Gender

Boys and girls can be adopted, but if a child without a gender preference is desired, the adoption process for a boy is usually shorter. Some adoption agencies allow families to specify the child's gender, while others do not.

Old

Children aged 1 to 15 can be adopted, although in practice it is relatively uncommon for children over 10 to be placed with non-Thai-speaking families. Recent reports (2007) indicate that some families outside the US who applied through the DSDW's direct quota system for young, healthy, and unidentified children and were approved to adopt children aged 0 to 12 received placement offers for younger children and were able to adopt them before their first birthday.

Twin or sibling groups

Occasionally, this may be possible. Apart from twins and siblings (other than twins), it is not possible to adopt more than one Thai child at a time, unless you are adopting the children of your Thai spouse.

Conditions

Most Thai children awaiting adoption live in orphanages. Many of these are state-run, such as the large Pakkred Children's Home (Bangkok region) and Viengping Children's Home (Chiang Mai), as well as numerous other homes throughout the country. Some orphanages are run by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) or other private charities (both religious and secular). Examples include the Thai Red Cross Children's Home and the Friends for All Children Orphanage (both in Bangkok), the Pattaya Orphanage in Chonburi, and the Agape Home in Chiang Mai. There are also foster care programs where children live with foster families until they are adopted. Examples include the Holt Sahathai/Holt International program (which focuses primarily on the adoption of young, healthy children) and the foster families for some children supported by the Friends for All Children Foundation, particularly in the Chiang Mai region.

Health and Development

Families can choose to adopt a child with normal needs or one with special needs. They should be aware that even "healthy" children who have spent formative years in residential care can exhibit developmental delays ranging from minor to severe (gross and fine motor skills, cognitive abilities, speech and language skills, as well as emotional maturity and attachment issues). The longer the stay in residential care, the more pronounced these deficits usually are. Thoroughly gathering information before adoption is crucial to successfully addressing potential challenges.

Requirements for adoption

The Thai Adoption Board (comprised of senior officials from the Thai Ministry of Social Development and Welfare, as well as other government agencies) must approve all adoptions of Thai children. This includes children in the care of the Ministry, children cared for by certain non-governmental organizations, and children related to or known to the prospective adoptive family. If the biological parents are known, the child must have been legally released for adoption under Thai law. If the child was abandoned, Thai authorities will endeavor to locate the biological family before approving the adoption.

The slowness of the investigation and approval processes is a major reason why infant adoptions are virtually nonexistent in Thailand. Even the youngest available children are typically only one or two years old. Many children in Thai orphanages still have one or both parents who may be impoverished, incarcerated, or otherwise unable to care for a child, yet they have never given their consent for adoption. Therefore, although thousands of children live in Thai orphanages, a high percentage of them are unsuitable for adoption, either domestically or internationally.

Family requirements

Thai law does not stipulate a long list of family requirements. Adoptive parents must meet the legal requirements for adoption in their home countries. Married couples must consist of a man and a woman, both of whom are at least 25 years old. Single women (not men) can apply to adopt children with special needs; however, the Thai definition of "special needs" is not entirely clear. (For example, it is unclear whether the definition automatically includes older, otherwise healthy children awaiting adoption. Contact your adoption agency for up-to-date information.)

Thai law does not specify a maximum age for parents. Regulations vary depending on where your adoption agency submits your application (the DSDW or a non-governmental organization) and what that agency's guidelines are. Both non-governmental organizations and adoption agencies can establish their own rules (in addition to Thai federal law) that define what age is considered "too young" or "too old" for parents. It is important that you state your desired age and discuss this with your adoption agency.

Generally, parents in their late 20s and early 30s do not face age-related difficulties and can adopt both younger and older children. (However, Thai law stipulates a minimum age difference of 15 years between the younger parent and the child.) Parents in their early 40s may be asked to adopt a slightly older child (an older toddler or preschooler). Parents in their late 40s may be able to adopt school-aged children or (possibly) younger children with special needs. Couples where both parents are over 50 have significantly lower chances of adoption. It is therefore very important to discuss your individual situation with any adoption agency you are considering.

The following statements should be understood as general guidelines based on the agency's experience and observed practices, and not as rigid rules. For example, small families (two or fewer children) are generally given preference; however, this preference may be overridden, particularly for children awaiting adoption. Some families with few children (in one case, only three, all previously adopted in Thailand) had their adoption applications rejected; other, larger families, however, were approved. The DSDW apparently reviews all applications from larger families individually. The number of children currently living in the household (compared to older children who no longer live there) is also taken into account by the DSDW.

A married couple is apparently allowed a total of two divorces (one per spouse or two for one spouse). The duration of marriage and remarriage after one or more divorces is not specified in adoption law. However, families who have recently married, especially after a divorce, may encounter difficulties. Therefore, you should contact your adoption agency regarding your individual situation. Couples do not need to be infertile, although proof of fertility may be requested. Pregnancy during the adoption process will delay adoption in Thailand and may even prevent it. (Thai authorities may grant a temporary stay of proceedings if you wish to adopt a child without a known disability. However, an application to adopt a child with a known disability will likely be rejected if you become pregnant during the process.)

Thai authorities carefully examine family income and require proof that a family can provide for its children. Detailed income statements are required and should be readily available for families to provide. However, assets are not a prerequisite for participation in the adoption program, and Thai law does not specify income limits. Serious parental illnesses are reviewed on a case-by-case basis and may prevent adoption. Thailand does not have a fixed weight limit for parents, as exists in some countries of origin (e.g., Korea, China). However, recent reports (from 2006) indicate that the Thai Department of Child Development and Advancement (DSDW)/Child Adoption Center is increasingly concerned about this issue and has already rejected some families due to unacceptable obesity (and therefore presumably more likely to have serious health problems that would impair their ability to parent).

As with most international programs, some requirements for adopting a child on the waiting list or a child with special needs may be waived. Contact us for more information. Please use the form below.