By: Adoption.com Staff | Date: 5/13/2026

Colombia is one of the most welcoming and well-established intercountry adoption programs available to U.S. families today. Governed by a rigorous Hague-accredited framework and overseen by a child welfare authority with decades of experience placing children in permanent families, Colombia offers a path to parenthood that is ethically grounded, transparent, and deeply rooted in the best interests of children.

The children waiting for families in Colombia are as diverse as the country itself — older children, sibling groups, and children with a range of identified needs. Colombia is not an infant program. It is a program for families ready to open their hearts to a child who has been waiting, sometimes for years, for a place to belong. For those families, it is one of the most rewarding paths in international adoption.

This guide walks you through everything you need to know: who is eligible, what the process looks like, what it costs, and how to support your child’s rich Colombian heritage for a lifetime.

Why Families Choose Colombia

Colombia’s Adoption History

Colombia has one of the longest-running and most respected intercountry adoption programs in Latin America. The country formalized its child welfare and adoption framework decades ago through the Instituto Colombiano de Bienestar Familiar — known universally as ICBF — the national authority responsible for the care and placement of children in Colombia’s protection system.

Colombia ratified the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption, and its program operates fully within the Hague framework. This means every adoption is processed through accredited institutions, every child’s eligibility is rigorously established, and adoptive families receive the full protections the Convention provides.
In recent years, Colombia’s program has grown steadily. In 2024, 200 children were placed internationally — the same number as in 2023 — and the number of children declared eligible for adoption continues to rise due to positive legal reforms within Colombia’s child welfare system. More than 6,000 children are currently eligible for international adoption in Colombia, the vast majority of them older children, sibling groups, or children with identified medical needs.
Colombia prohibits private adoption. All intercountry adoptions are managed through ICBF or through an Institución Autorizada para Desarrollar el Programa de Adopciones (IAPA) — an ICBF-authorized adoption institution. This centralized oversight is one of the reasons Colombia’s program is considered among the most transparent and ethically sound in the world.

Is Adopting From Colombia Right for Your Family?

Who Can Adopt From Colombia?

Colombia’s program is notably inclusive — it is open to married couples, single women, single men, and same-sex couples, making it one of the more accessible international programs for a wide range of family structures.

Eligibility requirements include:

• Age: At least one applicant must be 25 years old. The age difference between the child and the oldest prospective adoptive parent may not exceed 45 years (up to 50 years for children with special characteristics or needs)
• Marital status: Married couples, single applicants, and unmarried cohabitants who can demonstrate a stable, permanent relationship are all eligible
• Length of relationship: Married couples must have been married for at least two years; premarital cohabitation may be recognized toward this requirement
• Same-sex couples: Colombia permits adoption by same-sex couples
• Single applicants: Accepted; single applicants are typically asked to be open to older children (10 and above) or children with identified needs
• Children already in the home: No restrictions on the number of children already in the family
• Health: Applicants cannot have serious physical, psychological, or emotional health concerns; some conditions are reviewed on a case-by-case basis
• Income: Families must meet at least 1.25 times the U.S. poverty guidelines (a USCIS requirement for all intercountry adoptions); no specific income threshold beyond this is required
• Criminal history: A clean criminal record is required; some minor infractions from many years ago may be reviewed on a case-by-case basis
• Residency: No prior Colombian residency is required

Requirements are subject to change. Always confirm current eligibility criteria with your accredited adoption service provider before beginning the process.

Cultural Considerations

Adopting from Colombia means welcoming not just a child, but a culture, a language, and a living identity into your family. Colombia is a country of extraordinary diversity — the second most biodiverse nation on earth, home to Caribbean coasts, Andean highlands, Amazon rainforest, and one of the most vibrant cultural traditions in the Western Hemisphere.

Spanish is Colombia’s official language, and giving your child access to their birth language is one of the most meaningful things you can do to honor their heritage. Many families begin Spanish language learning before travel and continue with formal classes after homecoming. Spanish immersion programs, bilingual schools, and community Spanish classes are widely available across the U.S. — and many Colombian adoptees describe being bilingual as one of the most valuable gifts their adoptive families gave them.

Colombia’s cultural heritage includes rich traditions in music (cumbia, vallenato, salsa), food, art, and celebration. Días de Fiesta like Semana Santa, the Feria de las Flores in Medellín, and the Carnaval de Barranquilla are touchstones of Colombian identity that families can explore and honor together. In cities across the United States with Colombian-American communities — Miami, New York, Chicago, Houston, and others — cultural festivals, restaurants, and community organizations can help your family stay connected to Colombia throughout your child’s life.

For families adopting transracially — which many Colombia adoptions involve — the commitment to cultural connection is not optional. It is part of what your child needs to grow up with a secure, whole sense of who they are. Name that commitment early and return to it often.

Travel Requirements

Colombia requires one in-country trip. Families should plan to spend approximately 3 to 6 weeks in Colombia, though the length of stay can vary based on court scheduling, the age of the child, and administrative processing.

Both members of a married couple are required to be present for part of the trip. In some cases, one parent may return to the U.S. after approximately two weeks, with the other parent remaining through finalization. Confirm the current requirements with your adoption service provider, as ICBF guidance on this can shift.

During the trip, families spend a required cohabitation and bonding period living with their child — typically referred to as the integration period — before the court hearing. The length of this period varies depending on the child’s age and circumstances. Families then appear before a Colombian family judge for the final adoption decree (the sentencia), followed by ICBF’s issuance of a certificate of conformity. Both steps must be completed in Colombia before your child can travel to the United States.

Colombia’s major cities are modern and well-equipped for international travelers. Most families stay in Bogotá for part of the process and may also spend time in the region where their child has been living. Your adoption service provider will arrange a facilitator to accompany you to all appointments and help navigate the process in Spanish.

Travel requirements may change. Your adoption service provider will give you the most current guidance when you begin your process.

Start Your Colombia Adoption Journey

Colombia is ready for families who are ready for Colombia. If you are open to an older child, a sibling group, or a child with identified needs — and if you are prepared to embrace a rich culture and a child whose resilience will humble and inspire you — this program may be exactly what you have been looking for.

Gladney’s international adoption team works with families pursuing Colombian adoption and can walk you through current program requirements, wait times, and next steps. Whether you are just beginning to explore or ready to submit an application, we are here to help.

This page was last reviewed in April 2026. Program and immigration information is verified against the U.S. Department of State and ICBF. For the most current official information, visit travel.state.gov and search “Colombia intercountry adoption.” Requirements are subject to change — always confirm current eligibility criteria with your adoption service provider before beginning the process.