Ukraine Adoption

Ukraine Adoption

Limited-time fee waivers are available for our Kazakhstan, Russia, and Ukraine programs from June 15 to July 31, 2009! Visit our web page for details.

A nation rich in traditions and customs, Ukraine remains one of the biggest countries of the former Soviet Union, and is smaller in size than only Russia and Kazakhstan. Located on the southwest side of Russia, Ukraine also borders Belarus, Poland, Romania, and the Black Sea. While the official language is Ukrainian, many people speak Russian, especially along the eastern edge of the nation where Russia and Ukraine share a border. Ukraine has been an independent nation since 1991 and is currently home to approximately 47 million people. Most Ukrainians live in large cities, such as the nation’s capital of Kiev, a modern European city with a population of more than three million. Visitors to Ukraine often find the people to be hospitable and kind.

Adopting from Ukraine is different than adopting from Russia or Kazakhstan. The only legal Ukrainian authority for adoption is the State Department for Adoption and Protection of the Rights of the Child (SDAPRC), which is involved in the whole adoption process, from the time prospective adoptive parents submit documents through the court hearing.

Why Choose Ukraine?

• After Russia, Ukraine is one of the most popular programs for Caucasian children in international adoption
• Preschool and school-aged children are most readily available
• Sibling groups are also available
• Children reside in loving, well-run orphanages
• English speaking facilitators will help families during their trip to Ukraine
• Only one trip is required
• Adoptive parents are allowed to choose the child(ren) they adopt from the database of available children
• Larissa Koedyker, AAI's Ukraine program coordinator, is Ukrainian-born and adopted a daughter from Ukraine

Location

Children are available for adoption from different regions throughout Ukraine.

Reason for Availability

• Voluntary relinquishment of parental rights due to poverty or unemployment
• Parental rights are relinquished by the court due to abuse or neglect
• The parents are deceased.

Children's Situation

Children live in well-run orphanages and are cared for by loving caregivers.

Eligibility for Families

• Only heterosexual applicants are eligible
• Only married couples (for at least one year) are accepted; single women cannot adopt from Ukraine
• Prospective adoptive parents should be at least twenty-one years old
• The age difference between adoptive parents and adopted child(ren) should not exceed forty-five years (the oldest parent)
• Families that have other children are accepted
• Previous divorce is acceptable.

Procedure

• You will first submit a preliminary application to AAI, have an International Adoption Awareness meeting in person or by phone, 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 are sent to Ukraine. A Ukrainian facilitator will translate and authenticate your documents, and then submit them to SDAPRC. SDAPRC will then send you an invitation to visit Ukraine. After choosing your child(ren) at the meeting at SDAPRC, you will then visit the child(ren) at the regional orphanage.
• Once you are ready to adopt the child(ren) you chose, your case will be presented to the court. Both parents are required to attend the court hearing. The judge’s decision is issued the day of the hearing but does not usually take effect for ten days.
• After the court decree is issued, you will obtain a new birth certificate and passport for your child(ren). You will then be able to obtain a visa for your child(ren) at the American Consulate in Kiev to bring them home.

Travel

Prospective adoptive parents will take one trip lasting approximately three to six weeks. It is possible for two trips to be scheduled or for one of the parents to leave after the court hearing.

Due to the nature of international adoption, the information on this page is subject to change without notice.