Adopting from the Philippines: A Complete Guide

Adopting from the Philippines: A Complete Guide for U.S. Families

By: Adoption.com Staff | Date: 5/14/2026

️IMPORTANT PROGRAM STATUS NOTICE

Please Note on the Moratorium:

As of February 7, 2023, NACC implemented a moratorium on new applications from families seeking to adopt children age 6 and younger without identified needs. New applications for the Waiting Child Program, children age 7 and older, and sibling groups are still being accepted. Families with dossiers already on file before the moratorium are not affected. Contact Gladney directly for the most current guidance on program availability.

The Philippines has one of the most respected intercountry adoption programs in Asia. It is a Hague Convention country with a long history of placing children with U.S. families, and it operates under a clear, centralized system overseen by the National Authority for Child Care, known as NACC.

Gladney has an active Philippines program. We partner with NACC to place children with qualified U.S. families, and our team guides families through every step of the process.

The children waiting for families in the Philippines are mostly older children, sibling groups, and children with identified medical or developmental needs. There is also a strong tradition of relative adoption in this program, making it one of the few international programs where a U.S. family may be able to adopt a child they already know and love.

This guide covers who can adopt, how the process works, what it costs, and how to raise a child with a strong connection to the Philippines.

Why Families Choose The Philippines

The Philippines’s Adoption History

The Philippines has been a party to the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption since November 1, 1998, making it one of the first Asian countries to operate fully within the Convention’s framework. All intercountry adoptions from the Philippines follow Hague procedures. The current central authority is NACC, which was created under Republic Act 11642 in 2022 and replaced the former Inter-Country Adoption Board, or ICAB. NACC handles all matching, placement authority, and oversight of intercountry adoptions.

The Philippines has a firm principle of subsidiarity. Every child is first considered for placement with relatives in the Philippines, then with a Filipino family through domestic adoption, and only then for intercountry adoption. This means every child referred for international adoption has been through a thorough review. The international program has become more selective over the years, but it remains active and committed to finding permanent families for children who truly need them.

One feature that sets the Philippines apart from most international programs is its long-standing provision for relative adoption. U.S. families who have a relative in the Philippines within the fourth degree of consanguinity may apply to adopt that specific child, subject to NACC review and approval.

Children Eligible for Adoption

Children eligible for intercountry adoption from the Philippines range from approximately age 2 to 15. Most children available for international placement are age 7 and older. Sibling groups and children with identified medical or developmental needs are the primary focus of the program at this time.

Children enter NACC’s care through relinquishment by birth parents, abandonment, or removal by child welfare authorities. A Certificate Declaring a Child Legally Available for Adoption is issued by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) before a child can be considered for intercountry placement. There are more boys than girls available in the program.

The Philippines maintains a Special Home Finding List of children with higher levels of need or who have been waiting longest. Families open to children on this list can often be matched more quickly. Children in NACC’s care live in licensed child care agencies while they wait. The Philippines prohibits the posting of photos or identifying information about waiting children publicly, so families work directly with their agency to learn about available children.

Under the current moratorium, new applications for children age 6 and younger without identified needs are not being accepted. Families open to children age 7 and older, sibling groups, or children with identified needs may still apply and be accepted.

Is Adopting From The Philippines Right for Your Family?

Who Can Adopt From The Philippines?

The Philippines has specific eligibility requirements, and some are unique compared to other programs. Notably, the Philippines asks about spiritual and moral values as part of the application, and it has a stated minimum income requirement. The requirements below reflect NACC standards and Gladney’s current program criteria. Always confirm current eligibility with your adoption service provider before beginning the process.

Age: You must be at least 27 years old and at least 16 years older than the child at the time of application. The maximum age gap between a parent and child may not exceed 45 years.
Marital status: Married couples must apply jointly. Couples must have been legally married for at least three years. For couples who cohabitated for several years before marriage, NACC may consider one year of marriage sufficient. Single applicants may apply but are considered only as resources for older children, generally age 9 to 15.
Divorce history: Applicants with a history of two or fewer divorces will be considered. Stability of the current marriage is assessed.
Same-sex couples: Philippine law does not recognize same-sex marriage. Same-sex couples may not apply as a couple. The Philippines does not expressly prohibit LGB individuals from applying as single applicants.
Faith: The Philippines is a primarily Christian and Catholic nation. NACC considers applicants’ spiritual, moral, and philosophical values as part of the home study review. Applicants who practice Christianity or Catholicism are most commonly accepted. Confirm current faith requirements with your adoption service provider.
Children already in the home: No specific limit, though the stability of the family and capacity to parent are assessed.
Income: A minimum annual income of $40,000 USD is required.
Education: A high school diploma is required at minimum.
Health: Applicants must be in good physical and mental health. No serious chronic or life-threatening conditions.
Background: A clean criminal and child welfare record is required.
Citizenship: At least one applicant must be a U.S. citizen.

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

Travel Requirements

The Philippines requires at least one parent to travel to bring the child home. The trip is typically approximately one week. During the trip, you travel to Manila and to the city or province where your child lives. NACC or the child’s care agency will arrange introductions and the formal placement.

Note that the adoption is not finalized in the Philippines. The Philippines issues a Placement Authority, which grants custody of the child to the prospective adoptive parents. The child then travels to the United States, where the adoption must be finalized in a U.S. court. This is an important distinction from most other international programs.

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

Explore Adoption from the Philippines

Ecuador’s Hague Convention adoption program requires just one trip — you travel, meet your child, and bring them home. Children ages 2–15 are waiting, including sibling groups and children with special needs. Start with a free consultation.

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Explore Adoption from the Philippines

Get My Free Consultation

Explore Adoption from the Philippines

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The Philippines International Adoption Process

The Philippines follows the full Hague Convention process. One important feature unique to this program: the adoption is not finalized in the Philippines. The child enters the U.S. on an IH-4 immigrant visa, becomes a legal permanent resident upon entry, and the adoption is then finalized in U.S. court. U.S. citizenship is obtained after the U.S. adoption decree is issued and the child is under 18 and residing with the adoptive parent. Your adoption service provider will guide you through every stage.

Step 1: Choose a Hague-accredited adoption service provider

Your first step is choosing a U.S. agency that is Hague-accredited and authorized by NACC to facilitate adoptions from the Philippines. Gladney has an active Philippines program and can guide you through the full process.

Learn how to choose an international adoption agency →

Step 2: Complete your home study

Before you can apply to NACC, you must complete an adoption home study. This includes required training hours and a thorough assessment of your family’s readiness. Your home study must meet both USCIS and Hague Convention requirements.

Learn more about the adoption home study →

Step 3: Apply for USCIS approval (Form I-800A)

Because the Philippines is a Hague Convention country, you will file Form I-800A with USCIS. USCIS reviews your home study and supporting documents and issues an approval determining that you are suitable and eligible to adopt from a Hague country.

Step 4: Submit your application to NACC

Your agency submits your completed home study, I-800A approval, and required dossier documents to NACC. NACC reviews your application and, if approved, places your family on the waiting list. NACC’s Intercountry Adoption Placement Committee, which includes a child psychologist, medical doctor, lawyer, social worker, and NGO representative, reviews all matching proposals.

Step 5: Matching

NACC matches children with waiting families. For the standard program (children age 7 and older and children with special needs), NACC will propose a match. For families pursuing the Special Home Finding List, your agency works with NACC to identify an appropriate child. You have 60 days to accept or decline a referral.

When a match is proposed, you receive a Child Study Report including the child’s background, medical history, photographs, and developmental information. You are encouraged to have the file reviewed by a pediatrician experienced in international adoption before accepting.

Step 6: USCIS provisional approval (Form I-800)

After accepting the referral, your agency files Form I-800 with USCIS. USCIS issues a provisional approval, classifying your child as a Convention adoptee. The case is then forwarded to the U.S. Embassy in Manila for an Article 5/17 Letter confirming the U.S. will issue a visa.

Step 7: NACC Placement Authority

Once NACC receives the Article 5/17 Letter, it issues the Placement Authority. This document grants you legal custody of the child and authorizes the child to travel with you to the United States.

Step 8: Travel to the Philippines You travel to the Philippines for approximately one week. You meet your child, complete any required pre-travel steps, and receive the child into your care. NACC will inform your agency of the travel dates once the child’s documents are ready.

Step 9: Obtain your child’s U.S. immigrant visa

The U.S. Embassy in Manila reviews the Placement Authority and adoption documents and issues your child an IH-4 immigrant visa. Your child becomes a legal permanent resident upon entering the United States. Note that an IH-4 visa means the adoption has not yet been finalized abroad. Citizenship is acquired after the U.S. adoption decree is issued.

Step 10: Finalize the adoption in U.S. court

After your child comes home, you must finalize the adoption in a U.S. court in your state. Your agency will guide you through this step. Once the U.S. adoption decree is issued, your child becomes a U.S. citizen, provided they are under 18 and residing in your home.

Step 11: Post-placement supervision and reporting

During the six-month trial custody period in the United States, your agency submits bi-monthly post-placement reports to NACC documenting your child’s health, adjustment, and relationship with you. After the adoption is finalized in U.S. court, post-adoption reports are required at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months, then annually until your child turns 18. Compliance matters and is taken seriously by NACC.

Costs and Timelines

How Much Does Adopting From the Philippines Cost?

Total costs vary based on your agency, the child’s circumstances, and travel. NACC charges a processing fee of approximately $3,000 to $4,500 depending on the type of adoption. Families also contribute $1,000 to the child’s care agency as a Child Care Support Fund. Agency fees, home study costs, dossier preparation, travel, and U.S. court finalization costs add to the total.

Typical cost categories include:

Agency professional services fees
Home study fees, including required training
USCIS filing fees (Form I-800A and I-800)
Dossier preparation and authentication
NACC processing fees (approximately $3,000 to $4,500)
Child Care Support Fund ($1,000 contribution to the child’s care agency)
Travel and lodging costs (one trip, approximately one week)
Pre-travel expenses for the child’s passport, medical exam, and travel
U.S. court finalization costs
Post-placement supervision fees
Post-adoption reporting fees

Adoption grants, loans, and employer assistance programs may be available to help offset costs. Cost estimates are for information only and are subject to change. Contact your adoption service provider for current fee schedules.

How Long Does the Process Take?

Timelines vary based on the type of adoption and the child’s circumstances. The moratorium on younger, healthy children has created a longer backlog for families in that track. For families open to children age 7 and older, sibling groups, or children with special needs, the process is generally more active.

A general breakdown: home study and USCIS approval typically take three to six months. Dossier preparation and submission add one to three months. Wait time for matching varies widely. After matching and NACC approval, travel typically occurs within a few months. U.S. court finalization adds additional time after homecoming.

All timelines are estimates and depend on NACC processing, caseloads, and individual circumstances. Gladney’s team can give you current estimates based on active cases.

Life After Adoption: Raising a Child From the Philippines

Supporting Your Child’s Cultural Identity

Your child’s Filipino identity is part of who they are. It lives in their language, their memories, their food, their faith, and the family connections they carry with them. Honoring it is not a project to complete. It is something you do, together, over a lifetime.

Language

Language is one of the most direct ways to stay connected. Many children from the Philippines arrive with some English, which eases the transition. But their heart language, whether Filipino, Cebuano, Ilocano, or another regional tongue, matters too. Staying connected to it, through community, media, or language classes, keeps an important part of your child’s story alive.

Community

The Filipino American community in the United States is large, welcoming, and found across the country. Filipino churches, cultural associations, and community organizations offer your child real community, not just cultural education. Filipino food, music, and celebration can become part of your family’s everyday life in ways that feel natural and joyful rather than performative.

Faith

Faith is central to Filipino culture for most families. If your family shares a Catholic or Christian faith, this is a natural bridge to your child’s cultural background. Participating in Filipino community worship, fiestas, and celebrations can deepen that connection.

Travel

Heritage travel is something many families consider when their child is older. Returning to the Philippines, and if possible to the town or care center where your child grew up, can be a meaningful experience at any age. Let your child’s readiness lead the way.

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FAQ

Is the Philippines currently open to U.S. adoptive parents?

Yes, with an important note. As of February 2023, NACC implemented a moratorium on new applications for children age 6 and younger without identified needs. New applications for the Waiting Child Program (children age 7 and older), sibling groups, and children with identified needs are still being accepted. Contact Gladney for current program availability.

Do I need to travel to the Philippines to adopt?

Yes. At least one parent must travel to the Philippines to receive the child in person. The trip is typically about one week.

Is the adoption finalized in the Philippines?

No. The Philippines issues a Placement Authority, which grants custody and allows the child to travel to the United States on an IH-4 visa. The adoption must then be finalized in a U.S. court. Your child becomes a U.S. citizen once the adoption decree is issued, as long as they are under 18 and living in your home.

Can single parents adopt from the Philippines?

Single applicants may apply, but they are considered only as resources for older children, generally ages 9 to 15, through the Waiting Child Program.

Can same-sex couples adopt from the Philippines?

Philippine law does not recognize same-sex marriage. Same-sex couples may not apply jointly. The Philippines does not expressly prohibit LGB individuals from applying as single applicants, but applicants should discuss their situation directly with Gladney before applying.

What is the faith requirement?

The Philippines is a predominantly Christian and Catholic nation, and NACC considers applicants’ spiritual and moral values as part of the review process. Families who practice Christianity or Catholicism are most commonly accepted. Confirm current faith requirements with Gladney before applying.

What is the relative adoption pathway?

If you have a relative in the Philippines within the fourth degree of consanguinity, you may apply to adopt that specific child. This is a distinct pathway from the standard intercountry adoption program and involves NACC working with DSWD to assess the child’s situation and confirm that intercountry adoption is in the child’s best interest. Contact Gladney to discuss whether your situation may qualify.

How does the Hague Convention apply to Philippines adoptions?

The Philippines is a Hague Convention country. All intercountry adoptions follow the Hague process, including use of a Hague-accredited U.S. agency, USCIS Forms I-800A and I-800, and an Article 5/17 Letter from the U.S. Embassy before placement.

What language will my child speak when they come home?

Many children from the Philippines speak English as well as Filipino or a regional language. English is an official language of the Philippines and is taught in schools. Your child may arrive with some English ability, though the level will vary by age and background.

Start Your Philippines Adoption Journey

The Philippines needs families who are ready for older children, sibling groups, and children with identified needs. These children are resilient, loving, and waiting for a family to call their own.

Gladney’s Philippines program is active. Our team knows this program, understands NACC’s requirements, and is ready to guide you from the first conversation to the day you bring your child home.

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