Costa Rica Adoption

An Overview

Costa Rica re-opened its international adoption program in 2009, after closing in 2003. While the program is still very small and only a handful of agencies work in Costa Rica, experts think that the program will continue to expand in coming years. Costa Rican law prohibits the adoption of children under the age of 4 years old, and most of the children adopted are older than 5. Costa Rica is a party to the Hague Adoption Convention.

Fast Facts:

Number of adoptions from Costa Rica:
Source: U.S. State Department
2009: 1
2008: 1
2007: 1
2005: 4
2004: 10

Estimated Cost: $25,000 to $40,000
Profile of Children: Boys and Girls older than 5 years old.
Parent Ages:Must be 25 to 60 years old.
Family Status:Married couples must be married at least 5 years. Single men and women may adopt.
Travel: Both parents must travel, if married, for the initial processing, which takes about 15 days. One parent must stay for the duration of the process, which can take from four months to a year.
Timeline:Approximately 1 year from dossier to placement.

Helpful articles from Adoptive Families Magazine:

Adopting Internationally by Susan Freivalds
Raising a Child of Another Race by Jana Wolff
Someone to Watch Over Me by Janice Cooke Newman
Our Journey to Lucy by Christina Frank and Josh Lerman
The Reluctant Spouse by Jill Smolowe
Our Proud Heritage by Rosemary Barbera
At Home in Two Worlds by Leceta Chisholm Guibault
Saying No To Racism by Gloria G. Rodriguez
¿Habla español? by Laurie R. Weaver

To Get Started in Costa Rica Adoption:

Consult this Web sites to stay up to date:

U.S. State Department—International Adoption: Costa Rica