BULGARIAN ADOPTION PROGRAM

CHILDREN

  Ethnicity:  mostly Roma children with dark hair and brown eyes.  Very few Caucasian children.
  Age:  time of referral, usually 18 months to 16 years (may be younger for special needs children).
  Medicals:  children are tested for HIV, TB, and Hepatitis C prior to referral.
  Background:  children we place come from orphanages all over Bulgaria.

ELIGIBILITY

  Age:  Parents must be at least 15 years older than the child being adopted.    
  Married Status:  Bulgaria currently accepts single women, however, not single men.
  Health:  Parents should be in good medical health.  If you are concerned that you have a disability that could affect your adoption, please let us know.

COSTS

  Fees for Bulgaria are reasonable for international adoption.  As the costs vary per individual case, Kids To Adopt doesn't post fees online.

PROCESS

  Parents must first send in an application to Kids To Adopt.
  Upon approval of application, Kids To Adopt sends out a contract.  Parents must sign the contract and send it back to us with the first payment.
  Upon receipt of the signed contract, Kids To Adopt sends parents the Dossier Kit which includes instructions on compiling the documents required by Bulgaria.
  When parents have completed all of their paperwork, they send it back to KTA.  We proof your dossier to the best of our abilities, then send it off to our Bulgarian coordinators.
  Once the Ministry of Justice in Bulgaria receives your paperwork, they assign parents a number, and when the number comes us, they send you a referral based on your preferences.  Parents may accept the referral, in which case they move to the second step, or reject it, in which case the MOJ sends parents referrals until one is accepted.
  Parents travel on their first trip to visit the child.  The trip may last 4-5 days and only one parent is required to go.
  Parents return home and wait for their coordinator to go to court for them.
  After the court has occurred and the waiting time has passed, parents travel for their second trip to bring their child home.  This trip usually lasts about 4-5 days.  Only one parent is required to go on this trip, and, in some cases, escorts may be arranged if parents are unable to travel.
  Parents must submit Post Adoption reports, as required by Bulgaria law at the time of their adoption.

TIME FRAME

The time frame is very difficult to foresee as it depends on many factors, some being:  parents diligence in completing paperwork, Bulgaria national holiday's, problems with incorrect paperwork, regional changes in requirements, emergencies, etc.  

Parents can estimate the process, from start to finish, taking at least 9 to 18 months, depending on a variety of factors.

GENERAL INFORMATION ON BULGARIA

Bulgaria is a beautiful country located in southeastern Europe bordering the Black Sea between Romania, Greece and Turkey. Bulgaria is slightly larger than the state of Tennessee with a population of 7.5 million people. The winters in Bulgaria are cold and the summers are hot and dry. The Rita Mountains in the south are the highest in the Balkan Peninsula and plains dominate the northern and central regions in Bulgaria.

The capital of Bulgaria is Sofia, which is also known as the "Paris of Eastern Europe". There are many beautiful cathedrals and museums that show the rich heritage and culture of Bulgaria. Bulgaria is ethnically and religiously diverse however most of the population is of Slavic origin.

The children available for adoption range in age from infants to teenagers. These children reside in baby homes or orphanages. Most of the orphanages are well maintained and have a good caretaker to orphan ratio. The orphanages are run by doctors so the children's medical needs are taken care of to the best of the physician's abilities. Care is also given to the emotional needs of the children as well as their physical development and growth. The caregivers promote attachment and in many orphanages, grandmothers come to spend time with the small children in order to give them the one-on-one time that can make a big difference in the future ability of the child to form attachments.