Effective January 1, 2015, the China Center for Children’s Welfare and Adoption (CCCWA) has implemented changes in eligibility for prospective adoptive parents (PAPs), post-placement practices, and application fees.
Age: PAPs older than 50 are now eligible to adopt as long as the age difference between the child and the youngest spouse is no more than 50 years.
Health: Having HIV or multiple sclerosis disqualifies PAPs, unless one of the parents is healthy and the sick parent’s condition is well-managed with treatment. Health exemptions may be given on a case-by-case basis.
Income: Previously, the CCCWA required that PAPs have a total annual income of $10,000 or more for each family member, including the child to be adopted. PAPs who make less than that may now apply to adopt if they can provide certification that they live above the average local living standards.
Family Composition: Single women are now eligible to adopt non-special needs children as long as they are no more than 45 years older than the child. The restriction that families must have fewer than five children under age 18 living at home is no longer in place.
Process: PAPs must now complete a pre-adoption training program and agree to submit six post-placement reports at specific intervals after the adoption registration. The adoption application fee has increased from $1,050 to $1,110. The fee for a step-child adoption is now $800 per application.
