Adoption FAQs

What is the Hague Convention?

The Hague Convention is an international treaty that standardizes the way international adoptions are conducted throughout the world. The purpose of the Convention is to ensure that adoptions are conducted to the highest possible standards.

Bulgaria is a Hague Convention Country, meaning there are additional safeguards by which Bulgaria operates to ensure adoptions are both ethical and in the best interests of the children.

What it the typical length of time to complete and adoption?

The timeline for adopting varies depending on the family’s openness regarding the desired age, gender and health status of a child.

The process may be expedited if a family is open to an older child, sibling group of three or more, or a child with special needs.

Who are the children in need of families in Bulgaria?

Some of the children in need of families are of Romani or Turkish descentwho are not typically adopted domestically by Bulgarian families.

Children with greatest need of international adoption are older children, sibling groups and children with special needs, many of which are often treatable or correctable.

Children are often relinquished due to economic hardship, lack of acceptance of unwed mothers, and medical reasons where parents lack the financial resources to meet the needs of their children.

How many trips to Bulgaria are needed?

Two: one to get to know the child with a duration of up to seven days, and another one to bring the child home, with a duration of approximately ten days.The second trip is not mandatory and the child may be escorted by Alista staff. However, we do encourage families to travel on both occasions.