FAQs About Adoption from South Korea

1. Are there age requirements or length of marriage requirements for adoptive couples applying to South Korea?
Yes, South Korea requires that adoptive parents be between the ages of 25-43½ years of age and be married for a minimum of three years. The age difference between the adoptive couple cannot be greater than 15 years. Each parent may have no more than one divorce each in their past.

2. Are singles eligible to adopt?
At this time, South Korea does not allow single individuals to adopt.

3. Are there medical requirements of adoptive families?
South Korea requires that adoptive couples be in excellent physical and mental health. A medical report by a physician must attest to your excellent state of health.

4. Are there educational requirements?
South Korea requires that adoptive couples have at least a high school diploma to be eligible for adoption.

5. Is there a requirement for the number of children a family may already have before adoption another?
South Korea will not accept adoptive couples who have more than four children in their family. They will allow five children so long as the fifth child is the child being adopted from South Korea and the family is able to financially meet the needs of a fifth child without sacrificing the family's lifestyle. Additionally, all children in the home must be healthy.

6. Does South Korea have other requirements of adoptive couples?
South Korea does have racial and religious preferences and height and weight restrictions. Adoptive couples may not exceed a height:weight ratio of 30% greater weight than what is considered customary for their height. If an adoptive family falls outside of what is customary, adoptive families may be prescreened to determine eligibility.

7. What children are usually available for referrals?
Children are referred as infants and are on average between 10-12 months of age at the time of arrival in the United States. Cigarette and social drinking during the weekend is a common practice of birth mothers in South Korea. The average birth weight is 5-6 pounds. All children are in private foster care placements and receive "Westernized" medical care throughout the duration of their care in South Korea.

8. What information do we receive when given a referral?
In most cases, adoptive families can expect to receive extensive background and medical information on the child, information regarding the birth mother's pregnancy, and 6-8 photos of the child.

9. What is the estimated waiting time to receive a referral from the time the dossier is submitted?
The average waiting time to receive a referral after the family's dossier has been received and accepted is five months. This wait time is set overseas by South Korea and is subject to change.

10. What is the waiting time after we receive a referral to when we can either travel or have the child escorted to the United States?
The average waiting period is 3 to 4 months. The wait time is set overseas by South Korea and subject to change.

11. What are the travel requirements?
South Korea offers two options. A family may either travel to South Korea to bring their child home. Only one trip is required for this option and the trip is usually 5 business days in duration. The second option is to have the child escorted to the United States. This option is more expensive, but the more common practice of adoptive families. Children are escorted by reputable escorts approved by SWS. The adoptive family then has the option of either receiving their child at JFK Airport in New York, LAX in Los Angeles or O'Hare Airport in Chicago.

12. Can you adopt two children at once?
No, South Korea accepts the dossier of one child at a time.

13. Are post-placement reports required?
Yes, SWS requires three post-placement reports. The first report occurs within the first 2-4 weeks after the child has been home in the United States. The second report occurs approximately 8 weeks later. The third report occurs approximately 8 weeks after the second report.

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