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CHINA

In 1989, Children of the World facilitated the very first adoption of a Chinese child to a family from Quebec. Since then, more than 3,500 Chinese children have found a home via Children of the World.

Over the past 20 years, Children of the World has developed a privileged relationship with the China Center of Adoption Affairs (CCAA), responsible for international adoption in China, as well as excellent relationships with various Chinese partners. Due to our numerous years of experience and to the thoroughness of the Chinese authorities, adoption in China is well organized and the procedures are well established.

Representatives of Children of the World travel to China on a regular basis to meet with representatives of the CCAA and with our various partners. Click here to consult the summary of our most recent mission to China.

Children proposed

The children proposed for adoption have been abandoned and have been placed under the guardianship of various orphanages throughout China. They either live at the orphanage or with host families. Their parents are unknown since abandonment is illegal. Children are usually between the age of 6 and 24 months old and the majority are girls between 10 and 14 months old.

The children are usually in good physical and mental health. The orphanages must adhere to a vaccination program and medical examinations, as defined by the State.  This includes a complete medical examination in a district hospital, chosen by the local government; and includes tests for HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B.

Each child’s proposal includes photographs, a medical dossier, a summary of the child’s development and, in the majority of the cases, a vaccination booklet.

Children of the World is also accredited with the CCAA to facilitate the adoption of children with special needs. The majority of special needs children matched by Children of the World have minor or correctable medical issues. We encourage you to learn more about this program even though the label “special needs” can seem alarming. Based on certain conditions, the delays may be much shorter than having to go through the standard process. To learn more, consult the section on children with special needs.

Admissibility Criteria

Below are the criteria of admissibility, as formulated by the Chinese authorities. The original text can also be found on the CCAA’s web site: www.china-ccaa.org. In addition, we are always available to discuss the process or criteria of admissibility.

  • A minimum two years of marriage is required. If one or both applicants were previously married, a minimum of five years of marriage is required. No more than two divorces per spouse are allowed. Single applicants and common law couples are not accepted.
  • Adoptive parents must be at least 30 years old and under the age of 49 at the time that the Chinese authorities register their master file. Prospective parents seeking to adopt a special needs child must be between 30 and 54 years of age.
  • Prospective parents must be healthy, both mentally and physically. If you have or have had a particular medical condition, communicate with us; if need be, we will verify with the Chinese authorities.
  • China will not allow applicants to adopt if they have a body mass index of greater than 40. Click here to calculate your BMI.
  • At least one applicant must have a stable, full-time job. The minimum family income necessary to adopt is $30,000 US a year if you do not already have a child. An additional $10,000 US annual income is necessary for each child living in the household.
  • China requires that the family have a net worth of $80,000 US (total assets minus total liabilities).
  • Both applicants must have obtained a high school diploma or the equivalent.
  • The prospective family may have up to four children already in the home; the youngest child must be at least a year old. Exceptions are made for families willing to adopt a child with special needs.
  • Applicants cannot have a criminal history.
  • Applicants must be willing to learn about international adoption.
  • Applicants must agree to produce two progress reports, in a timely fashion, six and twelve months after their return from China.

In Quebec, international adoption is regulated by the Secretariat à l’adoption internationale (SAI). We encourage you to consult the SAI’s web site: www.adoption.gouv.qc.ca. Among the laws enacted by the government of Quebec, if a couple wishes to consider a subsequent adoption, twelve months must have passed between the date of the official adoption and the new registration.

Delays (waiting period)

The ‘’sent to match’’ timeframe is currently 4 years. As stated by the SAI, several factors influence the length of the waiting period and render its duration unpredictable. To better understand the reasons for these delays, we invite you to consult the SAI’s official statement: http://www.adoption.gouv.qc.ca/site/aid=439.phtml.

Moreover, we invite you to visit the ‘’Latest News’’ section of our web site on a regular basis to obtain more recent information.

Throughout the waiting period, Children of the World will keep you informed of the progress of your dossier with the CCAA. Before you receive a proposition, your file will be registered, translated and revised to ensure that it conforms to all the criteria of admissibility. We encourage you to learn more about China and adoption during the waiting period. Children of the World will also invite you to attend its many conferences.

The trip

Your adoption voyage is of course the culmination of all your efforts and the much anticipated moment where you will meet your child. It is also the perfect occasion to learn as much as possible about your child’s country of origin. The Chinese authorities strongly recommend that the trip be made by both parents. However, if necessary, only one parent may make the trip, which generally lasts approximately 14 days, including travel time. The first week will be spent in the child’s native province where you will finalize the legal formalities of adoption. The second week will be spent in Beijing, capital of China; where you will devote your time to the immigration and Canadian citizenship formalities.

Canadian embassy in Beijing: www.geo.international.gc.ca/asia/china

At the CCAA’s request, the trip is made as a group. You will thus have the opportunity to forge lasting friendships with other adoptive families.

Costs

These vary between $19,000 and $21,000. They include all adoption fees in Quebec and in China as well as all travel expenses. These costs can fluctuate slightly depending on the foreign exchange rate, the province and the number of people in the group.

Registration

If you wish to receive our information dossier, take part in the one of our information sessions or to communicate with us, please do so at  info@enfantsdumonde.org  or by calling 514 332-6332. We will be happy to answer all of your questions.