India adoption

In India, children of all ages with minor to significant developmental, physical or medical special needs, and sibling groups are in need of families. The children were placed under care in institutions due to the loss of birth parents, birth parent relinquishment, or abandonment. They were deemed to be legally free for adoption by the Indian adoption authorities.

Non-Resident Indian (NRI) and Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) heritage families may request to be matched with a child with no known medical needs, but they must be prepared for mild/correctable issues, delays, and unpredictable wait times. Non-heritage families must be open to a child with known special needs, a child over the age of 8, or a sibling group of three or more children.

Adopting from India

Hopeful adoptive parents looking to adopt a child from India are needed, especially those open to adopting children with special needs, older children, or sibling groups. Adoptive parents must meet India’s criteria for adoption to be considered for a match. If you’re unsure about your eligibility, please complete our Prospective Adoptive Parent form. You’ll be contacted by one of our adoption specialists who can help determine the right fit for your family and answer your questions. Gladney’s India Team is here to guide you through every step of the process.

Step 1: Check your program eligibility by submitting the Prospective Adoptive Parent Form

Step 2: Ready to move forward? Complete the Placement Application to officially begin

Hopeful adoptive parents are required to complete a home study, an India dossier, and complete pre-adoptive training as assigned by Gladney.

India Adoption Program

On November 29, 2024, the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA), the central adoption authority in India, granted authorization for Gladney to facilitate intercountry adoptions from India. India and the United States are parties to the Hague Adoption Convention, and children from India must meet the requirements of the Hague Convention in order to be eligible for intercountry adoption. Acting in its role as an Authorized Foreign Adoption Agency in India, Gladney is entrusted to recruit and submit prospective parents’ adoption application dossiers to CARA for review and acceptance and to match children in need with their forever families. Gladney is honored to have the privilege to partner in this important endeavor with India.

Adoption Criteria

Adoption criteria are based on the requirements of the country and program and may change over time. To ensure you meet the criteria, it’s best to contact one of our adoption specialists to discuss your specific situation and start making an adoption plan.

• Citizenship: At least one adoptive parent must be a United States citizen.
• Marital Status: Heterosexual married couples (legally married for at least two years) and single people are eligible. Single females are eligible to adopt a child of either gender; single males may only adopt male children.
• Age: Applicants must be at least 25 years of age and the youngest applicant must be at least 25 years older than the adopted child (or the oldest child in a sibling group). For eligibility requirements, CARA uses combined age for married couples and factors in months and days in addition to years for calculation. Specifically:

• Married couples with a combined age of less than 85 years, or singles under age 40, may be eligible to adopt a child ages 0 to 2 years;
• Married couples with a combined age of less than 90 years, or singles under age 45, may be eligible to adopt a child ages 2 to 4 years;
• Married couples with a combined age of less than 100 years, or singles under age 50, may be eligible to adopt a child ages 4 to 8 years;
• Married couples with a combined age of less than 110 years, or singles under age 55, may be eligible to adopt a child ages 8 to 18 years.

• Background: A stable family environment and strong relationship history are considered. Families must be financially stable and able to provide for the needs of a child. Applicants with major arrest histories should contact us before applying.
• Family Size: Families with no more than one child currently in the home may be eligible to adopt from India. Families with more than one child already in the home may be considered for adoption of children with special needs.
• Health: Applicants must be mentally and physically fit to parent. Applicants with major medical histories should contact us before applying.
• Cultural Sensitivity: Parents should be open to and respectful of the child’s cultural background and heritage.
• Training: All hopeful adoptive parents pursuing adoption in India are required to complete pre-adoptive training.

Adoption Process

1. INITIAL CONTACT AND APPLICATION

Before submitting your official application, contact a Gladney adoption specialist to discuss whether the India adoption program is a good fit for your family. Gladney is currently seeking families who are willing to be flexible and patient as they navigate the adoption process together.

2. CASEWORKER ASSIGNMENT AND NEW CLIENT PACKET

Once your application documents and fee are submitted, you will be assigned a caseworker. This person will serve as your primary contact throughout the adoption process, answering questions and providing support. You’ll also receive a New Client packet that includes step-by-step instructions for the adoption process, information on the home study, pre-adoption training requirements, guidance on the US immigration application, and instructions for preparing your dossier.

3. COMPLETE PRE-ADOPTIVE TRAINING

Training and preparation are absolutely essential for a successful adoption, and at Gladney, we’re proud to offer some of the most comprehensive and meaningful training opportunities available. As part of your adoption process, you’ll complete both pre-adoptive training, child specific training, and participate in Gladney’s exclusive Pathways training held at our Fort Worth campus.

These trainings are a true benefit—an investment in your family’s long-term success. They deepen your understanding of the adoption journey and the unique needs of children, while equipping you with the skills and confidence to provide a safe, nurturing, and stable home. Our approach is trauma-informed and child-centered, ensuring you receive the very best preparation possible. We take great pride in empowering our prospective adoptive parents with the tools they need to thrive as they welcome a child into their lives.

4. Complete an International Home Study

Starting your home study promptly is crucial, as it can take several months to complete. A current, valid home study is necessary before you can pursue a specific child. If you reside in a Gladney licensed state, we will complete your home study. If you do not live in a Gladney licensed state, your caseworker will assist you in identifying an appropriate home study agency.

5. Prepare Your Dossier

Families create a dossier detailing the characteristics of the child (or children) they are eligible to adopt. The dossier submitted to India must include the necessary documentation required for an international adoption into the U.S. and by the India adoption authorities—all of which must be notarized, certified, and authenticated per India’s requirements.

6. Receive an Official Referral

After your dossier is completed, Gladney submits it to CARA for review and approval via CARINGS, CARA’s online portal system. Once your dossier is approved, your Gladney caseworker will work with you in matching you with a waiting child in the CARINGS portal. The time it takes for a family to be matched varies significantly depending on family openness regarding the child’s age and medical needs.

NRI and OCI families have the option to wait for CARA to match them with a child with no known medical needs or to be matched by a Gladney caseworker. Parents need to be prepared to accept mild/correctable issues and delays in children in this program.

Once matched, the family will receive the child’s file of medical and social histories. Families are required to have a doctor, preferably an international adoption medical specialist, review the child’s file in order to better understand the child’s health condition and the care involved. Upon your decision to accept the referral, acceptance paperwork needs to be completed per Gladney and India’s requirements and submitted to India.

7. Adoption Travel

Families can travel to India to pick up their child once they have completed the Hague process post-referral acceptance and the final Adoption Decree is issued in India. It may take 6-12 months before families can pick up their child after accepting the referral.

At least one trip is required, typically around ten days to two weeks. In some cases, a family may be required to appear for an adoption hearing (which necessitates an additional trip).

For married couples, both parents are required to travel.

For adoptions finalized in India, children will enter the U.S. on an IH-3 VISA prior to the family’s arrival in the country.

Post-Adoption Reports

Post-placement and post-adoption reports are mandatory and essential for demonstrating compliance with agency and country requirements, ensuring the child’s well-being, providing support and resources to the family, and maintaining transparency in the adoption process. The compliance of these reporting requirements also plays a crucial role in keeping international adoptions open and as an option for children in need of a family in India.

When Are Post-adoption Reports Due?

For adoptions from India, reports should be completed by Gladney or submitted by our partner agency at the following intervals:

• 1 month
• 3 months
• 6 months
• 9 month
• 12 months
• 18 months
• 24 months

Post-Adoption Services

Gladney’s post-adoption support is built on a “family for life” philosophy, recognizing that adoption is a lifelong journey and providing ongoing care well beyond placement. Their services include education and training for adoptive parents, access to nationwide support groups, and clinical counseling (in-person, virtual, and in-home) to address adoption-related challenges. They also offer specialized support for birth parents and adoptees, including lifelong counseling resources, support groups, and assistance with records, registries, and maintaining connections when desired. Many of these comprehensive services are provided at little or no cost, ensuring that every member of the adoption triad has access to resources, guidance, and community throughout all stages of life.