Adoption from Russia
AF Photo Gallery	Russia Fast Facts: 2010 adoptions: 1,079 children Age/Gender: Both boys and girls are available; 77% were ages one to four years; 17% were five years and older in 2009 Estimated Total Cost: $40,000 to $50,000 (see sample Russia adoption budget) Profile: 8 months to 16 years; in 2009, 77% were ages one to four years; 17% were 5 years and over. Sibling groups and children with special needs are available. Parent Ages: No age restrictions by Russian government, except that prospective single parents must be at least 16 years older than the child they are adopting. Family Status: The Russian government has no rules about length of marriage or number of children in the household. Singles are permitted to adopt. There is an increased focus on the mental and physical health of adopting parents. Travel: Usually two trips required, although many families are now making three. Most regions require both parents to make both trips. Timeline: In a recent survey, 82 percent of adoptions are completed in 18 months. Russia Adoption Directory Find an adoption agency placing children from Russia in your state:
Russia was the third-largest country for international adoptions to the United States in FY2010. Adoption is very decentralized in Russia and may vary extensively from one region to the next. U.S. adoption agencies must be approved by the Russian government. Two trips are officially required, although many families make three or more trips. Russia sent 1,079 children to the U.S. in FY2010. Russia is not a member of the Hague Adoption Convention. In the spring of 2010, officials in Russia demanded a new bilateral agreement based on concerns about the welfare of children adopted from Russia by U.S. families. Intercountry adoptions from Russia slowed for a time, but are back on track as U.S. and Russian governments continue discussions on the agreement. The Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation handles all adoption in Russia. Children "without parental care" in Russia must be accounted for in the local, regional, and federal databases before they become eligible for intercountry adoption. The Russian government has recently implemented more rigorous health requirements for adoption parents - a history of psychiatric disorders, drug and alcohol addictions, tuberculosis, and infectious diseases, for example, may disqualify potential parents. To stay up to date on the progress of the bilateral agreement, visit http://www.adoption.state.gov/country_information/country_specific_info.php?country-select=russia.
Personal Stories About Russian Adoption Someone to Watch Over Me A Russian toddler flourishes despite a babyhood in an orphanage abroad A Poodle for Anna Hugging our new dog, my daughter learns that no matter what the behavior, our family is forever. Helpful Books for Russia Adopters The Russian Word for Snow: An Adoption Story by Janis Cooke Newman Adopting in Russia: Your Rights and the Law by Irina Mikhailovna O'Rear, Irina M O'Rear Russian Adoption Handbook: How To Adopt A Child From Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan by John H. Maclean Best Web Resources for Russia Adopters Department of State - Adoption in Russia Families for Russian and Ukrainian Adoption (FRUA) The Web site of the national parent support group contains useful information about Russia adoption. Eastern European Adoption Coalition, Inc. An adoptive parent support organization. Russian Embassy Email listserv: Russian Adoption

Adoption from Russia

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Russia Fast Facts:

2010 adoptions: 1,079 children
Age/Gender: Both boys and girls are available; 77% were ages one to four years; 17% were five years and older in 2009
Estimated Total Cost: $40,000 to $50,000 (see sample Russia adoption budget)
Profile: 8 months to 16 years; in 2009, 77% were ages one to four years; 17% were 5 years and over. Sibling groups and children with special needs are available.
Parent Ages: No age restrictions by Russian government, except that prospective single parents must be at least 16 years older than the child they are adopting.
Family Status: The Russian government has no rules about length of marriage or number of children in the household. Singles are permitted to adopt. There is an increased focus on the mental and physical health of adopting parents.
Travel: Usually two trips required, although many families are now making three. Most regions require both parents to make both trips.
Timeline: In a recent survey, 82 percent of adoptions are completed in 18 months.

Russia Adoption Directory

Find an adoption agency placing children from Russia in your state:

Russia was the third-largest country for international adoptions to the United States in FY2010. Adoption is very decentralized in Russia and may vary extensively from one region to the next. U.S. adoption agencies must be approved by the Russian government. Two trips are officially required, although many families make three or more trips. Russia sent 1,079 children to the U.S. in FY2010. Russia is not a member of the Hague Adoption Convention.

In the spring of 2010, officials in Russia demanded a new bilateral agreement based on concerns about the welfare of children adopted from Russia by U.S. families. Intercountry adoptions from Russia slowed for a time, but are back on track as U.S. and Russian governments continue discussions on the agreement.

The Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation handles all adoption in Russia. Children "without parental care" in Russia must be accounted for in the local, regional, and federal databases before they become eligible for intercountry adoption. The Russian government has recently implemented more rigorous health requirements for adoption parents - a history of psychiatric disorders, drug and alcohol addictions, tuberculosis, and infectious diseases, for example, may disqualify potential parents.

To stay up to date on the progress of the bilateral agreement, visit http://www.adoption.state.gov/country_information/country_specific_info.php?country-select=russia.

Personal Stories About Russian Adoption

Someone to Watch Over Me
A Russian toddler flourishes despite a babyhood in an orphanage abroad
A Poodle for Anna
Hugging our new dog, my daughter learns that no matter what the behavior, our family is forever.

Helpful Books for Russia Adopters

The Russian Word for Snow: An Adoption Story
by Janis Cooke Newman
Adopting in Russia: Your Rights and the Law
by Irina Mikhailovna O'Rear, Irina M O'Rear
Russian Adoption Handbook: How To Adopt A Child From Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan
by John H. Maclean

Best Web Resources for Russia Adopters

Department of State - Adoption in Russia
Families for Russian and Ukrainian Adoption (FRUA)
The Web site of the national parent support group contains useful information about Russia adoption.
Eastern European Adoption Coalition, Inc.
An adoptive parent support organization.
Russian Embassy
Email listserv: Russian Adoption

The Print Adoption Guide

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