Azerbaijan is the largest and most populous country in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia. It shares its borders with the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west and Iran to the south. Adoption ARK is very excited to be the first agency registered under the new process in Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijani children vary in appearance. The majority of children have big, beautiful brown eyes and light to medium brown hair. Children of Russia Heritage, with blonde hair and blue eyes, are occasionally available.
More commonly, children 3 and up are available for adoption. However, children as young as 12 months are legally available but the wit for a referral will be longer. Sibling groups and children with special needs are also needing families.
Adoption ARK is registered in Azerbaijan. The role of Adoption ARK is to help prepare the dossier for the prospective adoptive family, to provide training, and to pre-qualify the family for adoption based on the submitted documents. Adoption ARK will send your dossier to the attorney in Azerbaijan for review. The attorney will submit the dossier to the central authority in Azerbaijan and the central authority will assign the referral of a child or siblings. The Azerbaijan Adoption Program has recently reopened under new requirements and guidelines. Adoption ARK is excited to be the first newly registered agency in Azerbaijan. The details of the Azerbaijan program are subject to change as the new process in Azerbaijan is revealed.
How to Start Your Azerbaijan Adoption Process
- Read over the information on this page and then contact Adoption ARK with any questions. If you conclude that Azerbaijan is a good country choice for your family, request and complete an adoption contract.
- Your contract will be reviewed and approved by our director, and then you will be assigned a caseworker to complete your adoption.
- Your caseworker will inform you of the steps needed to move forward with your adoption. Some of these steps include submitting your petition to adopt an orphan from overseas (I800A form), starting your home study (if you do not have one completed), and collecting documents and forms needed for your adoption dossier.
- Once your dossier is complete, all documents need to be notarized and authenticated.
- Send in your completed dossier to your caseworker for review.
- Your caseworker will make sure the dossier is complete and correct.
- Your dossier will be submitted to the Embassy or Consulate of Azerbaijan and after that to the government in Azerbaijan by the attorney.
- A child will be referred by Azerbaijan Central Authority. The referral wait time, by information provided by our attorney, is approximately 4-12 months from dossier submission. You will receive an official referral which might include video, photo and medical information.
- If you accept this referral, you will sign an acceptance form. This acceptance form/letter is submitted to Central adoption authority in Azerbaijan. Adoption ARK attorney will start arranging your first trip to Azerbaijan. Adoption ARK will assist you with travel plans and offer travel and in-country advice while monitoring the process in Azerbaijan.
Trip One to Azerbaijan
- Once you arrive in Azerbaijan, you will travel to the region to meet your referred child. Your coordinator will offer advice and assistance to prepare you for your first meeting with your child. This trip will last approximatly 7-10 days.
- After meeting your child you are asked if you still want to adopt the child.
- If you want to proceed, your dossier will be submitted to the District Judge for review and a court hearing will be scheduled to initiate the adoption proceedings. This usually takes one day.
- Both parents need to be present for court.
Trip Two to Azerbaijan
- After the court there is a 8-16 week waiting period.
- Parents can return for a 7-10 days stay to finish all the paperwork in Azerbaijan.
- While in Azerbaijan you will present the court decision to the orphanage in order to take custody of the child, obtain a new local birth certificate and passport, and proceed with the U.S. immigration process. Your coordinator will assist you with all of these procedures.
- After completion of the paperwork, you will go to Tbilisi, Georgia to visit the U.S. consulate.
- You can fly to the US from Georgia and once home begin your new life with your child!
- Post placement reports are required, which will be sent back to the child’s region.
Through it all, you will have the support of Adoption ARK’s professional and knowledgeable team to guide you through your adoption journey. Together, we can make your dream of adopting a child come true!
Azerbaijan is a pilot program. All details of the Azerbaijani Adoption Program are subject to change.