Background
Like in the United States, there are lots of reasons why children in Brazil are no longer able to live with their birth parents; these reasons can include poverty, HIV/AIDS, drug addictions, incarceration, abuse, etc.. Also like the United States, many children available for adoption have birth parents whose parental rights have been terminated. The amount of information about a child’s birth family can vary, though all information our agency receives is given to the adoptive parents. Most children available for adoption reside in an orphanage. Living conditions and the caregiver-to-child ratio at orphanages can vary greatly from orphanage to orphanage. Only children that aren’t placed domestically for adoption within Brazil are available for international adoption.
Eligibility Requirements
Brazil does not have any specific age requirements other than the applicant must be at least sixteen years older than the adopted child. There are no income requirements and no restrictions on children already in the home.
Processing Time
From application until arriving home with child is approximately 11–14 months. The greatest factor that impacts the length of the adoption is the adoptive family’s child request information. The more specific a family is the more difficult it will be for the adoption authorities in Brazil to make a referral match. Families requesting one child (especially girls) age five or six can expect a longer wait
Age of Children Available
The children available from Brazil are older children 5 years and older and sibling groups. It’ s possible that when adopting a sibling group one or more of the children will be under the age of five. There are both boys and girls available, though there are more boys than girls available. Sibling groups can be two, three, four or even larger
Travel Requirements
Families will be in Brazil for a period of approximately six weeks. This includes the thirty day guardianship process and then processing adoption visas with the US Consulate in Rio de Janeiro. Both adoptive parents must travel for the entire time.
Post-Adoption Paperwork
Brazil requires semi-annual post-placement parent letters with pictures for two years.
Agencies
† Information gathered from various agencies and other online sources with special thanks to AWAA.org.
