Eligibility requirements for adopting in Russia

Couples must pass certain criteria before being considered a candidate.

Married couples are permitted to adopt. Single people are allowed so long as there is a 16-year age difference between the prospective parent and adoptive child. Candidates must also pass all medical requirements. Testing positive for tuberculosis and infectious diseases could eliminate any potential applicant. Those who have any illness of the internal organs and nervous system, dysfunction of the limbs, drug and alcohol addictions, psychiatric disorders, and any disability which prevents them from working, will also be disqualified from the adoption process. A thorough health check may be necessary. Parents are urged to closely coordinate with their adoption agencies to ensure that all documents are in order and valid, and all requirements are met.

All prospective parents are required to travel to Russia twice during the adoption process. It takes approximately three business days in Moscow to obtain the proper documents and complete the medical exams necessary for the immigrant visa interview. They should calculate a five-day “cushion time” in the requested validity dates when applying for a Russian visa. The U.S. Embassy recommends that flight arrangements for departing Russia not be finalized until the immigrant visa is issued.

Prospective parents going abroad are encouraged to register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate through the State Department’s travel registration website, and obtain updated security information. By doing so, American citizens can be easily contacted in an emergency. The U.S. Consulates General are located in St. Petersburg, Vladivostok and Yekaterinburg. They are not directly involved in the U.S. immigrant visa process. All questions regarding the Russian adoption procedure should be directed to the U.S. Embassy in Moscow.

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