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

Taiwan’s intercountry adoption program is one of Asia’s most well-regarded. It is a small, carefully managed program rooted in child welfare principles and governed with transparency. While Taiwan is not a party to the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption, its adoption framework closely mirrors Hague standards, and the country requires U.S. families to work with accredited adoption service providers at every step.

The children waiting for families in Taiwan include infants and toddlers, older children, sibling groups, and children with identified medical or developmental needs. For many of them, a U.S. accredited agency is the bridge to a permanent family. For the families who choose this path, Taiwan offers something distinctive: exceptional preparation, detailed information on children, and a child welfare community that treats adoptive families as genuine partners.

This guide covers everything you need to know about adopting from Taiwan: who is eligible, how the process works, what it costs, and how to honor your child’s Taiwanese heritage for a lifetime. If you are just beginning to explore or are ready to take the next step, the right resources and guidance are here for you.

Why Families Choose Taiwan

Children Eligible for Adoption

The children eligible for adoption from Taiwan represent a wide range of ages and circumstances. Both boys and girls are available through Taiwan’s intercountry program. Children typically range from infants to approximately 15 years of age, with older children, sibling groups, and children with identified medical or developmental needs making up a significant portion of those available for international placement.
Children ages 5 and older are often considered to have “special needs” under Taiwan’s framework, not because of physical disability, but because of age alone. Children with commonly seen needs include those with vision or hearing differences, limb differences, cleft lip and palate, heart conditions, Hepatitis B, prenatal exposures, or developmental delays. Children who have experienced trauma, loss, or time in institutional or foster care may also present with developmental or behavioral needs that resolve with consistent, attentive parenting and appropriate therapeutic support.
Most children in Taiwan’s care system are placed in licensed foster families while they await adoption, meaning many arrive to adoptive families having experienced the stability of a family environment. Families are often provided with detailed social and medical histories, and pre-placement video communication with children ages 3 and older is frequently available — a meaningful opportunity to begin building connection before travel.
Children become eligible for adoption after their birth parents have either voluntarily relinquished parental rights or parental rights have been terminated through Taiwan’s legal system. Birth family involvement, including potential future contact, is part of Taiwan’s culture around adoption.

Is Adopting From Taiwan Right for Your Family?

Who Can Adopt From Taiwan?

Taiwan’s eligibility requirements are specific and carry weight in the matching process. Gladney’s Waiting Children Asia program places babies, toddlers, and older children with identified medical needs from Taiwan; the requirements below reflect Gladney’s current program criteria. Always confirm current eligibility with your accredited adoption service provider before beginning the process.

General eligibility requirements include:

• Age: At least one applicant must be 25 years old. Parents adopting younger children should generally be no more than 40 years older than the child. For children ages 5 and older, parents may be up to 55 years of age; exceptions may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
• Marital status: Taiwan’s program through Gladney requires married heterosexual couples. Single applicants are not eligible through Gladney’s Taiwan program. Some other accredited agencies may have different eligibility criteria.
• Length of marriage: Couples must have been married for a minimum of three years at the time of application. If either spouse was previously divorced, a longer marriage requirement may apply; no more than two divorces between the couple combined.
• Same-sex couples: As of May 2023, Taiwan amended its same-sex marriage law to permit same-sex couples to adopt children to whom they are not biologically related. Prospective adoptive parents’ home jurisdictional law must meet Taiwanese law to be eligible. Confirm same-sex eligibility with your specific accredited adoption service provider.
• Children already in the home: For families adopting younger children, no more than two young children may currently reside in the home. Families with more children may be considered for waiting children with more significant needs.
• Education: A minimum of a high school diploma or GED is required for both applicants.
• Health: Families must be physically and mentally fit to parent. A BMI under 36 is typically required. No major current or recent serious health concerns; some conditions are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
• Income: Applicants must meet at least 125% of the U.S. poverty guidelines, a USCIS requirement for all intercountry adoptions. Some agencies set higher income minimums; confirm with your ASP.
• Criminal history: Applicants must have no criminal history. No history of alcohol abuse within the past ten years, drug abuse, child abuse, sexual abuse, or domestic violence.
• Citizenship: At least one applicant must be a U.S. citizen.
• Cultural openness: Parents are expected to be open to and respectful of their child’s Taiwanese cultural background and heritage.

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

Travel Requirements

Taiwan’s adoption process may require one or two trips to Taiwan, depending on the specific case and the requirements of the presiding judge.

Trip 1 (if required): Both parents travel to Taiwan to meet their child, participate in a bonding period, and attend the court hearing where the adoption is reviewed. This trip is typically approximately one to two weeks.

Trip 2: Families return to Taiwan to bring their child home, usually two to three months after the court-finalized adoption. During this trip, families obtain the child’s U.S. immigrant visa through the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) and complete any remaining administrative steps. This trip is typically approximately five to seven days.

Not all families are required to make two separate trips; some families complete both stages in a single extended stay. Your adoption service provider will give you the most current guidance based on active cases and judge preferences at the time of your process.

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

Start Your Taiwan 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.