Comparing Adoption Processes from Different Countries

In the Philippines alone, there are 1.8 Million children left abandoned and neglected, while only 6,500 children are registered for adoption per year. These staggering numbers can then be compared to those in China [193,000/11,000], one of the country's closest first-world neighbors, and Kazakhstan [25,000/600], a fellow third-world country of similar economic status to the Philippines. While there may be similarities among these countries, there are still many other factors to consider when pursuing adoption. What are the differences in processes among these three countries? Read the article below to find out.

Adoption in the Philippines

Adoption in China

Adoption in Kazakhstan

Referenced Works

Adoption in the Philippines

In the Philippines, all matters related to adoption are governed by the National Authority for Child Care (NACC). The Philippines has two main types of adoption: Agency Adoption (in which a DSWD-licensed adoption agency finds and develops adoptive families for children), and Family/Relative Adoption (in which biological parents make a direct placement of the child to a relative or a member within the fourth degree of consanguinity). At the moment, there are only two licensed adoption agencies in the country: Kaisahang Buhay Foundation and NORFIL Foundation (see Trusted Adoption Agencies for more details).

To adopt from the Philippines, individuals must be residents of the Philippines for three years prior to adoption. The prospective adoptive parent must be at least 27 years old, and must be at least 16 years older than the child to be adopted, unless they are a biological relative of the child. The age gap between foster parent and child must not exceed 45 years. There are no requirements that the prospective parent/s be married, and single parent adoptions are allowed. No minimum monthly income is required, but parents must ensure that they have a stable source of income to guarantee the well-being of the foster child.

Adoption in China

In China on the other hand, adoption is handled by the China Center for Children’s Welfare and Adoption (CCCWA), which oversees all orphanages and international adoptions. There are three main adoption types in China, being International Adoption, Foster Adoption, and Domestic Newborn Adoption.

To adopt from China, it is not required that the prospective adoptive parent be a Chinese resident proper. Generally, both adoptive parents must be between the ages of 30 and 50, and must be a married couple (one man and one woman), who both agree to adopt the child jointly. They must have been married at least two years and at least one member of the couple must have stable employment and the family's annual income must equal at least $10,000 for each family member in the household (including the child to be adopted). Health-wise, both parents need to be both physically and mentally fit, with no disabilities or disorders which may hinder them in taking proper care of the foster child. Each parent must have no significant criminal record and the family must have fewer than five children under the age of 18. As per the child to be adopted, Chinese law allows for the adoption of children up to and including age 13, in which children 14 years and older are no longer eligible for adoption.

Adoption in Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan does not formally nor governmentally recognize domestic adoption agencies. Most adoption cases are handled by private adoption entities or are handled by an international bureau. To adopt from Kazakhstan, the prospective adoptive parents must have a permanent residence in the country, and the age difference between the parents and the child must be at least 16 years but not more than 45 years. The couple must also be legally married, and aged between 30-55, with no income specification required. Furthermore, foster parents must spend four weeks in the child's place of residence in order to establish a bond with the child. LGBT couples and single prospective fathers cannot adopt in Kazakhstan, however, single women are permitted to adopt. Good moral character and criminal record are also to be required of the parent/s. As per the child, he or she must consent to adoption if he or she is 10 years old or older, and prospective adoptive parents are permitted to adopt more than one child; either siblings or unrelated children. In Kazakhstan, the post-adoption reporting periods once every six months for the first three years home and then annually until the child’s 18th birthday.