The Ukraine has an organized intercountry adoption process, however in order to successfully complete an adoption in Ukraine it does requires working with both a licensed adoption agency in BC (Hope) and a very experienced facilitating agency who is operational in the Ukraine. We have found through experience that ‘CARC – International Adoption Agency’ out of Ontario, is well-organized and has very good Ukraine connections. They have been very successful in facilitating Canadian adoptions from this country.  Since CARC is not licensed to complete adoptions in BC, we have established a good working relationship where together, we complete the necessary steps required to complete the Ukraine/Canada adoption process.    

Facilitating Agency Contact Information
CARC International Adoption Agency
203 Holmes Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M2N 4M9
Phone: 416-224-9642   Email: carc-toronto@rogers.com 
Website: www.carc-ia.com
 

Children Available
Children available for adoption in Ukraine must be registered on a national databank for a period of one year before they may be adopted internationally. Most children will be at least 17 months old at time of proposal. Sibling groups are available. The children will likely have some delay in their psychomotor development due to lack of adequate and balanced, healthy nutrition. Many children have been placed for adoption due to economic circumstances of single birthmothers.
Families do not receive a proposal from Ukraine prior to their departure.  Instead the families will receive an “Invitation’ to travel to Ukraine. The Ukraine State Department on Adoption (SDA) psychologist matches children to the home study and upon arrival; parents are shown several files according to their request and according to the closest matches available at the time. The prospective adoptive parents (PAP) choose who they wish to visit. The SDA then issues a letter of referral to allow PAPS to visit the orphanage and meet the child. PAPS can spend as much time as they like with the child before deciding (up to a few days.)

While in Ukraine prospective adoptive parents will be given the child’s social history, which most often includes information on the birthparents. They will also be given the child’s medical information.  The medical will include a range of test results such as HIV, Syphilis, and Hepatitis. The child's vaccination record and photos are also included. Families are also able to interview the caregivers and doctors for the child’s history.

Waiting Period 

The average time from submitting the complete dossier to travel is approximately 1 to 2 months.  Typically an adoption from the Ukraine is completed within one year. The average travel time in the country is 5 to 6 weeks, although it can be broken down into two trips.  A 10 day waiting period after the court date is mandatory.   
 

Summary of Process

For detailed process information, please refer to separate form: “Overview of Steps for a Ukraine Adoption”.

• Make application to Hope Services and fulfill BC requirements for legal adoption

• Make application to CARC and receive required forms from this agency

• Provide Ukraine documents to Hope Services Intercountry Worker to complete, compile and courier to CARC

• Complete sponsorship application from Canadian Immigration.   

• Receive your ‘Invitation’ to travel from SDA approximately 1-2 months after your complete dossier is submitted.

• Travel to Ukraine approximately 2-4 weeks after receiving invitation. Families stay in Ukraine 5-6 weeks. This may be done in 2 trips.

• Prospective Adoptive Applicants choose child and receive proposal for this child while in Ukraine. They will fax copies of proposal, medicals and social history to Hope and family doctor.

• Attend court in Ukraine and stay the mandatory 10 days after court hearing. The adoption is finalized in Ukraine and a copy of the Adoption Order must be forwarded to Hope upon return.

• A few trips to the Canadian Embassy in Ukraine are required to obtain the immigration medical and child’s visa.

• Upon returning to Canada, an annual ‘self-reporting’ progress report must be sent to the Ukraine every year for the first three years. After that time, a progress report is required once every three years until the age of eighteen.

For more information on adopting from the Ukraine please contact our office at 604 850-1002 or by email adoption@hopeadopt.org