Ukraine Adoption

CWA’s Ukraine program is one of our best options for children age one and a half or older. Our Program Director has an excellent relationship with the officials, and our in country facilitator is the best. New pre-registration process makes this an excellent choice for your international adoption.

Ukraine Adoption Program Information

• Ukraine is not a Hague Treaty country.
• CWA’s in-country Ukraine facilitator is the best and our families have a better adoption experience.
• Parents are able to adopt a child of the age and health condition they wanted.
• Parents do not receive a referral; rather they travel to UA and meet the children there.
• Parents are allowed to consider three children while in UA, one at a time.
• Post-adoption reports are prepared by the home study social worker once a year for three years, and then the parents write a report once every three years until the child is 18.
• Total adoption timing could be 10-12 months for the entire process.
• Currently, with the Ukraine adoption process, after application with CWA, parents submit a pre-registration packet of several documents and completed home study to UA.
• UA will then assign a date approximately 5-6 months in the future for family to submit completed dossier.
• Once family submits dossier on assigned date, travel to UA is typically less than 3-5 weeks later.
• Parents have the added benefit of advance knowledge of approximate travel time to UA.

Adoptive Parent Information

• Married couples only, Ukraine does not place with singles.
• Both parents must be at least 23 years-old.
• There must be no more than 45 years difference between the adopted child and either parent.
• Parents must be married a minimum of one year; there are no restrictions on prior divorces.
• There are no restrictions on the number of children already in the home.
• Ukraine does have some restrictive regulations regarding the health of adopting parents. Therefore, if you are currently taking any prescription medications, or if you have any medical conditions, please call or email our Director of Intake to discuss your specific case so we can help you determine your eligibility.

Available Children Information

• Children live in orphanages and are available from 14 months old to 16 years old. Children under 6 years old are in high demand, but CWA continues to be able to place younger aged children from 24 months of age and older.
• Children are mostly Caucasian, European; children may be of Roma (Gypsy) heritage.
• Girls and boys are available and parents can state gender preference.
• Parents can adopt one child at a time, or possibly siblings are available.
• When adopting younger children, they typically come home at 20-36 months of age. Older children over the age of 5 years old are available without any additional waiting period.
• Children are available due to relinquishment, removal from parents, and abandonment.

Travel to Ukraine

• Parents can choose to travel one time or two times to Ukraine.
• Both parents are required to meet the child and be at the court hearing for the first trip. Then, both parents can come home, or one can come home and one stay in UA. Expect approximately 3-4 weeks in country if choosing one trip and you accept your first referral. Time in country includes appointment for referral, traveling to meet children, court hearing, and full paperwork process to bring the child home with you.
• If parents choose two trips, the first trip is about 10-15 days for both parents; second trip for one or both parents is less than one week in Ukraine. When parents choose two trips for their Ukraine adoption, they can expect about 3 weeks between the two trips.
• Parents do not travel in groups. They travel after UA officials send CWA a travel invitation, which we pass on to the adopting family.

Post-adoption Reports and Re-adoption

All foreign countries have a specific process regarding the number and frequency of legally required post-adoption reports. Most families choose to use the same social worker that writes the home study to write the required post-adoption reports. Currently, Ukraine requires that you submit a report within 10 months after the court date of your adoption decree. Once each year for the first 3 years after adoption, a report written by a social worker is submitted. Then, once every 3 years the parents will write a post-adoption report and this is done until the child reaches the age of 18. CWA’s post-adoption staff will be glad to work with the family and the social worker for directions and instructions on preparing these legal reports. Although always recommended, re-adoption is not a legal requirement and your child is automatically a citizen of the US once they arrive here. CWA’s post-adoption staff can help guide you on the re-adoption process, or check with your home study provider. Post-adoption reports and re-adoption are two issues to consider, to discuss with your home study provider, and to plan for in your adoption budget.

Estimated Expenses & Fees

For a full list of all fees and expenses associated with Ukraine adoptions, as well as a timeline of when fees are due, please click here »

Note: Due to the nature of international adoption, all information contained on this webpage is subject to change without notice.