Is Adopting Internationally More Expensive Than Domestic?

The U.S. Department of State estimates that international adoption fees range from $20,000 to $40,000, with average costs of $25,000 to $30,000. This includes travel expenses, medical exams, background checks, and other fees that vary from country to country and sometimes within the same country.

In addition, international adoption agencies charge a “processing fee” of approximately 10 percent of the total adoption fee. Some countries also require that adoptive parents pay a “placement fee.”

These fees can be substantial, but they are often offset by the benefits of adoption, such as meeting children who need homes, providing families with needed resources, and connecting children to long-term support services.

Some countries, including China, have adopted strict regulations in recent years that have reduced the number of available children and made it difficult for many families to adopt internationally.

Adoptions from China to the United States have dropped substantially in recent years, and China is now the second-largest source of international adoptions. However, China is not the only country with high adoption fees or placement fees.

Many countries with low birth rates and aging populations struggle to find adoptive families to care for their orphans, and adoption agencies often raise fees to offset the cost of finding adoptive families in those countries.

Some countries also impose strict regulations on adoption, including requiring that prospective parents be married, or in a committed relationship, that they live in the country where they want to adopt, and that they be able to financially support the child.

Many countries also require that adoptive parents be screened for serious health issues, criminal records, or financial problems.

Costs can vary greatly depending on the country, but here are some of the top-paying countries:

• Canada: $17,000 to $26,000

• United Kingdom: $18,000 to $24,000

• Germany: $22,000 to $28,000

• Japan: $23,000 to $33,000

• South Korea: $25,000 to $32,000

• Italy: $27,000 to $35,000

• Australia: $31,000 to $38,000

• New Zealand: $31,000 to $40,000

• Norway: $32,000 to $45,000

• Sweden: $34,000 to $44,000

• France: $36,000 to $50,000

• Austria: $37,000 to $55,000

• Belgium: $37,000 to $55,000

• Netherlands: $40,000 to $60,000

• Denmark: $41,000 to $70,000

• Ireland: $45,000 to $75,000

• Luxembourg: $46,000 to $75,000

• Spain: $47,000 to $65,000

• Finland: $48,000 to $71,000

• Czech Republic: $48,000 to $70,000

• Poland: $49,000 to $70,000

• Hungary: $50,000 to $70,000

• Slovakia: $50,000 to $70,000

• Romania: $51,000 to $70,000

• Russia: $52,000 to $70,000

• Bulgaria: $54,000 to $70,000

• Greece: $55,000 to $70,000

• Moldova: $64,000 to $70,000

• Bosnia and Herzegovina: $65,000 to $70,000

• Kazakhstan: $66,000 to $70,000

• Kyrgyzstan: $67,000 to $70,000

• Tajikistan: $68,000 to $70,000

• Turkmenistan: $69,000 to $70,000

• Uzbekistan: $70,000 to $70,000

Source: The U.S. State Department, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs, Bureau of Consular Affairs.