Chinese Children Adoption International
 
 

Qualifications to Adopt from China

According to the Adoption Law of the People’s Republic of China (published 11/4/1998), current China Center for Children’s Welfare & Adoption (CCCWA) policies and practices, and US immigration laws, you must meet the following guidelines to qualify for a China adoption: 

 

Waiting Child Program (WCP)
& Special Focus Adoption (SFA)

Non-Special Needs (NSN) Program

Marriage

  • Married heterosexual couples
  • Single heterosexual females (SFA only)
  • If no previous marriages, must be married for at least 18 months at application (2 years at time of child match)
  • If previously married, must be married for at least 4 ½ years at application (5 years at time of child match)
  • No more than two divorces per applicant
  • Married heterosexual couples
  • If no previous marriages, must be married for at least 18 months at application
  • If previously married, must be married for at least 4 ½ years at application
  • No more than two divorces per applicant

Age

  • Both applicants at least 29 ½ years at application (at least 30 years at time of child match)
  • If dossier is logged in after older applicant’s 50th birthday, qualify for WCP or SFA only
  • Dossier must be logged in before older applicant’s 55th birthday (typical dossier compilation timeline is 5-6 mos, flexibility possible)
  • Single applicants, if over 50, must be no more than 45 years older than child to be adopted
  • Both applicants at least 29 ½ years at application
  • Dossier must be logged in before older applicant’s 50th birthday (typical dossier compilation timeline is 5-6 mos)
  • Age of child qualified for as specified below (based on age of older applicant):
  • Applicants ages 30 - 44qualify for a child up to 12 months of age.
  • Applicants ages 45 - 49qualify for a child up to 24 months of age.
  • All applicants between 30 and 50 are qualified for a child older than the above-mentioned age range, if desired.

Children at Home

  • Couples: Flexible on number of children in home, especially for SFA, youngest child must be at least 12 months at time of dossier log-in
  • Singles: No more than two children living in home, youngest must be at least 6 years at time of child match
  • No more than four minor children living in home
  • Youngest child must be at least 12 months at time of dossier log-in

Finances

  • Couples: At least $10,000 annual income per household member, including the child(ren) to be adopted, minimum $80,000 net worth (assets minus liabilities)
  • Singles: At least $20,000 annual income plus $10,000 per child in the home, including child to be adopted; minimum $100,000 net worth
  • At least $10,000 annual income per household member, including child to be adopted, minimum $80,000 net worth (assets minus liabilities)

Health

  • Applicants must be in good physical and mental condition necessary to provide responsible care for an adopted child. 
  • May not be currently taking medication for depression, anxiety, bi-polar disorder, or schizophrenia; if medication taken in the past, must be off for at least two years at time of dossier log-in
  • Body Mass Index (BMI) must be under 40

(Flexibility possible for the above, especially for SFA)

  • Applicants must be in good physical and mental condition necessary to provide responsible care for an adopted child.  CCCWA’s current policy will not approve an applicant with any verifiable cancer history.
  • May not be currently taking medication for depression, anxiety, bi-polar disorder, or schizophrenia; if medication taken in the past, must be off for at least two years at time of dossier log-in
  • Body Mass Index (BMI) must be under 40

Education

Minimum high school education or equivalent

Minimum high school education or equivalent

Citizenship

US citizenship, at least one applicant

US citizenship, at least one applicant

History

  • No arrests or alcohol abuse within past 10 years
  • No history of domestic violence, sexual abuse, or child abuse
  • No history of drug use or experimentation
  • No arrests or alcohol abuse within past 10 years
  • No history of domestic violence, sexual abuse, or child abuse
  • No history of drug use or experimentation
 
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