Home Adoption Process & Eligibility

Adoption Process & Eligibility

A person habitually resident abroad who wishes to adopt a child habitually resident in Bulgaria, must submit an application together with a dossier (supporting documents) to the Bulgarian Ministry of Justice.

When we receive a complete dossier, we have it translated and authenticated, and then submit it to the Ministry of Justice.Once a dossier is logged, the Ministry begins a review process.

Having reviewed the application and documents of the adoptive parents, the Intercountry Adoption Council makes an official referral to the parents, taking into account the order in the register and the profile of the child/children the prospective adoptive parents have been approved for. The Ministry of Justice provides us with the official referral document together with a profile and a picture of the child. We translate and send to the adoptive parents all the referral documents received.

The time frame to receive a referral is dynamic and may vary depending on the age and gender of child the family has indicated. 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.

Alista staff support and guide prospective adoptive parents during the whole process of adoption – from the initial compilation of the application papers to the departure of the child or children from the country.

Once the child is placed, Bulgaria require post-adoption reports to be submitted at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months following its placement with the adoptive family.

Only children included in the Register of children eligible for full adoption by persons habitually resident abroad, may be subject to intercountry adoption. This Register is kept by the Ministry of Justice. Siblings are usually adopted together. A considerable number of the children on this Register are often older (over seven years of age), belong to a larger sibling group, and/or have specific developmental and health issues.

In order to be eligible to adopt a child from Bulgaria, applicants: