Colombia Adoption

An Overview

Colombia, a full member of the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption, processes adoptions through the Colombian Family Welfare Institute (ICBF). The country doesn't allow any private adoptions, and parents must travel and appear before a family judge in Colombia to complete an adoption. Learn more about adoption from Colombia at the U.S. Department of State's Colombia page.

Learn more about adoption from Colombia at the U.S. Department of State's Colombia Adoption page.

Fast Facts:

Estimated Cost: $12,000 to $20,000.
Profile of Children: 57% female; 46% under 1, and 1 to 4 years of age, 16%, in 2006. Both boys and girls, infants through school age, and sibling groups are available.
Parent Ages: Parents must be at least 25 years old, and parents over age 38 will be referred a child who is over 4 or who is hard to place.
Family Status: Although the Colombian government prefers to place children with married couples, single men and women may adopt older children.
Travel: Both parents must travel to appear before a judge, and at least one parent must be prepared to remain in Colombia for the duration of the adoption process. The average in-country stay is typically 2 to 4 weeks. Read more at Colombia Reports.
Timeline: Approximately 18 to 30 months, with longer timeframes for younger infants.

Helpful articles from Adoptive Families magazine:

Our Proud Heritage, by Rosemary Barbera, Ph.D.

At Home in Two Worlds, by Leceta Chisholm Guibault

Saying No to Racism, by Gloria G. Rodriguez, Ph.D.

Habla Espanol?, by Laurie R. Weaver, Ed.D.

To get started in Colombia adoption:

Consult these helpful books:

Raising Nuestros Ninos: Bringing Up Latino Children in a Bicultural World by Gloria G. Rodriguez, Ph.D.

Inside Transracial Adoption by Gail Steinberg and Beth Hall

Consult these websites to stay up to date:

AF Adoption News Ticker

U.S. State Department—International Adoption: Colombia

Colombian Family Welfare Institute