Bulgaria Adoption
Adoption from Bulgaria with America World
America World is pleased to partner with an accredited, non-profit Bulgarian organization for the adoptive placement of children from Bulgaria. Our partner comprises an interdisciplinary team of lawyers, psychologists, translators, and physicians with 20 years of experience facilitating intercountry adoptions and providing support to families while they travel. Their guidance will allow families to focus on their children during those critical first days together. America World’s program staff also brings decades of experience guiding families through the international adoption process and will offer ongoing support throughout their adoption journey. Learn more about how to adopt from Bulgaria below.
Bulgaria Adoption Program Overview
| Timeline | 1-6 years |
| Waiting Children | Boys and Girls, 2-14 years old |
| Parents' Ages | 25 and up (at least 15 years older and no more than 50 years older than child) |
| Marriage Requirements | 1 year (no more than 2 divorces per person); single women are accepted |
| Travel | 2 trips, 7 days and 12 days |
| Post Adoption Requirements | 24 months |
| Estimated Costs | $40,955 – $47,504 |
Learn About Adopting from Bulgaria
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Waiting Children
Children available for adoption in Bulgaria are both boys and girls, generally between the ages of 2 and 14, including sibling groups and children with identified special needs.
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Program Requirements
Our Bulgaria adoption program has specific requirements for single women and families. Learn more to find out if this program is a fit for you.
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Cost
The cost to adopt from Bulgaria ranges from $40,955 to $47,504. Get a complete breakdown to find out what these figures entail.
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Timeline
The Bulgaria adoption timeline typically takes 1-6 years. Find out all the steps in this process.
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Get Started
Is the Bulgaria program the right fit for your family? The fastest way to find out is to fill out our FREE pre-application!
Children Waiting for Adoption in Bulgaria
Many school-aged children with moderate to significant special needs are waiting to be adopted internationally. Families who are open to adopting an older child or a child with identified special needs will likely experience a much shorter adoption timeline compared to the traditional Bulgarian adoption process.
The Bulgarian adoption authority maintains a list of children waiting for placement, typically including older children (age five and above), sibling groups, and children with significant special needs. During your home study process, your family will work closely with your social worker and America World’s program staff to determine which needs your family feels prepared and equipped to meet.
Families may also apply specifically for a Waiting Child through our partner agency. Those who are not yet formally registered with the Bulgarian adoption program must complete and submit their dossier before the Bulgarian Ministry of Justice can make a formal match.
Children available for adoption are both boys and girls, generally between the ages of 2 and 14, including sibling groups and children with identified special needs. Most children enter institutional care due to social circumstances or because they have moderate to significant special needs.
Children represent the full ethnic diversity of Bulgaria, with most available for adoption being from minority groups of Romani and/or Turkish heritage. The Roma minority in Europe has historically faced significant prejudice and economic hardship, and while Romani people comprise about 10% of Bulgaria’s general population, they represent the majority of children living in institutional care.
Bulgaria Adoption Program Requirements
Married couples and single women over the age of 25 are eligible to adopt. Prospective adoptive parents must be at least 15 years older than the adoptive child and no more than 50 years older than the adoptive child. Couples must be married for at least one year and have no more than two divorces per person.
Prospective adoptive parents must demonstrate the means to support the child's physical, emotional, and financial needs. Prospective adoptive parents with any criminal history or medical history will need to be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Bulgaria Adoption Cost
Below are the total estimated fees, not including optional / as needed expenses.
| US Expenses | $14,710 - $15,109 |
| Foreign Country Program Expenses | $11,250 |
| Contributions | $500 |
| Home Study Expenses | $2,000 - $2,950 |
| Translation / Document Expenses | $450 – $800 |
| Travel / Accommodation Expenses | $2,000 - $4,000 |
| Post Adoption Expenses | $6,250 – $6,550 |
| Third Party Expenses | $3,795 – $6,345 |
| Total Estimated Expenses | $40,955 – $47,504 |
God Can Provide for the Cost of Your Bulgaria Adoption
For many families who feel called to adopt, the greatest obstacle is often the cost. While it may seem out of reach, countless America World families have witnessed God’s incredible provision — seeing their adoption expenses reduced or even fully covered through adoption grants, the Federal Adoption Tax Credit, employer benefits, fundraisers, and more.
When God calls a family to adopt, He also provides the means. Visit our Financing Adoption page to discover how He might provide for your journey, too!
Bulgaria Adoption Process
Bulgaria’s international adoption process is done in accordance with the Hague Convention guidelines on intercountry adoption of children.
Families can start by completing a free pre-application to determine if they meet the basic eligibility requirements. They will need to meet both U.S. and Bulgarian requirements. Once eligibility is confirmed, they can move forward with completing the full adoption application. Submitting this application marks the first official step in the Bulgaria adoption process.
Dossier
The first stage of adoption from Bulgaria involves assembling a collection of documents called a dossier. These documents must go through several levels of authentication by U.S. government offices so that they can ultimately be used as the legal framework for your adoption process. This stage can take several months to complete and includes a finalized copy of the home study assessment. America World’s team will review the dossier documents before the finished dossier is forwarded to our partner. Once our partner in Bulgaria receives your dossier, it will be translated and submitted to the Ministry of Justice, which serves as Bulgaria’s central adoption authority, along with an application for enrollment in the Ministry’s Register – the official waiting list for prospective adoptive families. Enrollment in the Register should take place within approximately two months of receipt of your dossier in Bulgaria.
Waiting
After your dossier is registered with the Ministry of Justice, you begin stage two of adoption in Bulgaria – the waiting stage. The process of matching a family with a child is called the referral process. The wait time for a child referral varies, depending on the number of eligible and available children for adoption, as well as the characteristics of the child each family is seeking to adopt. The Bulgarian Adoption Council will formally refer a child based on the date of registration. The referral of a child typically includes several photos, a medical profile, a brief biography of the child’s life, a developmental and social report, as well as other general information, which will be translated and provided through our partner.
First Trip
After carefully reviewing a child's referral and deciding to accept the match, you will begin to prepare for your first of two trips to Bulgaria. The first trip to Bulgaria will last approximately 7 days, centered around meeting your child in person and bonding. Specialists from our partner agency will coordinate your in-country travel and schedule, serving as translators and supports during your stay. Their travel will focus on the area where the child currently resides. During this trip, the family can formally accept the child referral and initiate the adoption and immigration processes. Families will return to the U.S. while the next steps of the process occur, with attorneys from our partner organization representing the family locally in Bulgarian adoption proceedings.
Second Trip
The second trip to Bulgaria will occur approximately 4-6 months after your first visit and will center around obtaining the child’s passport and entry visa. This trip will be approximately 12 days in-country. America World’s Bulgarian partner will again provide support to your family in navigating these final steps of the process and be available to your family as you prepare to bring your child home to the United States!
Post Adoption
In addition to any post-adoption requirements in the family’s state of residence, Bulgaria requires a total of four post-adoption reports written by a social worker, following a home visit. These reports are due at 6 months, 12 months, 18 months, and 24 months after the adoption.
Bulgaria Adoption Program Staff
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![A woman with red hair and glasses smiling at the camera, wearing a black top with buttons, standing against a light-colored background.]()
Kristen Mallory, LMSW
COLOMBIA PROGRAM DIRECTOR
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![Elisa Chapman]()
Elisa Chapman, BA
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
