Revision as of 20:06, 6 March 2014

Hague Convention Information

Greece Adoption Notice: On September 2, 2009, Greece signed and ratified the Hague Adoption Convention; it will enter into force for Greece on January 1, 2010. Greece is party to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Hague Adoption Convention). Therefore all adoptions between Greece and the United States must meet the requirements of the Convention and U.S. law implementing the Convention.

Greece is not a major Country of Origin for children adopted through intercountry adoption. There are many more prospective adoptive parents in Greece than there are children eligible for adoption. Over the recent 5 years, only 3 Greek children have received orphan immigrant visas to the U.S. following their adoptions by U.S. citizen parents.

Although there are no private adoption agencies in Greece, children may be adopted with the involvement of an attorney or gynecologist who will act as a facilitator. Whether a child is adopted through one of the government-run institutions and orphanages, or privately, a lawyer is required.

NOTE: Special transition provisions apply to adoptions initiated before April 1, 2008. Learn more.

Who Can Adopt

Adoption between the United States and Greece is governed by the Hague Adoption Convention. Therefore to adopt from Greece, you must first be found eligible to adopt by the U.S. Government. The U.S. Government agency responsible for making this determination is the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Learn more.

In addition to these U.S. requirements for adoptive parents, Greece also has the following requirements for adoptive parents:

Residency

You must be a resident of Greece to adopt a child from any of the governmental institutions and orphanages in Greece which care for orphaned or abandoned infants. Exceptions for prospective adoptive parents who do not reside in Greece will be made only for children with health problems who live in Greek institutions. In the case of a private adoption, no restriction applies as to the place of residence of the prospective parents.

Age of Adopting Parents

You must be between the ages of 30 and 60 in order to adopt a child. At least one of the adoptive parents must be at least 18 years older but not more than 50 years older than the adopted child. Only minors can be adopted, except in the case of step-parent adoption. Although the legal process of adoption cannot be started before the child reaches 3 months of age, in almost all cases of private adoption biological parents give the child to prospective adoptive parents immediately after birth.

Marriage

Prospective adoptive parents may be married or single.

Income

You must provide evidence of financial status.

Other

There is no religious requirement to adopt a child in Greece.

Who Can Be Adopted

Because Greece is party to the Hague Adoption Convention, children from Greece must meet the requirements of the Convention in order to be eligible for adoption. For example, the Convention requires that Greece attempt to place a child with a family in-country before determining that a child is eligible for intercountry adoption. In addition to Greece's requirements, a child must meet the definition of a Convention adoptee for you to bring him or her back to the United States.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Relinquishment Requirements: The consent of biological parents and a court decision.

Abandonment Requirements: The court process replaces the consent of biological parents as necessary and facilitates procedures between the adoptive parents and the interested party, providing a judicial guarantee.

Relinquishment Requirements: Only minors can be adopted, except in the case of step-parent adoption.

Sibling Requirements: The court takes into consideration the perspectives of the children of the adopting family.

Requirements for Special Needs or Medical Conditions: Medical Reports are needed in addition to all other documents.

Waiting Period: Due to a limited number of children available for adoption and a large number of prospective adoptive parents, the waiting period to finalize an adoption is approximately five years for a child living in an institution. For children with health problems, the waiting period usually takes up to three years. An attorney is necessary in order to present the case in court and finalize the adoption. Court decisions concerning adoption cases usually take from 1-6 months before a final decision is made.

How to Adopt

Adoption Authority

The Process

Traveling Abroad

After Adoption

SOURCE

Intercountry Adoption, Bureau of Consular Affairs. U.S. Department of State Country Information