Ethiopia Adoption
Ethiopia has been called “the land of a thousand smiles.” It is a country with a rich and prominent history. The oldest independent country in Africa, and one of the oldest in the world—its history dates back at least 2,000 years. Gondar, the formal capital city, was the center of achievements throughout the Middle Ages that have had a great influence on all of Africa. This is a place of wonder, home of the famed Queen of Sheba, and the birthplace of coffee.
Why Choose Ethiopia?
- Children available for adoption range in age from infants to fifteen years old
- Medical records are available for all children
- Special needs children are also available
- More than one child can be placed at one time
- The average process time is six months to ten months from submission of dossier
- Ethiopia is one of the least expensive programs
Location
- The children come from orphanages in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital, and also an orphanage in northern Ethiopia.
Reasons for Availability
- Abandonment due to overpopulation
- Lack of good medical care
- Parents cannot care for their children due to severe poverty
- The parents are deceased
Children’s Situation
- The children live in several well-run orphanages where they are receiving excellent care.
Eligibility for Families
- Only heterosexual applicants are eligible
- Married couples or single female applicants are accepted
- The minimum age for single applicants is twenty-five years old
- A previous divorce is acceptable
Average Process Time
- The time from submitting your dossier to bringing your child home is an average of six to ten months
Procedure
- You will first submit a preliminary application to AAI, meet with a consultant for an International Adoption Awareness Meeting, and then complete your formal application. You will then complete your home study, your USCIS paperwork, and prepare your dossier. Upon completion of your dossier, your documents will be sent to Ethiopia. Upon approval, you will receive your referral. If you formally accept the referral, the adoption process will begin. Once the process is completed, you will travel to Ethiopia to bring your child home.
Travel
- Adoptive parents are required to take one trip to Ethiopia after the adoption process is complete and the child is ready to come home. You will fly into the capital city of Addis Ababa, and then continue to the orphanage from there. One or both parents may travel.
Due to the nature of international adoption, the information on this page is subject to change without notice.
