Phillippines: Country and Program Overview

The Philippines is an archipelago of 7,107 islands and islets located in the southeast coast of Asia. It has a total land area of 300,000 square kilometers bounded by the Philippine sea to the east, Celebes Sea to the south, and South China Sea to the north and the west. It is separated by three main islands called Luzon, The Visayas and Mindanao. Manila is the national capital located in the heart of Luzon.

Children Available

In the Philippines, birth mothers are not able to give consent for a child's adoption until the child is at least six months old, and there are a number of processes undertaken to ensure that the child is legally available for adoption. Therefore, children are at least 12 months of age and more commonly over two years of age before a placement may be sought. Children requiring an adoptive placement may have been surrendered, abandoned or orphaned. Some children present with no significant health problems, while others have mild medical conditions, institutionalized behaviors or poor social backgrounds. Most of the children live in orphanages, some are in foster care. Both boys and girls are available for adoption. Special needs children are also available. Priority is given to locating a placement for a child within the child's immediate locality, and then broader community, before consideration is given to an overseas placement.

Parent Requirements

Couples must be at least 27 years of age. No formal upper age limit applies. However, the maximum age gap between a child and their parents should be no more than 47 years. Couples must be married for three years, or a minimum of five years if one spouse has been married previously. There are no specific requirements regarding religion, although couples need to demonstrate a commitment to living by Christian principles. Adoption by single women is on hold; however, single women who are willing to adopt waiting children/special needs may be given accommodations.

Travel

Both parents are required to travel to the Philippines to pick up their child. Once the parents have received the referral of the child, they must travel within 30 days or risk relinquishing the placement.

Timelines

For children 0-5 years of age, referrals occur approximately 18-24 months after approval by the Intercountry Adoption Board of the Philippines. For couples who are of Philippine heritage, the wait is approximately 12-18 months. For children aged 6 and up or school aged siblings, the wait is 6-18 months. Matching of children for Special Needs (waiting children) by the Intercountry Adoption Board will occur in 1-6 months.

Fees

Approximate total cost for an adoption from the Philippines is $20,000 to $25,000. These fees include your home study, travel, stay in country, agency fees, foreign program costs and legalization of paperwork.