How to Adopt a Child from Turkey

Turkey is a beautiful country located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia. It has a rich cultural heritage and is home to many children in need of loving families. For those hoping to grow their families through adoption, Turkey can be an excellent option. Here is an overview of what’s involved in adopting a child from Turkey.

Overview of Adoption in Turkey

Turkey is party to the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption, which means adoptions from Turkey must follow certain procedures and regulations. However, Turkey is not currently considered a country of origin for intercountry adoption. While adoptions by foreign nationals are legally permitted, they are extremely rare in practice.

The Turkish adoption authorities give priority to domestic adopters. Foreigners may only adopt children who cannot be placed with Turkish families, which typically means older children and those with special needs. Turkish law also requires prospective adoptive parents to care for the child in Turkey for one year before finalizing an adoption. This allows time for bonding, but means families must be prepared to stay in Turkey for an extended period.

Overall, adoptions from Turkey by U.S. citizens are uncommon. In the past five fiscal years, no children from Turkey have received U.S. immigrant visas based on intercountry adoptions. However adoptions may still be possible in limited circumstances.

Who Can Adopt from Turkey?

Turkey allows both married couples and single adults to adopt although married couples are preferred. The adopting parents do not need to be Turkish citizens, but they must meet Turkey’s eligibility requirements.

For married couples adopting together, Turkish law does not specify any age requirements. However, older couples may have more difficulty being approved.

Single women must be at least 30 years old to adopt in Turkey. Single men can apply to adopt at age 35. Single male adopters are quite rare, as Turkish authorities have concerns over single men adopting girls.

The adoptive parents’ health is also considered Applicants with disabilities or chronic medical conditions may be excluded. Turkish authorities also evaluate factors like income, living conditions, and social environment to ensure the child will be well cared for

Children Available for Adoption

The children available for adoption in Turkey are primarily older, school-aged children and those with special needs. Infant adoptions are extremely uncommon. Sibling groups are also sometimes in need of adoptive homes.

Boys outnumber girls among adopted children in Turkey. This is because Turkish parents often hope to adopt girls, so boys have a harder time being placed domestically.

The child’s medical and social history is usually limited. Since children available for international adoption are generally not relinquished at birth, details on their birth families are often unavailable.

Adoption Procedures

The process of adopting from Turkey begins with identifying a child eligible for adoption. This is done through Turkey’s General Directorate of Child Services. The adoptive parents can specify gender, age range, and other preferences to guide the match.

Once a prospective match is proposed, the adoptive parents travel to Turkey to meet the child. If all agree to move forward, the parents file an official adoption application through the Turkish court system.

An intensive home study is conducted, which includes interviews, document reviews, and home visits. The adoptive parents must get police record checks from their home country.

If approved, the parents become the child’s legal guardians. However, they cannot yet apply for the child’s emigration from Turkey. Instead, the child is placed in their care for a mandatory custody period of at least one year. This gives time to see if the placement is in the child’s best interests. The family is expected to live together in Turkey during this period.

After the year is completed, the adoption can be finalized through the Turkish courts, after which the parents can apply for the child’s passport and visa. The entire process usually takes around two years from match to adoption completion.

Working with an Adoption Agency

It is strongly recommended to work with a reputable adoption agency when adopting from Turkey. The agency will guide you through the complex process and legal requirements. They will also conduct the mandatory home study on your behalf.

Be sure to verify the adoption agency is Hague-accredited to perform adoptions in Turkey. Working with an unaccredited agency can jeopardize or invalidate the adoption. Expect to pay agency fees ranging from $15,000-$25,000.

You’ll also need to hire a Turkish attorney to represent you in court during the adoption process. The attorney and adoption agency will work together to submit documents, complete background checks, facilitate meetings and home visits, guide you through court proceedings, and help finalize the adoption.

Costs and Fees

Below are the estimated costs involved in adopting from Turkey:

• Home study: $2,500-$4,000
• Adoption agency fees: $15,000-$25,000
• Court and legal fees: $2,000-$5,000
• Translations/document expenses: $500-$1,500
• Medical exams and child’s passport: $1,000
• Travel costs: $5,000+ for multiple two-week trips

In total, expect to spend $25,000-$40,000 when all expenses are added up.

Eligibility for U.S. Citizenship

Once the adoption is complete in Turkey, the adoptive parents can apply for the child to immigrate to the U.S. through the IR-4/IH-4 visa process. As long as all legal requirements were properly met, the child will be eligible to enter and reside permanently in the U.S.

The child will automatically become a U.S. citizen once admitted to the United States on an IR-4/IH-4 visa. There are no additional steps required for citizenship.

Why Adopt from Turkey?

While not without complexities, adopting from Turkey can be wonderfully rewarding. Some of the unique benefits include:

• Giving an older and/or special needs child a loving family when they may have less of a chance being domestically adopted
• Exposure to Turkish culture and heritage
• The one-year transition period helps ensure the match is suited to the child’s needs
• The ability to specify preferences for gender, age range, and other child characteristics
• A Hague process helps safeguard ethics and combat trafficking or baby-buying

For the right family prepared to embrace both the challenges and joys of Turkish adoption, it can be an incredibly life-changing process for parents and child alike.

Next Steps

If you are interested in pursuing adoption in Turkey, below are the recommended next steps:

• Contact the Central Authority in Turkey to learn about current policies and procedures
• Choose a Hague-accredited adoption agency to guide you
• Consult with your agency about starting the home study process
• Begin compiling the needed documents and paperwork
• Research and connect with an attorney in Turkey
• Start learning about Turkish language and culture
• Begin budgeting for likely adoption expenses

While not the easiest country from which to adopt, Turkey can be a wonderful option with the right planning and persistence. Stay flexible, work with professionals, and focus on the immense joy of giving a loving home to a child in need. If Turkish adoption is right for you, you may soon be welcoming your newest family member into your hearts and home!