Who Can Adopt from Zambia

Children outside Lukamantano school, near Monze
Source: Wikipedia.org.

In addition to these U.S. requirements, you must also be found eligible to adopt by Zambia. Zambia requires that prospective adoptive parents meet the following:

Residency

Based on the Zambian Adoption Act, prospective adoptive parents must foster a child in Zambia for three months (the fostering phase). The fostering period for a “foreign” (non-Zambian) child is 12 months. This requirement is only reduced at a magistrate’s discretion upon presentation of a “certificate of urgency.”

Age of Adopting Parents

Prospective adoptive parent(s) must be at least 25 years of age. If the prospective parents are a couple, at least one parent must be 25 years of age and at least 21 years older than the child. If prospective adoptive parents are related to the child, the age requirement is 21 years of age.

Marriage

Prospective adoptive parents may be married or single. There is no provision in the law for gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgendered couples or individuals to adopt.

Income

Prospective adoptive parents must be able to demonstrate adequate finances. An acceptable home study, a requirement of both U.S. and Zambian law, will usually suffice.

Other

Adoption by gay, lesbian, transgendered or same-sex persons or couples is not permitted under Zambian law.

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