Signed in as:
filler@godaddy.com
Living Hope Adoption Agency has been approved by the Bulgarian central adoption authority to provide international adoption from Bulgaria. Living Hope currently partners with ANIDO Association, a licensed agency in Bulgaria who has been facilitating international adoption since 2003. If you are interested in adopting from Bulgaria, please call our agency for the current time frame. Our agency will assist and guide you through each step of the adoption process including: obtaining a home study assessment, gathering necessary documents for Bulgarian government approval, applying for immigration approval, travel planning, receiving your child in Bulgaria and completing the adoption process both in Bulgaria and in the U.S.
Situated in Southeastern Europe, the Republic of Bulgaria is a beautiful country, shares borders with Greece, the Republic of Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, and Turkey. Bulgaria is one of the oldest countries in Europe, and is member of the European Union.
Key Facts:
• Official Name: Republic of Bulgaria.
• Capital City: Sofia
• Major Cities: Plovdiv, Varna, Burgas
• Area: 42, 685 square miles (110, 994 sq.km)
• Polulation: ~7.1 million
• Ethnic Makeup: Bulgarian (76.9%), Turkish (8%), Roma (4.4%) and others (10.7%)
• Languages: Bulgarian (official), Turkish, Roma (minority)
• Currency: Bulgarian Lev (BGN)
• Religion: Orthodox Christianity is the dominant
Requirements
requirements for bulgaria's pre-adoptive families
Please read through the lists of requirements below to see if you qualify for adopting from Bulgaria. If you have any questions, please call or email us at info@livinghopeadoption.org
Age Requirements
- Prospective adoptive parents must be at least 15 years older than their adoptive children. There is no upper age limit, although parents over 50 will be encouraged to adopt an older child rather than an infant.
Income Requirements
- There is no minimum income required by Bulgaria. However, you must meet the income requirements provided by USCIS for the child to immigrate. According to USCIS, your household income must be equal to or higher than 125% of the U.S. poverty level for your household size.
Marriage Requirements
- Under Bulgarian law, prospective adoptive parents can be a heterosexual married couple or a single person.
Health of the Adoptive Parents
- Applicants must be generally healthy.
Number of Children in the Home
- There are no limits on family size!
Citizenship Requirements
- At least one of the adoptive parents must be a U.S. Citizen in order for LHAA to facilitate your adoption.
Criminal History
- Applicants must disclose all criminal history. Any criminal history will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
FAQs
Is Bulgaria a Hague Convention country and what does this mean?
Yes. The Hague Convention protects children and their families against the risks of illegal, irregular, premature or ill-prepared adoptions abroad. Bulgaria is part of the Convention and therefore abides by all Hague Convention policies and practices.
What does “special needs” mean?
This is an often-misunderstood term in adoption because it doesn’t necessarily indicate that a child has physical or developmental disabilities. Many children with special needs are either older than 5, part of a sibling group, or have moderate physical, developmental or emotional health needs. Most Bulgarian children who are waiting for adoptive families have experienced some degree of trauma, and families will need to be prepared to parent a child with complex needs.
How long does the adoption process take from application to being matched?
The wait time to adopt a child from Bulgaria varies. Depending on the profile of child you are approved to adopt — the child’s age, gender and special needs — your wait time to be matched could be 6 months to 5 years. Families requesting a girl within the youngest age range and with minor medical conditions will typically wait the longest. Families who are more open in terms of age, gender and special needs will see shorter wait times. When a family applies to a healthy young child (3 years of age or under), the wait time is up to 4-5 years. When a family applies to adopt a waiting child, the wait time is limited to the time it takes to assess and approve the match — making the overall process approximately 12-18 months from application to placement.
How much does it cost?
The overall cost for a Bulgarian adoption is around $39,000. The agency fees are approximately $11,000. The additional expenses are due to other outside fees, such as the home study, Foreign Country fees, USCIS fees, and travel fees.
Are there sibling groups available for adoption?
Yes, there are sibling groups of varying age, gender, and number of siblings available for adoption in Bulgaria.
Waiting Child Program
Waiting Child Program
Bulgaria Waiting Child Program consists of children with mild to severe needs, ranging in age from 2-15 years old. The children in this program typically have some level of physical, emotional, and/or developmental delays. If you feel open to providing a home for one of these wonderful children and are interested in learning more , please contact Jill McCourt (jmccourt@livinghopeadoption.org)