Countries at-a-Glance
Explore and compare our international adoption programs. Each country has its own eligibility requirements, child profiles, timelines, travel requirements, and adoption process. Use this page to compare programs at a glance, then select a country to learn more.
Getting Started
Every adoption journey begins with determining which programs may be a fit for your family.
Eligibility varies by country and may include factors such as age, marital status, family composition, health, and openness to a child's needs. Use the comparisons below as a starting point. Our team can help you understand current requirements and determine which programs you may be eligible to pursue
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Program Overview
A quick comparison can help families understand the major differences between programs. Detailed requirements and fees should always be confirmed before proceeding.
| Program Area | India | Thailand | USA |
|---|---|---|---|
| General program type | Central authority process through CARA/CARINGS, with Mainstream and Special Needs streams. | Program facilitated through Thailand's Department of Children and Youth. Current limitations may apply. | Partnership-based pathway involving The Children's Bridge, International Adoption Network, and supervised third-party providers. |
| Matching model | Families wait to be matched through the India process. Matching depends on approval, openness, child needs, and stream. | Families receive a referral through Thailand's process. Proposals may not come in strict chronological order. | Expectant parent(s) choose the adoptive family. This differs from central authority matching models. |
| Child profile | Children are generally 18 months and older at referral, with younger children possible in some Special Needs circumstances. | Children may be 16 months and older at proposal, depending on openness. Older children and children with medical needs may be waiting. | Children are generally placed as newborns or shortly after birth. |
| Openness expectations | Families should be open to either sex and should reflect carefully on age, health, developmental needs, and cultural connection. | Families should be open to age, sex, health, prenatal exposure, and background considerations. | Families must be open to any racial background and any sex, and at minimum to semi-open adoption. |
| Health/background information | May be limited and should be reviewed carefully with appropriate professionals. | May be limited and should be reviewed carefully with appropriate professionals. | Often more comprehensive child and familial history is available, but information still depends on disclosure and circumstances. |
| Approximate timeline | Referral timing varies widely by stream, openness, and family circumstances. | Referral timing varies and depends on openness and current program status. | Estimated wait for proposed match is often 1-3 years, but can vary. |
| Travel | Most families make one trip of approximately 3-4 weeks. | Travel may be up to approximately three weeks, with later registration steps through Thai embassy/consulate processes. | Families travel to the local state before or at birth and should be prepared for a stay that may be up to 45 days. |
| Approximate cost | Approx. $39,000-$41,000 CAD, excluding flights, accommodation, meals, incidentals, and some third-party costs. | Approx. $30,000-$32,000 CAD, excluding flights, accommodation, meals, incidentals, and some third-party costs. | Approx. $100,000-$110,000 CAD and up, with significant variability in third-party, legal, state, and birth parent expense-related costs. |
| Post-placement requirements | Reports are required for two years at 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, and 24 months. | Reports and translation requirements vary by stage, including reports before and after registration. | 3-5 post-placement reports may be required to finalize, depending on the state. |
| Program Manager | Lenore Cork-Lemay | Jennifer Stairs | Lindsay Brown |
Eligibility & Requirements
Eligibility means whether an applicant or family is allowed to apply for a specific program. Eligibility for one program does not mean eligibility for another.
| Program Area | India | Thailand | USA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Province availability | Open to residents of all provinces except Quebec. | Open to residents of all provinces except Quebec. | Open to residents of all provinces except Quebec and Alberta. |
| Single applicants | Single men and women may be eligible, subject to country-specific age and child-sex requirements. | Single applicants are not currently accepted. | Single applicants may be eligible. |
| Married couples | Married couples must have a stable marriage of at least two years. | Married couples must meet marriage-duration and family requirements. | Married couples may be eligible. |
| Common-law couples | Not eligible under current published requirements. | Not eligible under current published requirements. | Common-law couples may be eligible. |
| Same-sex couples | Not eligible under current published requirements. | Not eligible under current published requirements. | Same-sex couples may be eligible, with some state/provider exceptions. |
| Applicant age | Requirements depend on the age of the child requested and whether applicants are single or a couple. | Minimum and maximum age requirements apply, with some exceptions to discuss with the Program Manager. | Applicants must meet Canadian, provincial, agency, IAN, provider, and state requirements. |
| Family size / existing children | Families with two or more children in the home are only eligible through the Special Needs stream. | Families with three or more children in the home will not be considered. | Requirements depend on provider, state, and family circumstances. |
| Citizenship / residency | One of a couple, or a single applicant, must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada. | One applicant must be a Canadian citizen. | At least one applicant must be a Canadian citizen. |
| Health requirements | Applicants should be physically, mentally, and emotionally stable and not have life-threatening medical conditions. | Applicants must meet physical and emotional health requirements; some health or medication questions should be discussed with the Program Manager. | Applicants must be in sound physical and emotional health. |
| Financial requirements | Families must have a stable financial portfolio. | Families must have a stable financial portfolio. | Families must have a stable financial portfolio and be prepared for additional third party costs. |
| Criminal / child welfare checks | Applicants must be free from criminal and child welfare record concerns. | Applicants must be free from criminal and child welfare record concerns. | Applicants must be free from criminal and child welfare record concerns. |
Child Profiles & Family Openness
Child Profiles & Family Openness refers to child profile, background, health, and openness considerations. These factors should be discussed carefully with the Program Manager and appropriate professionals.
| Program Area | India | Thailand | USA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical child age | Generally 18 months and older at referral; may be possible in some Special Needs circumstances. | Approximately 16 months and older at proposal, depending on openness and program circumstances. | Generally newborn or shortly after birth. |
| Sex | Families should be open to either sex. | Families may request sex, but this may significantly affect timelines. | Families should be open to any sex. |
| Sibling groups | Sibling groups may be possible, with age and stream considerations. | Twins or siblings may be requested, but this is rare. | Sibling scenarios depend on individual match circumstances. |
| Special needs considerations | Special Needs stream may include a range of medical, developmental, and health considerations. | Older children and children with mild to moderate special medical needs may be waiting. | Families complete a detailed checklist covering prenatal, medical, family, and social history factors. |
| Prenatal exposure considerations | Information may be limited and should be reviewed carefully. | Prenatal exposure may be relevant in some referrals and should be discussed with professionals. | In-utero exposure may be part of the family openness checklist. |
| Known / unknown birth family history | Some history may be provided, but families should expect limitations. | Some history may be included, but families should expect limitations. | Birth family history is often provided, but depends on disclosure and circumstances. |
| Health/background information available | Limited. | Limited. | Often more comprehensive than other programs. |
| Racial/cultural considerations | Families should plan for lifelong connection to Indian culture, race, language, religion, and community. | Families should plan for lifelong connection to Thai culture, language, race, identity, and belonging. | Families must be able to provide racial mirrors and everyday access to cultural and racial diversity. |
| Openness / birth family contact | Varies by process and country context. | Varies by process and country context. | Applicants must be open to at least semi-open adoption, with some situations involving more openness. |
Process, Travel, and Post-Placement
The adoption process includes preparation, Home Study, documentation, country submission, matching or referral, travel, placement, legal steps, and required post-placement obligations. The details vary significantly by program.
| Program Area | India | Thailand | USA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dossier process | India dossier is prepared, notarized/apostilled, and uploaded to CARINGS for CARA review. | Thailand dossier may include medical and psychological assessments, notarization, authentication, and legalization. | Dossier and family profile materials are compiled and submitted to IAN when ready. |
| Matching/referral model | CARA process and stream determine matching. Families may not specify a child, or orphanage. | Thailand DCY facilitates referrals. Proposals may come at any time and not strictly in order. | Expectant parent(s) choose the adoptive family. Proposed matches are reviewed and may fail. |
| Travel timing | Travel occurs after adoption order and required approvals/documents are in place. | Travel occurs after referral acceptance and required approvals. | Travel usually occurs before birth or at the time of birth. |
| Travel length | Approximately 3-4 weeks. | Up to approximately three weeks. | Varies; families should be prepared for up to 45 days. |
| Who must travel | Both parents may be required to travel. | Both parents must travel. | Travel requirements depend on state, provider, and match circumstances. |
| Finalisation / registration | Adoption is finalized in the local state through a court hearing. | Registration may occur later through the Royal Thai Embassy in Ottawa or the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Vancouver. | Adoption is finalized in the local state, often approximately six months after placement, depending on state process. |
| Post-placement reports | Required for two years at 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, and 24 months. | Three translated reports may be required before registration, with additional reports after registration. | 3-5 reports may be required to finalize, depending on the state. |
| Required updates while waiting | Documents may need to be updated while waiting. | Documents and immigration steps may need to be updated while waiting. | Paperwork must be updated annually. |
Cost Planning Comparison
Costs are estimates for planning purposes only and may change due to exchange rates, third-party fees, travel requirements, legal expenses, and individual case circumstances.
| Program Area | India | Thailand | USA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Estimated total cost | Approx. $39,000-$41,000 CAD. | Approx. $30,000-$32,000 CAD. | $100,000-$110,000 CAD and up. |
| TCB fees | Retainer, adoption facilitation, file completion, dossier administration, and annual administration fee. | Retainer, adoption facilitation, file completion, in-country/translation/coordinator disbursements, and annual administration fee. | Retainer, adoption facilitation, file completion, and annual administration fee. |
| Country / in-country fees | India coordinator fee, SAA fee, custody fee, and related costs. | Embassy, in-country, translation, and coordinator-related costs. | IAN fees, third-party provider fees, birth parent living expenses, state/legal/court fees, and related costs. |
| Third-party fees | Home Study, post-placement reports, psychological assessment, PRIDE, notarization, immigration, clearances, visas, and other variable costs. | Home Study, post-placement reports, PRIDE, psychological assessment, immigration, clearances, embassy, translation, and other variable costs. | Home Study, post-placement reports, PRIDE, immigration, clearances, profile booklet, provider/state/legal costs, and other variable costs. |
| Travel included? | Flights, accommodation, meals, and incidentals are not included in the estimate. | Flights, accommodation, meals, incidentals, and later registration travel are not included in the estimate. | Travel and accommodation vary and should be budgeted separately. |
| Annual administration fee | Applies once the adoption process exceeds one year from retainer date until home with child. | Applies once the adoption process exceeds one year from retainer date until home with child. | Applies once the adoption process exceeds one year from retainer date until home with child. |
| Fee schedule | Download or request India fee schedule. | Download or request Thailand fee schedule. | Download or request USA fee schedule. |
Please note: International adoption requirements, timelines, fees, and program availability can change. The information above is intended as a general comparison. Please contact The Children’s Bridge for current program information and individual eligibility.
Ready to Explore a Program?
Once you've compared the programs, visit the individual country pages to learn more about children, matching, the adoption process, and next steps.