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Adoption

• About adoption
  • Adopting a child
  • Differences between biological and adoptive parenting
  • Adoption programs
  • Adoptive parent education
• For birth parents
  • Consent to adoption
  • Finalising adoption
  • After your child is adopted
• Adopting a child from Queensland
  • General Children's Adoption Program
  • Frequently asked questions about Queensland adoption
• Adopting a step-child or relative
  • Relative and Step-Parent Adoption Program
  • Issues to consider
  • Alternatives to adoption
  • Consent requirements
  • Leave of the Family Court
• Adopting a child with special needs
  • Special Needs Children's Adoption Program
• Adopting a child born overseas
  • Intercountry Adoption Program
  • Overseas country information
    • Chile
    • China
    • Ethiopia
    • Fiji
    • Hong Kong
    • India
    • Lithuania
    • Philippines
    • South Korea
    • Sri Lanka
    • Taiwan
    • Thailand
  • Frequently asked questions about overseas adoption
  • Intercountry adoptive parent education
• After adoption
  • Release of information
  • Mailbox Program
• Library
• Contacts
  • Community organisations
  • Other government contacts
  • Raising concerns or complaints

India

This adoption program is very small with few children now being placed with Australian families.

Indian law requires that 50 per cent of children requiring adoptive families be placed with Indian couples within India. Their next priority is placing children with Indian nationals living abroad.

Only a small percentage of children are adopted by non-Indian couples and tend to be older children or children with special needs.

Specific eligibility criteria

• Some agencies require couples to be between 25 and 40 years of age. Couples with one prospective adoptive parent outside this range may be accepted by some agencies.
• Couples are usually required to be married for five years. People who have been married previously may not be accepted by some agencies.
• Couples do not have to be infertile, although couples who have no children or one child are preferred. Couples with two children will be considered.
• When couples have been approved by the department to adopt from India, the Adoption Services Queensland will make contact with different Indian agencies to determine whether or not they will accept the couple's file.
• In the past, the waiting period for approved non-Indian couples has been approximately two to three years.

Information about children requiring adoptive placements

• Children requiring adoptive placements are up to five years of age. Couples may be approved for sibling groups, provided they are considered suitable for such a placement.

Costs

• The costs of this program are approximately A$15,000, including airfares, accommodation, legal costs and translation of documents. In many instances, when couples accept a placement they are required to pay maintenance for a minimum period of three months, or until the child is in their care.
• Medical costs could be significant if there are health issues for the child.

Further information

For further information on the individual country programs, refer to overseas country information or contact our Adoption Services Queensland Unit.

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Last updated

26 October 2007