Home » Adoption Options » Russia

Adoption from Russia

Russia Fast Facts:

  • 2007 adoptions: 2,310 children
  • Age/Gender: 49% Female; 7% under 1 year of age; 65% 1-4 years of age in 2006
  • Estimated Total Cost: $35,000+ (see sample Russia adoption budget)
  • Profile: 6 months to 16 years; in 2006, 65% were between 1 and 4 years old; 27% were 5 years and over. Sibling groups and children with special needs are available.
  • Parent Ages: No age restrictions by Russian government, except that prospective single parents must be at least 16 years older than the child they are adopting.
  • Family Status: The Russian government has no rules about length of marriage or number of children in the household. Singles are permitted to adopt.
  • Travel: Usually two trips required, one to accept the referral and one to complete the adoption. Most regions require both parents to make the second trip, but one parent can make the first trip.
  • Timeline: From completed dossier to referral, about 6 to 12 months, though currently irregular.

Russia Adoption Directory

Find an adoption agency placing children from Russia in your state:

Russia sent 2,310 children to the United States in 2007, making it the third largest sending country. Despite economic reforms that have taken place since the 1991 breakup of the Soviet Union, many families in former Soviet nations struggle to survive. An estimated 600,000 children live “without parental care” in Russia. About one-third live in institutions; the rest typically live with guardians, or under police jurisdiction. Poverty is a factor in most relinquishments. Two groups of children are typically available: babies relinquished in the hospital at birth to orphanages, and older children who were removed from their families because of neglect. Sibling groups are available.

Two trips to Russia are required to adopt from most regions there, although one in three families who adopted in 2006 and 2007 report having to make three or more trips since most courts weren’t waiving the 10-day waiting period after the court date. For a list of U.S. adoption agencies accredited by the Ministry of Education and Science in Russia, see the website of the Russian embassy: www.russianembassy.org.

Personal Stories About Russian Adoption

  • Someone to Watch Over Me
    A Russian toddler flourishes despite a babyhood in an orphanage abroad
  • A Poodle for Anna
    Hugging our new dog, my daughter learns that no matter what the behavior, our family is forever.

Helpful books for Russia adopters:

Best websites for Russia adopters: