Criteria for adopting from Ethiopia
To adopt a child from Ethiopia, you must be able to fulfil both the laws of the UK and the adoption laws of Ethiopia.
The eligibility criteria for prospective adoptive parents from Ethiopia are as follows:
Age Requirements
If you are single you must be at least 25 years of age.
If married there is no minimum age.
There is no maximum age limit, however Ethiopian practice is to keep the age difference between the adoptive parent and the child to no more than 40 years.
Marriage Requirements
Couples should be married for at least five years.
Single Adoptions
At present the policy for single adoptions is under review. Adoption agencies in Ethiopia have different policies regarding single applicants and it is advisable to contact an agency to ascertain their current policies.
Income Requirements
There is no set minimum income requirements to adopt from Ethiopia but you must prove financial ability to look after a child in the court processes.
Gay Adoption
Gay couples are not permitted to adopt from Ethiopia.
Residency requirements
There are no residency requirements for prospective adoptive parents.
The Children available for adoption
Children from Ethiopia need to meet specific requirements before they come available for international adoption. You cannot adopt a child who does not meet these requirements.
Orphans identified for inter-country adoption are those who have being abandoned by their birth parents, or whose parents have died, or being lost due to misfortune. The Ethiopian Ministry of Woman;s Affairs (MOWA) is the organisation that is responsible for identifying orphans in need of families through inter-country adoption.
Abandonment Requirements:
If a child is abandoned in Ethiopia, by law he or she comes into the custody of the Government of Ethiopia.
If a child is found to have two HIV or AIDs infected parents, or one living HIV/AIDS infected parent, the Government will declare that the child is an orphan and will assume legal guardianship.
Relinquishment Requirements:
When a child has been offered for adoption, the guardian or the orphanage needs to relinquished their legal rights to the adopted child. A Contract of Adoption is issued and must be signed to prove that the legal rights of the child has been relinquished.
Waiting Period
A child must be resident in an orphanage for a minimum of three months before the being adopted.
