Philippines

Philippine Adoption

Eligibility Criteria

• Families must be open to a child of either gender.
• The adoption process takes 18 to 24 months from the time of acceptance by the Philippine government to the time of referral.
• Adopting parents must be married at least 3 years.
• Preference is given to Christian families.
• Adopting parents must be at least 27 years old at the time of application. (Preference is given to families who are no more than 40 years older than the child to be adopted.)
• Travel by at least one parent to the Philippines to receive the child is required.
• Jan. 2010 update: Applicants who are in good physical health and free of any significant health conditions, past or present are eligibile for adoption.  For more information about the health considerations, call your local office for additional information.
• The Inter-Country Adoption Board (ICAB) has indicated they will consider the physical and/or mental helath status of prospective adoption parents who are seeking the adoption of a relative or special needs child; including older, school aged children, on a case-by-case basis.

Children Available

• Ages:  Many children are over 24 months to 15 years old.  Healthy, special needs, and siblings are available.  Families should be open to either sex; more boys than girls are available for adoption.  All families must be willing to accept a child up to the age of 3 years.
  
• Medical conditions that are commonly found in "healthy" children are upper respiratory infections.  Some of the children need follow up for Tuberculosis upon placement.  Parasites are common, as are scabies.  Malnutrition may also be a frequent part of the children's history.  Minor developmental delays are common in the children.
  
• Special needs children refer to children who:a) need major surgeries, b) have major developmental delays or are handicap (e.g.  blind, deaf, mute), c) are older children - 6 years old and above, and/or d) are sibling groups of 3 or more children.
  
• Most of the children have been in a receiving home, or an orphanage.
  
• The Inter-Country Adoption Board (ICAB) matches families and their referral will include a photo, child study report, and a brief health history.

Download a PDF, for more information on Phillippine Adoption.