Are you exploring international adoption and wondering if you meet the requirements? At Open Door Adoption Agency, we are dedicated to helping Christian families navigate international adoption eligibility with clarity and confidence. Whether you’re just starting your journey or seeking guidance on specific country criteria, we’re here to support you every step of the way.
Understanding International Adoption Eligibility
International adoption requirements can vary widely by country, but there are common standards every prospective parent should know. Most countries require adoptive parents to meet certain age, marital status, health, and financial stability criteria.
In addition, Christian adoption requirements may include a demonstration of faith and a commitment to providing a nurturing, loving home rooted in Christian values. At Open Door Adoption Agency, we specialize in working with Christian families, ensuring you have access to programs that align with your beliefs and goals.
- At least one prospective adoptive parent must be a US Citizen.
- Couples must be considered habitual residents of the US.
- Age Requirement: There is a maximum age difference of 50 years between the adoptive parent and the child. When the adoption is made by a family, the age difference can be present only for one of the spouses. That means that one of the spouses may have a bigger age difference than 50 with the child if for the other spouse the difference is present.
- 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
- Must demonstrate the means to support the physical, emotional and financial needs of a child
- At least one prospective adoptive parent must be a US citizen.
- Couples must be considered habitual residents of the US.
- Must be at least 25 years old and at least 15 years older but not more than 45 years older than the child
- Couples must be married 2 1/2 years
- Previous divorce is acceptable
- Be a single female or married opposite sex individuals
- Must demonstrate the means to support the physical, emotional and financial needs of a child
- The agency seeks Christian adoptive parents
- Must have a clean criminal history for the past 10 years
- Couples must be considered habitual residents of the US.
- Be a married couple for at least 2 ½ years
- Be at least 18 years older than the child
- Adoptive parents can only be registered on the list of children with special needs
- 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
- No more than five children under the age of 18 living at home
- At least one prospective adoptive parent must be a US citizen.
- Couples must be considered habitual residents of the US.
- Be a married couple for at least 2 1/2 years or a single female
- Must be over 25 years of age and at least 17 years older than the adopted child. If married, only one parent must meet the age requirement
- Must demonstrate the means to support the physical, emotional and financial needs of a child
- The agency seeks Christian adoptive parents
- At least one prospective adoptive parent must be a US citizen.
- Couples must be considered habitual residents of the US.
- 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 must be at least 18 years older than the child they adopt
- Parents must be married 2 1/2 years
- Parents must have three or fewer children living in the home
- Previous divorce is acceptable
- Must demonstrate the means to support the physical, emotional and financial needs of a child
- The agency seeks Christian adoptive parents
- Please speak with our staff if you have a criminal history or history of mental illness
- There may be consideration for parents up to age 62 for older or special needs children
- At least one prospective adoptive parent must be a US citizen.
- Couples must be considered habitual residents of the US.
- Couples must be married for at least four years.
- Both traditional married and single females may adopt
- Previous divorce is acceptable
- Adoptive parents must be at least 25 years of age and generally 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
- The agency seeks Christian adoptive parents
- While Poland is a Catholic country they allow both Catholics and non-Catholics to adopt
- Please speak with our staff if you have a criminal history or history of mental illness
- At least one prospective adoptive parent must be a US citizen.
- Couples must be considered habitual residents of the US.
- 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
- The agency seeks Christian adoptive parents
- Parents must be 25 years old and not older than 55 years old. Single mothers are eligible.
- CARA requires at least 25 years between the age of adoptive parent and child. Applicants are approved to adopt specific ages of children based on the age of the parents. Due to how India calculates age of applicants, the combined age for a married couple is easy to underestimate. CARA factors in both months and days in addition to years. For example, two spouses who are both 44 years old appear to have a combined age of 88; however, once months and days are factored in, they may actually be close to a combined age of 90, which would require them being open to an older child.
- PAPs with combined age of less than 85 years, or under age 40 for singles, can request a child ages 0 to 2 years.
- PAPs with combined age of less than 90 years, or under age 45 for singles, can request a child ages 2 to 4 years.
- PAPs with combined age of less than 100 years, or under age 50 for singles, can request a child ages 4 to 8 years.
- PAPs with combined age of less than 110 years, or under age 55 for singles, can request a child ages 8 to 18 years.
- There must be a minimum age gap of 25 years between the PAPs and the child.
- You may select the age and gender of the child.
- Couples must be married 2 1/2 years
- Preference given to smaller families. Couples with two or more children shall be considered for children with special needs. India requires families to maintain birth order.
- Previous divorce is acceptable.
- Please speak with our staff if you have any history of mental illness or criminal history, so that we can determine if the authorities in India will accept your application. Prospective adoptive parents should be physically, mentally, and emotionally, they shall not have any life-threatening medical condition. An adoptive parent with a significant criminal history is unlikely to be approved in India.
- Psychological evaluation must be competed during the Home Study process.
- The Agency seeks Christian adoptive parents.
Why Choose Open Door Adoption Agency?
With almost 40 years of experience, Open Door Adoption Agency is a trusted, licensed, and accredited leader in international adoption. Our team is committed to ethical, compassionate service—walking alongside families from the first inquiry to final placement and beyond.
As a non-profit, Christian adoption agency, we prioritize transparency, support, and individualized care. We have successfully helped thousands of children find loving, permanent families, and we’re recognized for our deep expertise in international adoption eligibility and country-specific requirements.
Learn more about our mission and values on our About page, or explore our International Adoption Programs.
Next Steps
Ready to learn if you qualify? Review the country-specific eligibility criteria below or contact us for a personalized assessment. Our team is here to answer your questions and guide you through the international adoption process.
