If you’re considering adoption, one of the first decisions you’ll face is whether to pursue a domestic adoption in the United States or an international adoption. Each option comes with different costs. Timelines, legal requirements and levels of available medical history.
Below, we break down the key differences between domestic and international adoption to help you determine which path may be right for your family.
Cost of adoption: domestic vs. international
The cost of adoption can vary quite a bit depending on the type of adoption and the organizations involved.
For example, adopting a child through the U.S. foster care system is relatively inexpensive thanks to federal and state adoption assistance programs. In contrast, private domestic adoptions facilitated through a private agency can range from $30,000 to $50,000.
to the cost of international adoption can be a bit higher than some types of domestic adoptions due to travel and processing costs. Average costs for an international adoption can run between $32,000 to $66,000, depending on the country and adoption provider.
As with domestic adoption, the international adoption costs depend in large part on the kind of organization facilitating the adoption: government or private agency, orphanage, nonprofit, attorney, facilitator or a combination of these.
Parents adopting from a country outside the United States may also need to budget for:
- Traveling fees.
- Health care for the child.
- Translation costs.
- Foreign attorney and foreign agency fees.
- Passport and visa processing fees.
- Costs of visa medical examinations.
- Counseling and support after placement.
Adoption financial assistance and tax benefits
Adoption costs can add up quickly. Fortunately, Financial help for adoption is available for both domestic and international adoptions.
The National Council for Adoption’s website lists a variety of organizations that offer grants and loans for all types of adopting families. The National Adoption Foundation is another great resource for adoption grants . Check with your adoption agency for any programs they may be affiliated with.
Families may also qualify for federal adoption tax benefits, including:
- A tax credit for qualified adoption expenses
- An income exclusion for employer-provided adoption
See the IRS website for more details.
Some states also provide adoption fee reimbursements. Contact your state's tax department or a local tax preparer to see if you qualify.
Finally, check with your employer to see what adoption benefits they may offer. Some offer reimbursement plans for adoption expenses, while others might provide legal insurance benefits, such as ARAG, to cover your adoption attorney’s fees.
Adoption timeline: how long does the process take?
Adoption timelines vary widely. Depending on the type of adoption, families may complete the process in months or several years. In general, the more open you are to certain situations, such as the child’s age, background or medical needs, the less time you’ll wait.
Most domestic adoptions take one to two years to complete. International adoptions, while often involving additional steps, such as foreign court proceedings, may be completed in less than one year in certain countries.
Differences in medical and personal information
One of the biggest differences between domestic adoptions and international adoptions is the availability of medical and personal history.
Medical records of children adopted internationally can be minimal. Information regarding the social history of the child’s birth parents, including family medical history or any possible prenatal exposure to drugs or alcohol. This can be troubling, as many of the effects of exposure to these substances don’t appear until months or years after birth and/or placement.
In contrast, domestic adoption agencies typically provide families with available medical records and relevant social history of the birth parents as it pertains to the child. Some agencies make this information available to families before their match and allow them to accept or deny the match based on those factors.
Legal considerations in international adoptions
International adoption involves navigating both U.S. laws and the laws of the child’s country of origin. The nature of those laws will likely determine in which place you finalize the adoption.
Pay special attention to whether or not your state recognizes a foreign adoption decree. If it doesn’t, you may want to finalize the adoption in your state. This may add to your overall costs but finalizing the adoption in a U.S. court offers additional legal protections that may outweigh the extra expenses.
To see federal and state rules for intercountry adoption, see the State Recognition of Intercountry Adoptions Finalized Abroad.
Choosing between domestic and international adoption
If you’re still debating between domestic and international adoption, consider talking to an adoption attorney. An attorney can explain state-specific requirements, country-specific rules and legal risks to consider, helping you determine which decision will be the best decision for you and your growing family.