The Country
Ukraine is slightly smaller than Texas. It is mainly a vast plain with no natural boundaries except the Carpathian Mountains in the southwest and the Black Sea in the south. The climate in Ukraine is similar to the wheat-producing regions of Canada and is characterized by abundant precipitation and cloudy skies, especially in fall and winter. Although the summers tend to be short, the temperature can rise into the 90's making it uncomfortable since most buildings have no central cooling systems. The winters are long and cold, with cloudy skies a norm.
The Children
The children available for adoption from Ukraine include healthy children from about 14 months to 14 years of age and special needs children from about 6 months and older. Applicants will most likely be referred a child 3 years old and up unless an older child is requested. There are more boys than girls available for adoption.
Two children living in the same region may be adopted at the same court hearing without the necessity of a second dossier.
According to Ukrainian law, adopted children should keep their Ukrainian citizenship until 18 years of age. However, the US passed a law which grants adopted children US citizenship automatically upon adoption.
Parent Eligibility
Parents should be deemed physically, financially and morally able to raise the child to adulthood. Couples must be married and own their home to adopt from Ukraine. Both parents must be at least 21 years old and between 15 and 45 years older than the adopted child.
Please see our agency information page for further guidelines.
Referral and Travel
Adoptive parents must travel to Ukraine in order to identify their child and attend the court hearing. In order to identify a child for adoption, the parents must first have their application and dossier approved by the National Adoption Center in Kiev.
When you arrive in Kiev, you will receive a brief orientation and visit the National Adoption Center to look at files and select a child to visit.
You will then travel to visit with the child. If you do not select this child, you have the option to return to the National Adoption Center and select another child to visit. If you select this child, you will then proceed with preparation of the paperwork for a court hearing and a court date will be set.
Your stay in Ukraine will be approximately 30 days. You will begin your trip in Kiev, the capitol of Ukraine, to visit the Adoption Center. You will travel to the city where your child’s orphanage is located where you will legally adopt the child. You will then return to Kiev, register your adoption and apply for the child’s visa with the US Embassy in Kiev.
Post Adoption
Parents are responsible for registering the adopted child with the Ukrainian Consulate in the country of residence within one month after adoption.
Parents will also be required to complete Post Adoption reports with their Social Worker when they return home with their child. In addition, Ukraine requires an annual letter each year for the first 3 years and then once every 3 years until the child reaches 18 years of age.
Ukraine Travel Info from the US State Department
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