Colombia Adoption

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Many children in Colombia are waiting for a loving, permanent family.

In Colombia, many older children, sibling groups and children with special needs are waiting to join an adoptive family. All children live in foster care or group homes while they wait, providing more nurturing, one-on-one care and helping them form healthy emotional bonds. Throughout your adoption from Colombia, Holt’s U.S. staff will work closely with you to ensure you feel informed and prepared every step of the way. We go above and beyond to provide all the resources, assistance and post-adoption support and services you need. For families considering older child adoption from Colombia, Holt also offers a unique opportunity to host an older child in your home.

Children in Colombia Who Need Families

All children waiting for families live in foster care or group homes and are 1-16 years old at the time of placement.
Families with at least one parent of Colombian heritage can be matched with a child between the ages of 1-6 (or older) with minor or no known medical or developmental needs.
Families without a parent of Colombian heritage may adopt a child of any age with moderate to involved special needs including developmental or psychological conditions, complicated birth circumstances or family history, or a child or sibling group over age 10 with minor needs. Learn more about Disabilities & Medical Conditions in Special Needs Adoption.
There is a strong need for families open to sibling groups of two children where the eldest is over age 10 and to sibling groups of three or more children.
Families who are interested in adopting a child or siblings over age 10 may be able to host-to-adopt while in process.
Most children have been removed from family care due to neglect, abuse, poverty or loss of a caregiver. Drug and alcohol exposures are common.

Meet the children waiting for a family

To preserve children’s confidentiality, you will be asked to log in or sign up before you access the waiting child photolisting.

Waiting Child Photolisting

smiling older girl with her hands on little brother's shoulders

Host a Child from Colombia!

The Colombia hosting program helps older children from Colombia join loving adoptive families in the U.S. It is designed for families who are considering older child adoption or are interested in advocating for older children who need families. You can host an older child for three or five weeks — giving them the chance to experience life with a family in the U.S.

Open your heart and home to an older child

Colombia Hosting program

Eligibility Requirements & Fees

Eligibility Requirements to Adopt from Colombia

Parent’s Age

Applicants should be married couples or singles who are 25 years of age or older.
Parents must be at least 15 years but no more than 45 years older than the child (50 if open to an older child or certain special needs). For example, a 25-year-old parent would be able to adopt a child age 10 or younger, and a 50-year-old parent would be able to adopt a child older than 5.
Parents over age 50 may adopt an older child or sibling group based on the age calculation stated above.

Length of Marriage

Two years of cohabitation is required.
Cohabitating couples intending to adopt together must be married or able to document legal equivalent — or one parent must qualify to adopt as a single applicant.

Divorce

Each applicant may have up to two divorces.

Children in Family

There is no regulation regarding the number of children in the home, but living space and financial stability are carefully considered with larger families.
Families adopting an older child may need a dedicated bedroom for the incoming child.

Single Applicant

Single men and women may apply.
Single applicants who are in a relationship and cohabitating are accepted on a case-by-case basis.
Single applicants can adopt children over 10 years of age, sibling groups or younger children with more involved special needs.

Travel

Both parents are required to travel and should expect to stay approximately 3.5-5 weeks in Colombia.
One of the parents can return home once the adoption is finalized (after a minimum of 2 weeks).

How Long It Takes

From application to placement, we anticipate the entire process will take 2-4 years on average. Most of the children in Colombia awaiting adoptive families are pre-teens and teens. Wait times are longer for those adopting younger children.
For older children, large sibling groups and children with certain special needs, application-to-placement time may be shorter — approximately 1 year.

Additional Information

Applicants with a criminal history related to drugs or violence, or with a current diagnosis of a life-threatening disease, severe mental illness or other condition that impairs their ability to parent and/or the quality of life of a child are ineligible to adopt.
A psychological evaluation is required for all applicants.
All medical or psychological conditions and any past arrests will require additional assessment.
At least one applicant must be a United States citizen.

Fees for Colombia Adoption

We are open and transparent about our fees and want you to be aware of all potential costs involved in an adoption, including third-party costs and travel.

Holt is a Christian, private, nonprofit, licensed and accredited child welfare and family service organization. Our adoption work is entirely financed through adoption fees and donations. It is not government subsidized. We believe that children are the highest priority, and we want as many children as possible to have families. To that end, we strive to keep our fees within a reasonable range. All fees are subject to change and are charged at the rate that is current at time of billing. Holt may increase fees if adoption expenses in the foreign country increase substantially after time of application. Families will be notified in writing of any fee increase. Holt International accepts the following for adoption fees: check, cashier’s check or money order. If you would like to pay by credit card, there will be a 3% convenience fee added to your total. Fees due upon invoice.

download colombia fees pdf

Application

Due with completed application. This is a non-refundable fee.

Description	Paid To	Fee Type	Amount
Application Fee	Holt	U.S. Expenses	$350

Adoption Fee 1

Due when Holt approves your application*.

Description	Paid To	Fee Type	Amount
Agency Fee 1 * Hosting families may opt to defer this fee to homestudy completion.	Holt	U.S. Expenses	$5,065

Homestudy Assessment (Holt branch office states only)

Due before your first homestudy visit. Find out if your state has a Holt branch office.

Description	Paid To	Fee Type	Amount
Homestudy Fee	Holt	Homestudy	$2,500 – $2,900
Homestudy Update Fee (if needed)	Holt	Homestudy	$750
Travel for Home Visits (if Holt provides)	Holt	Mileage/Travel	Varies

Homestudy Assessment/Post Adoption Reporting Fees (non-Holt branch office states)

Description	Paid To	Fee Type	Amount
Homestudy Fee	Service Provider	Homestudy	$1,500 – $5,000
Homestudy Update Fee (if needed)	Service Provider	Homestudy	$250 – $1,000
Post Adoption Reporting Fees	Service Provider	Post Placement/Adoption	$1,500 – $3,500
Travel for Home Visits	Service Provider	Mileage/Travel	Varies

Adoption Fee 2

Due when Holt approves your homestudy.

Description	Paid To	Fee Type	Amount
Agency Fee 2	Holt	U.S. Expenses	$6,500
Program Fee Part 1	Holt	Foreign Country Program Expenses	$4,000

Adoption Program Fee & Post Adoption Reporting Fees

Due when you accept the assignment of a child. In the case of siblings, Agency Fee 3 is increased by $3,815 per child. In the case of siblings from La Casa, an additional pass-through fee of $894 will be billed for each child ($100 for host-adopt families).

Description	Paid To	Fee Type	Amount
Agency Fee Part 3	Holt	U.S. Expenses	$3,960
Program Fee Part 2	Holt	Foreign Country Program Expenses	$7,650
Foreign Country Fee 2 – Pass-Through Legal Fees Admin Fees: • ICBF $0 • FANA $2,412 • CRAN $3,360 • La Casa $3,034.50 (admin) + $773.50 (medical) • La Casa/Hosting $3,034.50 (admin) + $119 (medical) Legal Fees: • ICBF $2,000 • FANA $1,100 • CRAN $2,240 • La Casa $2,350 • La Casa Hosting $2,350	Holt	Translation and Documentation Expenses	$2,000 – $6,158
Post Adoption Reporting Fees (if Holt provides)	Holt	Post Placement/Adoption Reports	$1,500 – $3,500
Travel for Home Visits (if Holt provides)	Holt	Mileage/Travel	Varies

Additional Fees to Anticipate

Description	Paid To	Fee Type	Amount
USCIS	USCIS	Third Party	$860 – $1,330
Adoption Education Classes	Varies	Third Party	$150 – $500
Psychological Exam	Provider	Third Party	$250 – $2,500
Dossier Preparation	Varies	Third Party	$100 – $1,000
Pre-Adoption Medical Review of Child Material	Provider	Third Party	$250 – $1,000
Airfare, Lodging, Meals & Transportation	Provider	Mileage/Travel	$5,000 – $10,000

Summary of Estimated Fees

Description	Amount
Homestudy	$1,500 – $5,000
U.S. Expenses	$15,875
Foreign Country Program Expenses	$11,650
Care of the Child	$0
Translation and Documents Expenses	$2,000 – $6,158
Contributions	$0
Post Adoption Reporting Fees	$1,500 – $3,500
Third Party Fees	$1,610 – $6,330
Travel Costs and Accommodations	$5,000 – $10,000
TOTAL	$39,135 – $58,513

Fee Refunds

Agency Fees are non-refundable.
Program Fees are non-refundable
Pass Through – 100% refundable until tendered to the IAPA
Post Placement Reporting Fees are refundable if not required

Any fee refund will be processed within 60 days.

Financial Assistance for Adoption

Holt believes finances should not stop a child from having a loving family. Although many resources exist to help adoptive families offset the cost of adoption, it’s not always clear where to start looking or what opportunities are best suited for your family. To help you consider all your options, Holt provides an outline of financial assistance, as well as a list of resources categorized by type.

Financing Your Adoption

couple sitting at home viewing virtual adoption financing webinar on their laptop

Need help funding your adoption?

Families adopting through Holt receive free, professional guidance and support from a one-on-one finance coach throughout their adoption process. Even if you’re just considering adoption, email us to set up your first consultation today!

email [email protected]

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Colombia Adoption FAQs

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How long does it take to adopt from Colombia?

What are the travel requirements?

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Start Your Journey in Adoption

Whether you are considering adoption or are ready to apply to adopt, we have many free ways for you to explore our programs or get started.

Request Free Adoption Information

Click below to complete our inquiry form or email us at [email protected] to connect with one of our adoption specialists.

Adoption Info Meetings

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Apply Online

Ready to start your adoption journey? The first step is to create a Holt portal account, then submit an application. Click below to log in or create a new portal account. If you’re already in touch with Holt or have worked with Holt previously and do not have a portal login, email [email protected] to access your account!

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