Ethiopia Adoption

Ethiopia Adoption

Ethiopia has been called “the land of a thousand smiles.” It is a country with a rich and prominent history. The oldest independent country in Africa, and one of the oldest in the world—its history dates back at least 2,000 years. Gondar, the formal capital city, was the center of achievements throughout the Middle Ages that have had a great influence on all of Africa. This is a place of wonder, home of the famed Queen of Sheba, and the birthplace of coffee.

Why Choose Ethiopia?

• Children available for adoption range in age from infants to fifteen years old; preschool and school-aged children are most readily available
• A medical report is available for all children
• Children with special needs are also able to be adopted
• More than one child can be placed at one time
• Ethiopia is one of the least expensive programs
• AAI is licensed in Ethiopia

Location

The children come from an orphanage in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital.

Reason for Availability

• Abandonment due to overpopulation.
• Lack of good medical care.
• Parents cannot care for their children due to severe poverty.
• The parents are deceased.

Children's Situation

The children live in well-run orphanages.

Eligibility for Families

• Only heterosexual applicants are eligible.
• Married couples and single female applicants are accepted.
• Couples must be married at least two years.
• Prospective adoptive parents must be at least twenty-five years old.
• If a couple, at least one prospective adoptive parent must be age forty-nine years or younger to adopt an infant. If single, the prospective adoptive parent must be forty-nine years or younger to adopt an infant.
• Couples where both spouses are age fifty to fifty-nine years or singles age fifty to fifty-nine years may adopt a child age five years or older.
• Prospective adoptive parents must have health insurance.

Procedure

• You will first submit a preliminary application to AAI, meet with a consultant for an International Adoption Awareness Meeting, and then complete your formal application. Next, you will complete your home study, your USCIS paperwork, and prepare your dossier.
• Upon completion of your dossier, your documents will be sent to Ethiopia.
• You will receive your referral after a few months. If you formally accept the referral, the adoption process will begin.
• Once the process is completed, you will travel to Ethiopia to bring your child home.

Travel

• It is recommended that adoptive parents take one trip to Ethiopia lasting approximately one week to ten days after the adoption process is completed and the child is ready to come home.
• You will fly into the capital city of Addis Ababa, and then continue to the orphanage from there.
• If your child is from a southern region, you will be required to travel there for a few days.
• One or both parents may travel.
• Escorting is available at an additional cost, but not recommended.

Due to the nature of international adoption, the information on this page is subject to change without notice.