An Open Door Adoption : Adoption Eligibility


Domestic Adoption Requirements

An Open Door seeks couples who are:

  • Married at least three (3) years
  • At least 25 years of age; and not over the age of 45
  • Free of communicable disease, in good physical and mental health, and have a normal life expectancy
  • Have the capacity to meet the child’s physical and emotional needs throughout his/her developmental stages of childhood and adolescence
  • Once accepted into the program, both parents must attend two scheduled program meetings, both of which are held in the same day. An informational meeting is held in the morning followed by an Adoption Preparation meeting in the afternoon.
  • All couples applying to An Open Door must be of the Christian faith. See here for more details: https://www.opendooradoption.org/about/

International Adoption Requirements


Click on a country below to review their adoption requirements. All couples applying to The Open Door must be of the Christian faith. See here for more details: https://www.opendooradoption.org/about/

Bulgaria

  • No more than 50 years age difference between the child and the younger spouse and no more than 55 years between the child and the older spouse
  • Couples must be married 2 1/2 years
  • Previous divorce is acceptable
  • Be a single female or married couple
  • You may select the age and gender of the child
  • You may have other children
  • The Agency seeks Christian adoptive parents

China

  • Parents must be 30-55 years of age
  • Couples married 2 years. If previously married, married 5 years
  • Single women may adopt from China
  • Annual income of $10,000 for each family member including prospective adoptee
  • Net assets valued at approximately $80,000 or more
  • BMI (Body Mass Index) less than 40
  • Youngest child in the home must be over the age of 1
  • Long term health issues like cancer and depression are now considered on a case by case basis

El Salvador

  • Couples must be married 3 years
  • Previous divorce is acceptable
  • Be a single female or married couple
  • You may have other children
  • The agency seeks Christian adoptive parents
  • Must be at least seventeen years older than the child you wish to adopt

Latvia

The adoptive parents must:

  • Be a married couple for at least 2 ½ years or a single woman
  • Be at least 18 years older than the child (no exceptions)
  • Minimum of 25 years of age, no upper age limit at this time
  • Latvian law requires a parent/child relationship be established before the final court decision can be made. This is done during the first trip to Latvia
  • Adoptive parents may not have been convicted for violence or threat of violence, sexual or sexual abuse crime, discharged from the duties of guardianship, denied from being a  host or foster family, deprived of custody rights, or charged with alcohol or drug abuse or mentally ill status requiring treatment

Lithuania

  • Be a married couple for at least 2 ½ years
  • Be at least 18 years older than the child
  • Adoptive parents can be registered only on the list of children with special needs (regardless of Lithuanian heritage)
  • Adoptive parents should not be more than 50 years of age. Exception can be made if parent is in good health and there is a spouse under age 50
  • Previous divorce is acceptable
  • Lithuanian Central Authority prefers the adopted child to be the youngest in the family but it is not a requirement
  • Certain medical conditions can disqualify prospective adoptive parents. Speak to program coordinator for more details

Mexico

Mexico Notes:

Please note that we work in some states of Mexico

Please call 1-800-868-6339 to discuss eligibility requirements

Ukraine

  •  Must be 25 years or older
  • Must be at least 15 years older than the child you adopt
  • Previous divorce is acceptable
  • Parents may have other biological and/or adopted children
  • Must be married
  • Those with certain health conditions or a history of mental health issues such as depression should contact a consultant prior to applying to check their eligibility status

Peru

  • Be 25 – 50 years old to adopt a child 5 to 6 years of age; Parents 51 to 55 years of age may adopt a child 7 years of age or older.
  • Parents may have other biological and/or adopted children.
  • Single women may adopt.
  • Previous divorce is acceptable.

Poland

  • Both married and single persons may adopt
  • While no specific age criteria have been set in order to adopt, in practice adoptive parents must be no more than 40 years older than the child they adopt
  • Poland has set no specific income requirements however they will assess adoptive families to ensure they have a stable financial situation, as well as overall good health and appropriate moral qualities
  • Adoptive parent training is required as per Hague guidelines
  • While Poland is a Catholic country they allow both Catholics and non-Catholics to adopt