Married Couple's Adoption Eligibility Requirements

The China Center of Adoption Affairs (CCAA), the central authority overseeing all International adoptions from China, determines the eligibility requirements for adoptive parents. Parents who meet the CCAA's requirements are matched with a child based upon their personal and family characteristics; the Chinese officials match the child with the family that they believe is the best match for the child. Great Wall is approved by and registered with the CCAA to work with families who meet China’s eligibility requirements.

Eligibility Requirements for Couples

Age Requirements for Parents

• Married couples 30 to 49.5 years old or less (at application to Great Wall) are eligible to adopt from China. This age eligibility requirement is assessed by dossier registration in China.Both adoptive parents must be less than 50 years old when their dossier is registered at the CCAA.
• Adoptive parents must be at least 30 years old when the dossier is registered in China.
• Adoptive parents must be less than 50 years old when the dossier is registered in China.
• Married couples 30 up to 55 years old are eligible to adopt a Waiting Child from China. Both parents must be less than 55 years old when the dossier is registered in China.

Age Guidelines for Adoptive Families

• Couples 30 to 44 may apply to adopt a child 6 to 12 months old.
• Couples 45 to 50 may apply adopt a child 13 months to 3 years old. Dossiers must be registered before both parents are 50 years old.
• Couples 51 to 55 may apply adopt a child 4 and older through the Waiting Child Program.
• China bases eligibility on each person's age. If one spouse is under 30 or one spouse is over 55, the couple is not eligible to adopt.

Education Requirements

• Each potential adoptive parent must have a high school education. A diploma or GED is acceptable.

Financial Requirements

• The family must show a positive net worth (assets vs. liabilities) of at least $80,000. (Net Worth FAQ)
• There must also be an income earning of at least $10,000 per person in the household, including the adopted child.
• Adoptive parents must demonstrate an annual minimum combined income of $30,000. This represents $10,000 per adult + $10,000 for the adopted child. An additional $10,000 income is required for each additional person in the household. For example, a married couple with two children living in the home must earn at least $50,000

Parental History

• Prospective adoptive parents who have terminated parental rights after the age of 18 are not eligible to adopt.
• If you have been investigated by Child Welfare Services please contact Great Wall for a personal consultation.

Health History

Families are not eligible to adopt if any of the following apply:

• Diagnosed with major depression or any other severe mental health concern;
• Current diagnosis of depression or anxiety or currently on medication for depression or anxiety. If you were previously diagnosed with depression or anxiety, you must be off medication and recovered for at least 2 years.
• Diagnosed with alcoholism within the last 10 years;
• Any history of illegal drug/narcotic use or abuse;
• Any surgery within the last year;
• Major organ transplant/surgery within 10 years;
• One or both parents use a wheelchair or mobility aid;
• history of cancer;
• diagnosis of lupus;
• binocular blindness;
• Active Hepatitis A, B, or C; or
• One or both parents have a seizure disorder.
• BMI over 40. What's my BMI?

All health issues will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Please contact Great Wall if you have questions for a private consultation.

Criminal History

Families are not eligible to adopt if any of the following apply:

• Current warrants or currently on probation
• ANY use of or arrests for illegal drugs
• No more than 3 DUI or DWI charges, no DUI or DWI charges within the last 5 years regardless of outcome
• Any arrest for a violent crime (examples: assault, domestic violence, child abuse/neglect)
• Any felony arrests

Any other criminal charges are reviewed on case-by-case basis. Please contact Great Wall for a personal consultation.

Marriage Requirements

• If the first marriage, couples who are married over 2 years.
• If either spouse is in a second marriage due to the death of a spouse, the current marriage needs to be a minimum of 5 years.
• If either spouse has 1-2 divorces, the current marriage needs to be a minimum of 5 years.
• Couples where one or both spouses have 3 or more divorces are not eligible.

Maximum Number of Children
Every child deserves the undivided care and attention of a loving parent, especially children who have been orphaned at a young age. For this reason, the CCAA limits the number of children in the household to a maximum of five.

• Couples with less than 5 children under 18 years old living in the household may adopt from China.
• Couples with adult children (not living in the home) may adopt from China.
• Couples with more than 4 children in the family; but not all live at home, may adopt from China.
• If there are more than 4 children living in the household; please contact us to discuss your specific situation.

Household Requirements
Adoptive children entering a family require time to adjust to their new environment and bond with their adoptive family.

• If you have recently given birth to a child, or adopted domestically or from another country, you must wait until the child is 12 months old to submit your dossier to China.
• If you have recently adopted a child from China, you must wait until after you have submitted the 12 month post-placement report to submit your dossier to complete another adoption from China.

Religious Requirements

• CCAA requires a statement in the Home Study regarding spiritual beliefs.
• Families with religious beliefs that prohibit any kind of medical treatment, including blood transfusions, for the child, will not be eligible to adopt. According to the CCAA this includes religions that use alternatives to blood transfusions, as this is not available in every country.
• CCAA and Great Wall do not require families to be associated with any religion.

Subsequent Adoptions from China

• Adoptive parents may submit their dossier to China after they submit the 12 month Post Placement Report for the previous adoption.

Citizenship Requirements

• One adoptive parent must be a U.S. citizen
• If one parent is not a U.S. citizen; the other parent (who is a U.S. citizen) must travel to China to complete the adoption.
• If you are a U.S. citizen living abroad, we can help you to adopt from China; Great Wall has placed children with Americans living in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East.