Factors to Consider When Adopting from India

1. The Parents

To adopt from India, in addition to meeting USCIS requirements for international adoption, at least one parent must be a US citizen. The program is open to heterosexual couples married for at least two years and single persons. Single men may adopt only boys. Same-sex couples or single applicants with live-in partners are not eligible for this program. Prospective parents must be physically, mentally, and emotionally stable without life-threatening conditions. If you have medical conditions, please speak with your selected agency for more specific guidance.

Parents must be at least 25 years older than the child but no older than 55. The following age parameters determine the age of the child for whom you qualify to adopt, at the time of registration with CARA (Central Adoption Resource Authority):

Married Couples:

Married couples must have been married for at least 2 years and have a stable marital relationship.
To adopt a child 0-2 years old, the combined age of the adoptive parents must be less than 85 years.
To adopt a child 2-4 years old, the adoptive parents’ combined age must be less than 90 years.
To adopt a child 4-8 years of age, the combined age of the adoptive parents must be less than 100 years.
To adopt a child 8-16 years of age, the combined age of the adoptive parents must be less than 110 years.

Single Applicants:

Single PAPs must be less than 40 years old to adopt a child 0-2 years old.
Single PAPs must be less than 45 years old to adopt a child 2-4 years old.
Single PAPs must be less than 50 years old to adopt a child 4-8 years old.
Single PAPs must be less than 55 years old to adopt a child 8-16 years old.
Unmarried or single men may not adopt a girl child.

2. The Family

Families with two or more children are only eligible to adopt a child with special needs.

Subsequent adoptions from India are considered only after the first child’s adoption is finalized, except when siblings are adopted simultaneously.

There are no specific income requirements to adopt from India. However, families must meet 1.25 times the U.S. poverty guidelines, as USCIS requires this for all intercountry adoption cases.

3. The Kids

The Hague Convention and India’s CARA (Central Adoption Resource Authority) criteria determine a child’s eligibility for adoption. The waiting children in the India program are boys and girls aged six months to 15 years, including some sibling groups of older children. Prospective parents can specify gender. Adopting more than one unrelated child at a time is not permitted. Adopting a healthy child younger than six is typically reserved for domestic adoption or families with the OCI card or NRI status.

The children are Southeast Asian of Indian descent and typically come into orphanage care due to poverty, disease, family loss, or other family issues. Children known to be of Tibetan descent are not eligible for adoption through CARA. CARA licenses orphanages to facilitate either domestic or intercountry adoption, and they must meet government-mandated standards of care.

4. The Process

India is a party to the Hague Convention, so your first step is choosing a Hague-accredited adoption service provider (agency). Once you choose an agency, they will get you started by conducting a home study. If your agency cannot provide home-study services in your state, it can help you choose a home-study provider that meets its criteria and the Hague Convention requirements.

Your placing agency will guide you through the I-800A/I800 approval process through USCIS and compile your dossier. The agency will authenticate and submit your dossier to CARA for registration in the India adoption program. Once registered, matching can take place through the online portal program. Depending upon your eligibility and openness to gender and medical needs, the wait for a referral can be 3 to 12 months. Your agency will help you understand the referral information, though details are often limited.

Once a waiting family accepts a referral, the agency sends your dossier and immigration paperwork to the orphanage where the child resides to complete the international adoption process. When the child’s Indian birth certificate and passport are obtained, families travel to the orphanage. Travel typically occurs about 6-8 months after referral acceptance.

When you arrive home, your agency may guide you through the final adoption requirements in your state, including a Certificate of Citizenship, name change, re-adoption, Social Security, and state-issued birth certificates.

5. The Travel

Once a family arrives at the child’s orphanage to meet and take custody of the child, they must travel to New Delhi for the final process steps, including the medical exam and embassy procedures at the US consulate. Most regions require both parents to travel, though some states will allow one parent. A select few states will require more than one trip, but generally, the process is complete in one.

Parents should expect to be in India for about 2 weeks, though your agency will provide more specific guidance and a travel agenda once it approves travel. Check with your adoption agency to see how they support families while in-country: some provide guided travel, others send families in groups, and others rely on in-country consultants.

6. The Program

India’s adoption program has slowed, even though it is stable and predictable. All top sending nations share this trend of declining numbers in FY2025.

As a party to the Hague Adoption Convention, India placed 187 children for adoption in FY2025 (Table 1).

This compares with 202 children in FY2024, 221 in 2023, and 223 in 2022.

In 2023, almost 45% of those children were boys, and about 55% were girls. Gender breakdowns are not available for FY2024 or 2025.

7. The Cost

The Median Adoption Service Provider Convention Fee in 2024 was $37,976.00, according to the US State Department’s Annual Report on Intercountry Adoption, FY 2025 (Table 5).

This may not include documentation and notarizations required for a dossier or education fees. Check your preferred provider’s fee schedule for breakdowns. Families should expect total costs to range up to $40,000, plus travel expenses.

8. The Needs

The India program’s special needs range from mild to moderate. Some of the most common medical needs include heart conditions, blood conditions (including HIV), limb differences, vision or hearing impairments, cleft lip/palate, developmental delays, spine conditions, cerebral palsy, and more. Many needs can be corrected or managed by surgery or therapy, and many children receive therapy or surgery in India.

The children are typically tested for HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B, and TB. Generally, children with special needs who are waiting have more information in their files. Parents are encouraged to have a reputable international adoption specialist review the medical information to better understand the child’s needs.

India has a high malnutrition rate, and low birth weight is common, both of which can contribute to long-term needs for the child. Historically, drinking during pregnancy is uncommon, and international adoption doctors report not seeing much evidence of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD).

9. The Post-Adoption Reports

CARA (Central Adoption Resource Authority) requires adoptive parents of Indian children to submit online post-adoption reports through their placing agency to the Child Adoption Resource Information and Guidance System (CARINGS) quarterly during the first year. Post-adoption reports are required twice a year during the second year after the child arrives in the United States. The reporting continues for two years after the child acquires U.S. citizenship.

Post-adoption reports should contain detailed information about the child/children’s development and family photos. Your adoption service provider can provide a form, template, or other guidance on the report’s content.

Creating a Family always urges families to comply with post-adoption requirements on time. Your cooperation supports the program’s stability and adds to India’s history of positive experiences with U.S. citizen parents.

10. Additional Resources

The following additional resources can help you learn more about adoption from India:

This information is current as of October 2026, and represents only our best estimates and approximations. Depending upon your individual circumstances, even the widest ranges can vary greatly. Please refer back to your chosen adoption service provider for specifics regarding your process.

This information is subject to change; therefore, check with an agency approved to place from this country for the most current information.

Image credit: Michal Huniewicz; Mondo79

Top Ten Factors to Consider When Adopting From India