About China
The People's Republic of China is one of the world's most ancient civilizations with a recorded history of more than 5,000 years. Butting against the Pacific Ocean in East Asia, China has a vast territory richly endowed with natural resources. Its capital, Beijing, is not only the nation's political center, but its cultural, scientific and educational heart, as well as a key transportation hub. The famous Badaling section of the Great Wall (one of the Seven Wonders of the World) is located about one hour from northwest Beijing.
China began its international adoption program in 1991, and it has become one of the most trusted and sought after international adoption programs in the world. In fact, American families choose to adopt from China more often than from any other country. As of 2008, more than 66,000 Chinese orphans have been placed with American Families. Many families choose to adopt from China because it provides a stable, predictable and corruption-free process.
The China Center for Children's Welfare and Adoption, located in Beijing, is the governing authority responsible for placing children into China's international adoption program. This government run program ensures that children receive adequate care in welfare homes while providing parents with a stable international adoption process.
Great Wall China Adoption
Great Wall China Adoption, CAN’s parent company, is solely dedicated to China Adoption. For valuable, in-depth information about every facet of China Adoption or to get started today, visit the Great Wall China Adoption website. To speak with a China Adoption expert, please call 1.888.GW.FAMILY (1.888.493.2645), or you can email info@gwca.org.
Children Available for China Adoption
Chinese children are orphaned or abandoned for a number of reasons including the country's government policies that restrict parents from having more than one child and poverty in rural areas. These children remain in welfare homes (orphanages) until they are placed with a family for adoption. All children available for international adoption in China have received medical testing. When selecting a child, consider that you may adopt the following:
- Boys and girls from 5 months to 14 years of age
- Special needs children with medical conditions through China's Waiting Child program
China Adoption Eligibility Requirements
In addition to the USCIS requirements for prospective adoptive parent(s),China has the following adoption eligibility requirements. If you feel you are not eligible to adopt from China or you are unsure, we may be able to work with you. Please contact us for a free case-by-case consultation regarding your China Adoption.
- Citizenship: One adoptive parent must be a U.S. citizen.
- Age: Both parents must be between the ages of 30 and 50 to adopt from China. Couples 50-55 are eligible for China's Waiting Child Program. Older couples may be considered on a case by case basis.
- Marriage Status: Married couples are eligible to adopt from China. First marriage couples must be married for at least two years; neither spouse can be divorced more than twice – for marriages with previous divorces, must be married for at least five years. Single women are eligible to adopt from China's Special Focus Adoption Program, and other guidelines apply. Please see our Special Focus Adoption Program page for guidelines for single women.
- Income: $10,000 annually per person in household, including future adopted child; for example, a married couple with no children living the home must earn at least $30,000 annually; families must show a positive net worth (assets vs. liabilities) of at least $80,000.
- Criminal History: Applicants with a criminal history of child abuse, violence or domestic violence, drug charges or any felony arrests are not eligible to adopt.
- Education: Both parents must have high school diplomas (or the equivalent).
- Religion: Spiritual beliefs must not prevent your child from receiving medical treatment of any kind.
- Previous Children: Families with biological children and/or adopted children may still adopt from China and can submit their dossier to China when the biological child turns one year old or upon the one-year anniversary of their previous China Adoption; families with five or more children are eligible to adopt through China's Waiting Child Program.
- Health: If either parent is not in excellent health, acceptance to adopt from China is on a case-by-case basis. For more information about health factors that affect eligibility, contact a CAN consultant.
China Adoption Eligibility requirements are subject to change per CCAA's adoption laws. CAN updates these guidelines as necessary.
China Adoption Timeline
China's adoption process can take a minimum of 5 years, depending on the time the families take to complete their dossier paperwork, their preferences for age and gender, and CCCWA's referral speed. This timeframe is subject to change; please consult CAN for current processing times for your adoption from China.
