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

India placed more children with U.S. families in fiscal year 2024 than any other country in the world. With 202 placements, it is the top country of origin for U.S. intercountry adoptions. It is a Hague Convention country with a well-managed, centralized adoption system run by the Central Adoption Resource Authority, known as CARA.
Gladney was authorized by CARA in November 2024 as a Foreign Adoption Agency, and opened its India program in April 2025. We are proud to be part of this important work.
India’s program is built on a clear priority: finding families for children who need them most. Families with Indian heritage receive the highest priority for younger and healthier children. Families without Indian heritage are warmly welcomed, and they play a vital role in finding homes for children with identified medical or developmental needs, older children, and sibling groups.
This guide covers who can adopt from India, how the process works, what it costs, and how to raise a child with a deep and living connection to India.

Why Families Choose India

India’s Adoption History

India joined the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption on October 6, 2003, making it one of the first major sending countries to commit to the Convention’s child welfare standards. All adoptions from India to the United States follow the Hague process. CARA, a division of India’s Ministry of Women and Child Development, is the central authority that oversees every adoption.

India’s intercountry adoption program has evolved significantly in recent years. In 2022, India updated its adoption regulations and shifted the authority to issue adoption orders from courts to District Magistrates. This change was made to speed up the process and reduce delays. A 2025 Supreme Court ruling reinforced this shift, pushing further streamlining of the process to prevent delays and protect children.

An important legal note: In September 2025, the U.S. Department of State determined that adoptions processed under India’s Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act (HAMA) do not comply with the Hague Convention. Only adoptions processed under India’s Juvenile Justice Act are valid for U.S. immigration purposes. Families should ensure their adoption is processed through the Juvenile Justice Act pathway. Your adoption service provider will confirm this.

India prioritizes domestic adoption before intercountry adoption. Children are first made available to resident Indian families, then to Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and Overseas Citizens of India (OCI cardholders), and finally to foreign families. This stepped approach is consistent with the Hague Convention’s subsidiarity principle.

Is Adopting From India Right for Your Family?

Who Can Adopt From India?

India’s eligibility requirements are set by CARA and align with the Hague Convention. The age requirements are based on a composite system that links the parents’ combined age to the age of the child they can adopt. The requirements below reflect Gladney’s current program criteria and CARA’s 2022 regulations. Always confirm current eligibility with your adoption service provider before beginning the process.

For married couples:

• At least one spouse must be a U.S. citizen
• Couples must be legally married for at least two years
• India does not recognize common-law or domestic partnerships
• Both spouses must consent to the adoption
• Combined age guidelines (based on combined age at time of dossier upload to CARA):
  • Combined age 84 or under: eligible to adopt children from birth to 23 months
  • Combined age 85 to 89: eligible for children ages 24 to 47 months
  • Combined age 90 to 99: eligible for children ages 4 to 8 years
  • Combined age 100 to 109: eligible for children ages 8 to 14 years
• At least 25 years must separate either parent from the child

For single applicants:

• Single women may adopt a child of any gender
• Single men may adopt male children only
• Age guidelines for singles (based on age at dossier upload):
  • Under 40: eligible for children from birth to 23 months
  • Ages 40 to 44: eligible for children 24 to 47 months
  • Ages 45 to 49: eligible for children 4 to 8 years
  • Ages 50 to 54: eligible for children 8 to 14 years
• At least 25 years must separate the applicant from the child

For all applicants:

• Same-sex couples are not accepted
• No more than three children currently in the home for standard cases (exceptions considered for special needs adoptions)
• Good physical and mental health; no chronic, contagious, or life-threatening conditions
• No specific income requirement beyond the standard USCIS requirement of 125% of U.S. poverty guidelines
• A clean criminal record
• Families of Indian heritage (NRI/OCI) receive priority for younger and healthier children

A note for NRI and OCI families: If one or both prospective adoptive parents hold Non-Resident Indian status or an Overseas Citizenship of India card, you are treated on par with resident Indians for priority in the adoption process. This means you may be matched with younger children and children with fewer identified needs. The wait for a healthy young child for NRI/OCI families is currently estimated at four or more years. Most NRI/OCI families choose to be open to children with mild or correctable needs to shorten their wait.

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

Cultural Considerations

Adopting from India means welcoming a child whose identity is rooted in one of the world’s oldest and most diverse civilizations. India is a country of 1.4 billion people, more than 20 officially recognized languages, and thousands of years of art, philosophy, music, food, and tradition. Your child’s heritage is not one thing. It is many things, and it is worth exploring with curiosity and respect.

Hindi is the most widely spoken language in India, but your child may speak Tamil, Telugu, Bengali, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, or another regional language depending on where they grew up. Asking your adoption service provider which language your child speaks is an important first step. Providing your child with access to their specific birth language, not just Hindi, is a meaningful act of cultural respect.

Indian culture is rich with music, dance, and celebration. Classical dance forms like Bharatanatyam, Kathak, and Odissi have centuries of tradition behind them. Bollywood music and film are beloved worldwide and give adoptive families an accessible entry point into Indian popular culture. Many cities in the U.S. have Indian cultural organizations, dance schools, and Hindi or regional language classes that are welcoming to adoptive families.

Diwali, the festival of lights, is one of the most widely celebrated Indian holidays and has become well-known across the United States. Holi, the spring festival of colors, and Eid al-Fitr (celebrated by Muslim families across India) are also widely observed. For children of any Indian background, participating in these celebrations as a family creates lasting connection to their heritage.

Indian food is one of the most celebrated cuisines in the world, and Indian restaurants, grocery stores, and cooking resources are widely available across the U.S. Cooking Indian food at home, especially dishes from the region your child came from, is a joyful and practical way to keep culture present in everyday life.

For families adopting transracially, cultural connection is not something extra. It is foundational to your child’s sense of self. Seek out the Indian American community in your area. Indian American cultural organizations, temples, mosques, gurdwaras, and community festivals offer your child living connection, not just a lesson.

Travel Requirements

India requires at least one trip, typically lasting 10 to 14 days. In most cases, this is the only trip needed. In some regions, the District Magistrate may require the prospective adoptive parents to be present at the adoption hearing. In those cases, a second shorter trip may be needed, though many hearings can now be attended by video call.

For married couples, both parents are required to travel together to take custody of the child. During the trip, you will spend time in the city or town where your child is living before traveling to New Delhi for the visa appointment at the U.S. Embassy.

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

Start Your India Adoption Journey

India is a program for families who are ready to meet a child where they are, to embrace a rich and specific cultural identity, and to commit to the long road with patience and love.

Gladney’s India program is new, and we are honored to be one of the few U.S. agencies authorized to do this work. Our team has been to India, met the children and the institutions caring for them, and is ready to walk with you through every step.

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