For detailed information on International Adoptions, please follow this link to visit the Department of State’s adoption website:  Intercountry Adoptions.

“The child, for the full and harmonious development of his or her personality, should grow up in a family environment, in an atmosphere of happiness, love and understanding. … [I]intercountry adoption may offer the advantage of a permanent family to a child for whom a suitable family cannot be found in his or her State of origin.”  – Hague Adoption Convention, Preamble

NOTE: Moldova is a party to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Hague Adoption Convention or Convention). Intercountry adoption processing in Convention countries must be done in accordance with the requirements of the Hague Adoption Convention; the U.S. implementing legislation, the Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000 (IAA); and the IAA’s implementing regulations; as well as the implementing legislation and regulations of Moldova.

U.S. Requirements for Adoption

To adopt a child from another country and bring that child to live in the United States, you must first be found eligible to adopt under U.S. law by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). You may not bring an adopted child (or a child for whom you have gained legal custody for the purpose of immigration and adoption) into the United States until USCIS determines that you are eligible. Information regarding International Adoption is available at: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/Intercountry-Adoption.html

In addition to qualifying to adopt under U.S. law, you must also meet your home state’s requirements for prospective adoptive parents.  Learn more about individual state requirements on the Child Welfare Information State Information website.

Foreign Country Requirements

Each country has its own requirements for adopting parents. These are explained in the Moldova Information section of the State Department’s website.

Some additional resources:

Child Welfare Information Gateway – A service of the Children’s Bureau, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Medline Plus – A service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health

For information concerning adoptions in Moldova, please contact the American Citizens Services Section at: ChisinauACS@state.gov