Nepal Adoption
The Nepalese government is not currently accepting applications for adoption. Please contact us at 1.800.677.2367 for more information.
Bordered to the north by China and to the south by India, Nepal is the home of Mt. Everest, the highest point of the Himalayas. Nepal has a lengthy history of attracting adventurous travelers wanting to climb Mt. Everest, trek through the wilderness, and raft some of the world’s greatest rivers.
The people of Nepal maintain rich and varied cultural, musical, and religious traditions. Despite being among the poorest nations on earth, the people are known for being hospitable and kind. Nepal is home to many unique ethnic groups, including people of Asian and Indian heritage. In all aspects, Nepal is richly varied and will surely captivate its guests.
Why choose Nepal?
- Male and female children are available
- Children range in age from less than a year to 6 years old
- Children come from small, well-run orphanages
- Children are considered healthy
- Children with special needs are also available
- The average process time is a minimum of two months from submission of dossier to placement
- Children are Asian or Indian in appearance
Location
Most children come from one of two orphanages in Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal. The U.S. embassy is also located in Kathmandu.
Reasons for Availability
- Children are abandoned due to their parents’ inability to care for them, generally as the result of poverty
- The children’s parents are deceased
Children’s Situation
Children live in small, well-run orphanages, and they are cared for by a ‘house mother’ and nannies.
Eligibility for Families
- Only heterosexual applicants are eligible
- Married couples or single female applicants (minimum age 35) are accepted
- Parents must be at least 30 years older than the child, and will be accepted up to age 50 (Parents should be no more than 45 years older than the child)
- Married couples must be married for at least 4 years
- Married couples must submit evidence of primary or secondary infertility
- The child adopted must be the youngest in the home and of the opposite gender of any child(ren) already in the home
- No more than two children currently in the home
- Household income should be no lower than $40,000 (Home ownership is preferred)
Average Process Time
The time from submitting your dossier to bringing your child home is a minimum of two months.
Procedure
You will first submit a preliminary application to AAI, meet with a consultant for an International Adoption Awareness Meeting, and then complete your formal application. You will then complete your home study and your USCIS paperwork. At that time, a referral will be offered to you and you will be able to accept that referral. Upon completion of your dossier, your documents will be sent to Nepal. Once you receive preliminary approval, you will make your first trip to Nepal to apply for custody of the child. The adoption will be processed after you return home. You will then return to Nepal to receive your child and to complete the adoption. The adoption is finalized in Nepal.
Travel
Adoptive families are required to make two trips, each lasting approximately one week to ten days. It is possible for only one parent to travel on the second trip. While in Nepal, families will stay in the capital city of Kathmandu, where they will have the opportunity to do some sightseeing and shopping.
