Russia Adoption

About
Children Available
Eligibility Requirements
Timeline
Costs
The Process
Orphanage Information
FAQs
Resources
Application
Contact Us

We are currently not accepting Russia applications. This website will provide you with updates and announcements regarding when we will accept new applications in our Russia adoption program.

About

Russia is home to over 143 million people and is the world’s largest country by land mass. Though Russian is the national language, and the vast majority of the population claims it as their native tongue, there are over 100 different ethnic groups, many of which speak different languages throughout Russia. The fall of the Soviet Union brought Russia into an economic tailspin, causing many skilled workers and their families to fall into poverty. This lowered the country’s life span, the size of the family, and birthrate. Conditions in Russia are slowly improving, providing a promising future for its population.Moscow is Russia’s capital and largest city, with a population of over 10 million people. It is largely strategic as an economic and business center, as it has become a hub for foreign investment and business, largely boosting Russia in the global economy. Moscow is alive with rich cultural tradition, with many museums devoted to art, literature, music, dance, history, and science. It also boasts breathtaking architecture with its hundreds of churches and cathedrals.Russia is one of the world’s most popular countries for international adoption. In 2011, Americans adopted 962 beautiful Russian children, finishing third in the number of adoptions to the U.S. behind China and Ethiopia. Russia is not a party to the Hague Treaty on International adoptions, but in the past year, Russian officials have entered into discussions with the U.S. Department of State to ensure that agencies are properly overseen in the U.S.

Governance of Russian Adoptions

Russia’s Adoption Authority is the Ministry of Education and Science, which requires any agency wishing to facilitate adoptions in Russia to be fully accredited by the Russian government. Children of All Nations partners with a fully accredited Russian agency with over 13 years of experience, and an excellent relationship with the Russian adoption authority, to help families welcome home their children adopted from Russia.

If you would like more information about our Russia program, our adoption consultants are standing by to help! Call us today at 1.877.827.5226 or send us an email!

Children Available

Russian children are placed in orphanages due to voluntary relinquishment by their parents, involuntary removal from their homes, or the death of their parents. Poverty is a major reason for parents abandoning or relinquishing their children because they simply cannot feed or clothe them. Children available for adoption from Russia range from infants to teens. Russian children are of ethnically diverse, and may be Caucasian, Asian, or Roma. Most, however, will have fair skin and lighter hair or eyes. Most of the children are healthy while a few others have minor, correctable special needs.

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

Boys and girls 1 to 15 years old (note: families specifically requesting a female is not permitted in Russia)
Children with special needs and older children
Two or more siblings at one time

When adopting from Russia, through CAN, families are not allowed to pursue an adoption at the same time through a different agency.

If you would like more information, please give us a call today at 1.877.827.5226 or send us an email!

Russia Adoption Requirements

In addition to the USCIS eligibility requirements for prospective adoptive parent(s), Russia has the following requirements, which may vary by region. If you feel you are not eligible to adopt from Russia, or you are unsure, we may be able to work with you. Please contact us for a free case-by-case consultation.

Citizenship: One adoptive parent must be a US citizen.
Age: Adoptive parents must be at least 25 years of age. The youngest parent generally must not be more than 45 years older than the adoptive child. Some regions are more flexible than others.
Previous Children: There is no limit to the number of children already in the home.
Marriage Status: Married couples are eligible to adopt. There are no prior divorce restrictions. Single women are eligible to adopt children of either gender. Please contact a CAN consultant to discuss eligibility for single women before applying.
Income: There is no minimum income required by Russia. However, you need to meet the income requirements provided by USCIS for the child to immigrate.
Medical History: There are some medical restrictions. If you take prescription medicine or have a medical condition, please contact our adoption consultant to determine your eligibility.
Criminal History: Applicants with a criminal history of child abuse, violence or domestic violence are not eligible to adopt.

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

If you would like more information about our program, our specialized adoption consultants are standing by to help! To have your questions answered, call us today at 1.877.827.5226 or email us.

Adoption Timeline

The time frame to complete international adoption from Russia is currently about 12 to 16 months, 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 Russia.

Cost Overview

Our Russian adoption fees are among the lowest available. We strive to keep costs low so that we may help as many children as possible find their loving, forever family.

For a full list of program fees for your adoption from Russia, please request our Children of All Nations Outreach Guide.

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 Russia 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 Russia adoption process. Upon receipt of your signed contract, CAN will start to provide you with placement services for children from Russia.

2. The Paper Chase

Once your agency contract is in place, it is time to start assembling your dossier. This will include a home study, which will assess your readiness for international adoption from Russia and help prepare you for adoptive parenthood, filing with USCIS for international adoption approval, and gathering your dossier documents. Please consult CAN before beginning your home study, as certain home study agencies will not be accepted by MED. All dossier documents must go through the appropriate notarization, certification and authentication processes before being sent to Russia. We offer a complete Dossier Preparation Service to ease your international adoption process 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 80 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 Russia.

3. Identifying a Child

After the Ministry of Education reviews your dossier, they will issue preliminary information on a child based on the family’s specifications. This is normally referred to as a “referral”, but the Russian government does not consider it as such until you meet the child and agree to adopt them. The matching process may take anywhere from one month to nine months, depending on the region and the age and number of children you wish to adopt, or if they have special needs.

4. Picking Up Your Child

After you are matched with a child, you will plan your first trip to Russia to meet your child and decide whether you would like to proceed with the adoption. You will then return home until it is time to return to Russia for your court hearing. Both parents are required to travel to Russia to attend the court hearing, but in special circumstances one parent’s appearance on the first or second trip may be waived. After the ruling and the release letter are received, parents will file immigration paperwork with the U.S. Embassy in Moscow as well as Consulate Registration. Once these requirements have been met and you receive your child’s visa, you may bring your child home!

5. Post Adoption Requirements

Russia requires that you submit four post adoption reports at 6, 12, 24, and 36 months following your return home from Russia. The first report will be completed by your family and will not require a social worker. These reports demonstrate to the Russian government the benefits of international adoption for their children. In addition, simpler reports at 2, 4, 8, and 10 months are required, which can be less in-depth than the major reports. CAN’s post-adoption staff will guide you through the post-adoption process. You can now begin your new life with your children!

Orphanage Information

Orphanages in Russia are scattered throughout the country, with multiple regions, and a subcentral authority in control over the region’s orphanages. The care the children receive in the orphanages varies greatly, depending on the region in which the children are. There are approximately 250 children in each orphanage. Children less than three years of age live in baby homes. Children ages 3 to 15 years old live in children’s homes. There are physicians on staff in each orphanage. Children with serious health conditions are generally housed in hospitals to allow them to receive adequate care.