Country Requirements: Kazakhstan

Number of Adoptions in 2006: 580

US Department of State 

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR ADOPTIVE PARENTS:  Officially, Kazakhstan allows both single and married people to adopt, and there are no age requirements other than that an unmarried prospective adoptive parent must be at least 16 years older than the child s/he intends to adopt.  In practice, however, some unmarried prospective adoptive parents have found it difficult to adopt, as have prospective parents over age 60.

Prospective adoptive parents who have any type of arrest record, regardless of how minor or how long ago an offense occurred, should consult with an adoption professional before deciding to adopt from Kazakhstan.  In several cases adoptive parents have faced lengthy and costly delays in finalizing their adoptions in Kazakhstani courts because of decades-old arrest records.  An approved home study citing the arrest does not guarantee a favorable court decision.

RESIDENCE REQUIREMENTS:  Prospective adoptive parents must reside with the child for a minimum of 14 days at the child’s habitual place of residence in Kazakhstan prior to the adoption (“the Bonding Period”).  This pre-adoption bonding period cannot be waived.  Kazakhstani law also provides for a 15-day waiting period (“the Appeal Period”) after the court hearing, before the adoption becomes final.  A judge can waive this period at his or her discretion but this is a rare occurrence.  The court decision, adoption certificate, post-adoption birth certificate and child’s Kazakhstani passport cannot be obtained until the judge finalizes the adoption.

TIME FRAME:  Prospective adoptive parents should expect to stay in Kazakhstan a minimum of 60 days (sometimes longer) to complete Kazakhstani adoption requirements.  This period includes those listed under the “Residence Requirements” section above as well as the completion of all post-adoption and U.S. immigration paperwork.

ADOPTION AGENCIES AND ATTORNEYS: Kazakhstani law does not recognize the role of adoption agencies or assume that an intermediary represents adoptive parents.  However, the regulations allow foreign adoptive parents to have assistants, such as interpreters or lawyers, to help them through the process.  The result is that adoptive parents may work with any agency or individual they choose, but should be aware that there is no formal registration or oversight process for adoption intermediaries working in Kazakhstan.

Prospective adoptive parents are advised to fully research any adoption agency or facilitator they plan to use for adoption services.  For U.S.-based agencies, it is suggested that prospective adoptive parents contact the Better Business Bureau and/or the licensing office of the appropriate state government agency in the U.S. state where the agency is located or licensed.

Please also see the Important Notice Regarding Adoption Agents and Facilitators on the Bureau of Consular Affairs web site at www.travel.state.gov.

ADOPTION FEES IN KAZAKHSTAN:  U.S. citizen parents who have completed adoptions in Kazakhstan report that the total cost, including fees for services charged by U.S.-based agencies, averages approximately $18,000 to $25,000 per child. The amount includes the following official fees: application to court $4; new birth certificate $17; adoption certificate $17; exit stamp from Migration Police of Kazakhstan $8; registration of the child with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan $84. Expedited passport issuance is optional but available for $80. Regular passport issuance takes one month.