Effective April 17, 2008

Introduction

Colombia is situated in the northwestern part of South America. The racial makeup of the Colombian population is diversified. About 58% of the people are mestizo (of mixed Spanish and Native American ancestry), about 20% are of unmixed European ancestry, and about 14% are mulatto (of mixed black and white ancestry). The remaining 8% are Native Americans, Blacks and mixed ancestry.

The Colombian Family Welfare Institute (Instituto Colombiano de Bienestar Familiar) (ICBF) is the Colombian government entity in charge of protecting children and guaranteeing their rights.

The adoption program of the ICBF intends to provide stable families for children. The ICBF assesses and studies applications of prospective adoptive parent(s). The adoption process requires administrative steps before the ICBF and judicial actions before a Family judge or by a judge having combined jurisdiction (Promiscuo de Familia).

Adopolis has been accredited by the ICBF as a full service international agency for work with Colombia. Adopolis is responsible for assisting and preparing the family through the adoption process and providing post-placement reports to Colombia.

Adopolis also works with Fundación Los Pisingos, a private Colombian agency located in Bogotá. Los Pisingos operates an orphanage and has provided services for children for many years. They are one of the eight private Colombian agencies authorized by the ICBF to offer adoption services in Colombia. Prospective adoptive parents may choose to work with Los Pisingos or directly with the ICBF in finding a child in need of adoption.

The Children

Boys and girls, infants, toddlers and older children are in need of adoption. There are also sibling groups in need of families. The children have either been abandoned or relinquished to the ICBF. Children tend to have light brown skin, dark hair and eyes and can vary in age from 6 months to teen age. Most of the children are in good health.

Children with special medical needs are also in need of adoptive families.

Requirements of Adoptive Parents

Prospective adoptive parents must be older than 25 years of age.
Parents must be fully competent to bear the responsibilities of raising children.
Couples must be married for at least three years. Couples married fewer years will be considered with documentation of infertility.
Parents over 40 years of age may not be able to adopt children under 3 years old. Exact age limits may vary with individual family circumstances.

Waiting time until referral

Families in which at least one parent holds Colombian citizenship have priority for a placement and the waiting time can vary between 6 to 8 months. The Adopolis application fee will also be waived in this case. You may be eligible to claim Colombian citizenship if one of your parents was a Colombian citizen. For other nationalities waiting time can vary from 12 to 18 months or longer.

For special needs, older children and sibling groups the waiting time is shorter.

Waiting time from referral until travel

2 to 3 weeks.

Travel

Parents must obtain special visas before traveling to Colombia for purpose of adoption. Both parents must travel for an interview with the ICBF. One parent can return home after one week and the other must remain in Colombia for another 4 to 6 weeks until the completion of the adoption.

In-country Costs: $3,500

Includes translation of documents (English into Spanish), legal and administrative fees.

Fees are subject to change.

Travel and accommodation expenses vary depending on time of year and location of the child.



U.S. Department of State, Colombia Adoption page
U.S. Embassy, Bogotá, Colombia
Embassy of Colombia, Washington DC