Haiti Adoption

An Overview

Haiti is currently closed to new applications.

Haiti lies approximately 50 miles southeast of Cuba and is considered part of the West Indies. Haiti's culture is a vibrant mixture of African, French, Indian, British, and Spanish influences.

Haiti is considered to be the poorest nation in the western hemisphere, and children become available for adoption in Haiti primarily because of the extreme poverty of their birth families. The children live in orphanages until they are placed for adoption.

Previously, parents could expect a very long wait between referral and travel to Haiti to bring the child home. Owing to the devestating earthquake that took place in Haiti in January 2010, the U.S. Department of State expedited pending adoption cases and allowed children to join their prospective families. Haiti is not accepting new cases at this time. Haiti is not a member of the Hague Adoption Convention.

Fast Facts:

Number of adoptions from Haiti:
Source: U.S. State Department
2009: 330
2008: 301
2007: 191
2006: 310
2005: 234
2004: 355

Age/Gender of Children Adopted From Philippines in 2008
Source: INS Immigration Statisticss
57% female
0% under age 1 52% 1 – 4 years of age

Estimated Cost: $12,000 to $25,000
Profile of Children: 52% of children are ages 1-4; 48% are ages 5 and older; 57% of children adopted are girls (2008). Parent Ages: At least one parent must be 35 or older. For married couples, one parent may be younger than 35 if the couple has been married for 10 years and has no biological children.
Family Status:Married couples and singles may adopt. The minimum length of marriage at application is seven years; however, a longer marriage is preferred. More than one divorce is not accepted. Families may not have more than two children.
Travel: At least one parent must travel to adopt the child; length of stay is brief (3 to 5 days).
Timeline: Currently Suspended.

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

To Get Started in Haiti Adoption:

Consult these Web sites to stay up to date: