One thing to consider in choosing a country is the number of children placed. You can see from the chart below that Nightlight's biggest programs for intercountry adoption are:
1. Colombia
2. Haiti (Not accepting applications at this time)
3. India
4. Bulgaria
Though each country has their own eligibility requirements, there are certain points of eligibility that Nightlight has as well that you would be required to meet before moving forward with any program. You can find a full list of eligibility requirements on our International page. Some of the general requirements to consider include:
This spread sheet is intended to give you an overall comparison between Nightlight’s various inter-country programs. The information is abbreviated and some additional criteria may apply. Please ask for complete information on the country or countries of greatest interest to you from our international inquiry specialists at 502-423-5780, or www.nightlight.org
Country | Average Time Start to Finish | Age of Children Available | Trip(s) | Referral Time | Program Fee | Travel and Other Costs | Parent's Age | Other Child Restrictions | Singles | PP/PA Reports | Hague Country | Inquiry Specialist |
Albania Waiting Child Program or Relative Adoption Only
| 2-3 years | 2-7 years special needs 8-15 years non-special needs | 1-2 (14+42) | 1-2 years | $18,500 | $21,980- $38,725 | 25 and up | No | single females only | 5 | Yes | Lynn |
Bulgaria | 1-4 years | 1-15 years w/ special needs or siblings | 2 (6+3 to 10) | 2-4 years | $25,500 | $14,670- $23,175 | 25 -55 | No | single females only | 7 | Yes | Gracie |
Burkina Faso | 2.5-4.5 years | 3+ mild to severe special needs older non-special needs | 1 (15) | 1-3 years | $27,000 | $17,560- $29,175 | 30-55 | 1 or less (unless a special needs child) | No | up to 18 years | Yes | Gracie |
China Not accepting new clients at this time | 1-3 years | 3+ years special needs | 1 (15) | 1-3 years | $15,340 | $16,336- $27,040 | min 30 max 50 years between parent/child | 5 or less; youngest ≥3 years | single females only | up to 18 years | Yes | Gracie |
Colombia *contact coordinator for info for heritage families | 1-2 years | 2-10 years special needs 10 years+ non-special needs/siblings (specification of gender not allowed) | 1 (4-6 weeks) | 1-6 months (*12-18 months for heritage families) | $20,500 | $16,750- $25,855 | min 25 max 45 years between parent/child* | No | Yes | 5-7 | Yes | Rebecca |
Country | Average Time Start to Finish | Age of Children Available | Trip(s) | Referral Time | Program Fee | Travel and Other Costs | Parent's Age | Other Child Restrictions | Singles | PP/PA Reports | Hague Country | Inquiry Specialist |
Dominican Republic | 2.5-4.5 years | 1.5-15 years | 1-2 | 1-3 years | $21,000 | $15,315- $28,000 | min 30 min 15 years between parent/child | No | No | 8 | Yes | Liana |
Ecuador | 1-3 years | 2-6 years special needs 6-16 years non-special needs | 1 (8-10 wks) | 1-2 years | $20,000 | $13,9915- $23,665 | 25-51 | No | single females only | 5 | Yes | Gracie |
Haiti Not accepting new clients at this time | 4+ years | 6+ years (most 8+) | 2 (15+6) | 2+ years | $27,000 | $13,983- $20,968 | 30 to 50 | No | single females only | 9 | Yes | Karson |
Honduras | 2-4 years | 5+ years (most 8+) | 1-2 (10+28) | 2-3 years | $14,500 | $16,875- $31,570 | 25 to 60 | No | single females only | up to 18 years | Yes | Lynn |
China (Hong Kong)Waiting Child Program | 18 months | 1 year+ special needs | 1 (7) | 6-10 months | $11,000 | $12,905- $19,195 | 25 and up | No | single females only | 5 | Yes | Gracie |
Country | Average Time Start to Finish | Age of Children Available | Trip(s) | Referral Time | Program Fee | Travel and Other Costs | Parent's Age | Other Child Restrictions | Singles | PP/PA Reports | Hague Country | Inquiry Specialist |
India | 2-2.5 years | 0-8 yrs special needs 10+ yrs sibling groups | 1 (14) | 6-12 mos | $16,750 | $12,710- $20,750 | 25 and up | 2 or less (unless a special needs child) maintain birth order | Yes | 6 | Yes | Yesenia |
Jamaica Relative adoption only | 18 months | Relative Only | case by case | case by case | $6,000 | $8,550- $20,170 | 25 and up | case by case | case by case | case by case | No | Lynn |
Mexico | 2-3 years | 3+ years special needs 8+ non-special needs | 3-4 (varies) | 12-24 months | $19,100 | $15,220- $26,765 | min 25 max 45 years between parent/child | No | Yes | 6 | Yes | Julie E |
Nigeria | 2-3 years | 2-15 years minor/non-special needs | 2 (12 weeks + 2-3 weeks) | (age 0-2) 2+ years (age 3+) 1+ years (age 8+) 6 months | $16,700 | $25,795- $38,995 | 25 and up | maintain birth order | single females only | up to 18 years | No | Lynn |
Country | Average Time Start to Finish | Age of Children Available | Trip(s) | Referral Time | Program Fee | Travel and Other Costs | Parent's Age | Other Child Restrictions | Singles | PP/PA Reports | Hague Country | Inquiry Specialist |
Philippines | 2-4 years | 2-10 yrs moderate to severe special needs | 1 (5-7) | 1-3 years | $17,350-$18,050 | $16,143-$19,803 | 27 and up | No | single females only | 4 | Yes | Viktoriia |
Portugal | 2-3 years | 7 years+ special needs or sibling group 12 years+ non-special needs | 1 (6-8 weeks) | 1-2 years | $18,250 | $18,810- $33,140 | 25 and up singles 30 and up max 60 | No | Yes | 5+ | Yes | Viktoriia |
ROC Taiwan | 2 years | 3 years+ moderate special needs 5 years+ non-special needs | 1-2 (7-42+2-7) | up to 3 years | $20,500 | $13,665- $21,485 | 25 to 55 | 3 or less | Yes | 8 | No | Liana |
Samoa Not accepting new clients at this time | 5-7 years | 1.5-5 years mild to severe special needs 5+ non-special needs | 1 (10-14 months) | up to 5 years | $31,450 | $13,153- $26,699 | 23-55 | No | single females only | 3 | No | Viktoriia |
Ukraine Not accepting new clients at this time | 10-12 months | 4+ years severe special needs 8-10 years+ mild/moderate special needs | 3 (15+3+21) | 2-3 months | $19,000 | $8,365- $14,885 | 21 and up | No | No | up to 18 years | No | Viktoriia |
United Kingdom Relative Adoption Only | 18 months | Relative Only | 3+ (90) | 1-2 years | $8,000 | $9,173- $19,943 | 21 and up | No | Yes | case by case | Yes | Rhonda |
Country | Average Time Start to Finish | Age of Children Available | Trip(s) | Referral Time | Program Fee | Travel and Other Costs | Parent's Age | Other Child Restrictions | Singles | PP/PA Reports | Hague Country | Inquiry Specialist |
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