Romanian Adoptions

Note: Adoptions Currently Suspended

Situated in eastern Europe, Romania lies north of Bulgaria and south of the Ukraine. Home to more than 22 million people, Romania may be best known as the location of the fabled Transylvania Mountains (of Count Dracula fame).

Soviet occupation of Romania after the second world war led to the formation of the Communist Peoples Republic of Romania in 1947. The decades-long rule of dictator Nicolae Ceausescu became increasingly oppressive through the 1980s until, finally, he was overthrown and executed in 1989. Although a democracy today, Romania is still trying to overcome the bleak economic legacy of the Ceausescu era.

Today, there are thousands of children living in orphanages all over Romania. Children live in maternity orphanages until they reach age three. They then move to pre-school orphanages, and later move to school-age orphanages. At age 16, the children must leave the orphanage to live on their own. The orphanages in Romania are a project of the present government and at the same time the result of Ceausescu’s former regime requirement that child-bearing women procreate to increase the population and the work force.

The Romanian government has extended its moratorium on adoptions until new legislation governing adoption is implemented. Prior to this moratorium, there was reported widespread corruption in Romania's international adoption system. To protect the best interests of the children, the Romanian government halted all international adoptions in October 2001 until new laws could reform the system. (Yes, Americans adopted 168 children in 2002. The adoptions of these "pipeline children" - children already referred to families - were allowed to proceed. After these children were united with their families, no other international adoptions were allowed.)

In a Nut Shell: The Low-Down on Adopting From Romania

Prior to the moratorium imposed by the Romanian government, the following information applied to adopting children from Romania:

• Children Available: Healthy infants (six months old and older) and toddlers of both genders are available for adoption from Romania. Older children, sibling groups, and special needs children are also available for adoption.
• Parent Requirements: Couples must be married for at least three years and be at least 25 years old. The difference between the child’s age and that of the prospective parents should not exceed 45 years for women and 50 years for men. Single women are eligible to adopt from Romania. Romania will not allow adoption by homosexuals.
• Travel Requirements: Travel is not required, although adoptive parents are strongly encouraged to travel to their child’s birth country.
• Time Frame: From the time you complete your initial application until you bring your child home takes an average of 17 months.
• Number of Children Adopted by Americans in 2002: 168
• Additional Information: The children live in orphanages.

Romanian Adoptions Forums, Romanian Adoptions Articles, Romanian Adoptions Blogs,

Credits: Excerpted from "International Adoption Guidebook," by Mary Strickert