each child’s profile includes two to three paragraphs explaining the type and severity of the child’s special needs.

Families interested in participating in viewing the children available will need to have requested a guide and instantly received a password from CAN. Completing this form will provide your family with a password and provide us with information to review files on your behalf in search of a good match. Please note, a child cannot be matched with a family prior to submitting a dossier to Latvia

For more information concerning Latvia adoption and waiting children, please call us at (512)323-9595 or send us an email.

Latvia Adoption Requirements

Latvia adoption cost and requirementsIn addition to the USCIS eligibility requirements for prospective adoptive parent(s), Latvia adoption has the following eligibility requirements. If you feel you are not eligible to adopt from Latvia, or you are unsure, we may be able to work with you. Please contact us for a free case-by-case consultation regarding your Latvia adoption.

  • Citizenship: One adoptive parent must be a U.S. citizen.
  • Age: Adoptive parents must be between 25 to 55 years of age. Parents over the age of 55 will be considered on an individual basis. The parent must be at least 18 years older than the adoptive child.
  • Marriage Status: Married couples and single men and women are eligible to adopt. Latvia does not require couples to be married for a specific length of time.
  • Income: There is no minimum income required. However, you need to meet the income requirements provided by USCIS for the child to immigrate.
  • Criminal History: Applicants with a criminal history of child abuse, violence or domestic violence are not eligible to adopt.

Latvia adoption eligibility requirements are subject to change per Latvia’s adoption laws. CAN updates these guidelines as necessary.

If you would like more information about our Latvia adoption program, our call an adoption consultant today at (512)323-9595 or email us.

Adoption Timeline

From the time of dossier submission, the time frame to complete international adoption from Latvia is currently about 6 to 9 months. The total adoption process time can vary depending on the time families take to complete their dossier paperwork, their preferences for age and gender, and country processes. This time frame is subject to change; please consult CAN for the most current processing times for your adoption from Latvia.

The Process

1. Application and Approval

To adopt a child, please complete our agency application. For your convenience, you may access the application online. We will promptly review your eligibility to adopt from Latvia once we receive your application. If approved, we will provide you with our agency contract that outlines our fees, services and important information regarding the Latvia adoption process. Upon receipt of your signed contract, CAN will start to provide you with placement services for children from Latvia.

2. The Paper Chase

Children of All Nations - Latvia adoptionOnce your agency contract is in place, it is time to get started on your dossier. This will include a home study to assess your readiness for international adoption from Latvia and help prepare you for adoptive parenthood, filing with USCIS for international adoption approval, and gathering your necessary dossier documents. These dossier documents must go through the appropriate notarization and authentication processes. CAN offers a complete Dossier Preparation Service to ease your international adoption and give you peace of mind.

To ensure that prospective adoptive parents are prepared for their international adoption journey, our agency requires that parents complete 10 hours of adoption training as mandated by the Hague Convention. To satisfy these hours, we have developed an online parent training program that we are proud to include in CAN’s service plan. For an overview of the program, please click here. Please contact us for more information regarding adoption from Latvia.

3. Identifying a Child

Once your dossier is approved by the Latvian government, a child is identified based on your preferences for gender, age and health status. You will receive a description of the child, including the child’s history, medical test results and photos with your referral.

4. Picking Up Your Child

Travel typically occurs 2 to 4 months after you receive a referral. You will be required to make three trips to complete the adoption process. However, you will be able to bring your child home after your first trip. The first trip is typically 4 weeks, and both parents must attend. During this trip, you will meet your child and have an orphan court hearing. After the first trip, you will have the opportunity to bring your child home with you. While you and your child are allowed to bond back in the U.S., there will be a 2-month waiting period while a regional court hearing is set. You will then return to Latvia to complete paperwork and attend the regional court hearing, however only one parents must attend. The second trip is only 2-3 days in length, and the third trip is 6 days in length. After the court hearing, there will be a 20-day waiting period before the adoption is complete. CAN will assist you with your travel preparations, scheduling your flights and arranging accommodations. We will also ensure that while you are in Latvia, an experienced guide will be with you every step of the way on your adoption process.

5. Post Adoption Requirements

Two post adoption reports are required each year for the first two years post adoption. Starting the third year post adoption – one annual post adoption report is required until the child turns 18 years old.

Orphanage Information

The orphanages in Latvia are found throughout the country. Depending on the region, the children can be Latvian or Russian. The children in the orphanages typically receive a good standard of care. There are usually 80 to 100 kids per orphanage. The orphanages are very clean and the kids are well tended to by their caregivers. Starting at the age of 6, the children attend school. Children 10 years old and older learn English. The children receive good medical while in the orphanages.

Latvia Adoption Resources

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