Overview:
Bulgaria is actively placing children with families. Bulgaria is a very flexible program in that it accepts single, couples, mature-age parents, and parents with disabilities. Bulgaria many waiting children, and active adoptive-family groups on social media that can offer support as you consider adoption from this country.
Bulgaria is a Hague Convention Country, meaning there are additional safeguards by which Bulgaria operates to ensure adoptions are both ethical and in the best interests of the children. Hague Convention Countries tend to be more stable and predictable in processing adoptions and are less likely to be reactionary and make quick decisions that negatively impact the adoption process. Furthermore, Hague Convention Countries are more likely to have a process and procedure in place in the event the country elects to make any changes to its adoption process.
Children Available For Adoption from Bulgaria:
- Children range in ages from twelve months to school-aged
- Both boys and girls are in need of families; gender preferences may be specified
- Children are primarily of Romani descent (and may include those of Turkish heritage)
- Occasionally children are of “true” Bulgarian descent, but much less frequently
- No children of Bulgaria are considered Caucasian and children of fair appearance cannot be specified
- Sibling groups and children with special needs are waiting for families
- Children from Bulgaria may need to be placed in families through international adoption due to economic hardship, lack of acceptance of unwed mothers and medical reasons where parents lack the financial resources to meet the needs of their biological children
Children Available For Adoption from Bulgaria:
The Great Need for Adoption in Bulgaria. The children in Bulgaria in need of families are typically of Romani descent; in Eastern Europe, the Romani people, who are widely known as “gypsies,” are highly discriminated against.
All orphans are placed on a registry for six months while Bulgarian officials work to place the child domestically. After this period of time the children are eligible for international adoption. Most of the children are of Romani ethnicity or Turkish descent. Because of their mixed ethnicity and minority backgrounds they are often passed over for adoption by Bulgarian families and become available for international adoption.
Parent Qualifications for Adoption from Bulgaria: Single people, as well as married couples may adopt.
- Adoptive parents should be between 25-55 years of age or older.
- Couples must be married a minimum of one year.
- Adoptive parents should be at least 15 years older than the child they wish to adopt.
- Adoptive parents should be no more than 45 years older than the child they wish to adopt.
- Adoptive parents should not have more than 4 children already in the home, unless willing to adopt an older or special needs child.
- Single women and single men are allowed
- Financial proof that parent/parents can support the child are necessary
- Adoptive parents should not have any major criminal violations.
** Bulgaria often shows a great flexibility (in age of parents and family size) for children with special needs, sibling groups and those at risk of ‘aging out’ of the younger orphanages and being required to move over to the older orphanages.
Travel: Two trips are required (one to visit and one to come home, seven days each).
Timeline: The Bulgaria adoption process does not officially begin until 45 days after the family’s dossier arrives in Bulgaria, with dossier preparation taking upwards to six months. The time frame to receive a referral is approximately 12-24 months, depending upon the age and gender of child the family has indicated. The process may be expedited if a family is open to an older child, sibling group of three or more, or a child with special needs.
Referrals are given based on the date of dossier submission and balanced by several variables; characteristics of child the family has indicated (age, gender, health status) and the children in need of families at any given time. Once the referral is accepted in Bulgaria, the adoption will take approximately four to six months to complete. When the adoption is complete, parents can return to Bulgaria to bring the child home.
Please note that timeframes may vary on a case-by-case basis and are subject to change
Bulgaria Adoption Resources
Agencies Working With Bulgaria Adoption
International Adoption Agency
International and Domestic Adoption Agency
International Adoption Agency
International Adoption Agency
International Adoption Agency
International Adoption Agency
International Adoption Agency
International Adoption Agency
International Adoption Agency
International Adoption Agency
International Adoption Agency
International Adoption Agency
International Adoption Agency
International Adoption Agency
International Adoption Agency
International Adoption Agency
