Below is an overview of a Bulgarian adoption process from the time AGCI receives adoptive parents completed dossier and home study.

AGCI Sends Dossier to Foreign Service Provider (FSP)

AGCI will forward adoptive parents dossier to FSP who will translate, authenticate and legalize the dossier. Once processed, FSP will submit the dossier to the Ministry of Justice (MOJ).

FSP Submits Dossier to Ministry of Justice (MOJ)

The MOJ will review and approve the dossier. Once approved, the adoptive parents will be officially logged into the “Applicant’s Register” within 30 days.

The Adoption Council members meet weekly to review applicants and available children for adoption. This council is responsible for matching children with approved (logged in) adoptive parents. The Council takes into account the approved referral parameters issued in the home study.

The MOJ updates their website monthly with the number of referrals issued and children approved for adoption. Adoptive parents can also track their file once logged into the applicants register at: www.justice.government.bg/new/Pages/Adoptions/Default.aspx.

Click here to view a translation of the Adoption Council postings.

**Waiting Child Program

Wait times for referral are expedited for families open to adopting a child over the age of seven, sibling group or a child with special needs. Please contact our waiting child program for further details.

Referral Review

AGCI sends adoptive parents all information issued on the referred child. Included in this information is a general medical evaluation, psychologist evaluation, social history and a photo of the child.

1^st Trip Travel

Adoptive parents should be ready to travel on the first trip within one month of accepting a referral. Both parents will then travel for five days bonding with the referred child. During this visit, parents will sign referral documents, which initiate the adoption process.

Bulgarian Court Finalizes the Adoption

The referral documents are submitted to the MOJ for approval by the Adoption Council. Once approved, the MOJ forwards their final opinion to the Sofia City Court and a court appointment is scheduled. It is at this court appointment that the adoption is finalized under Bulgarian law. Once the court decree and new birth certificate are issued, the adoptive parents can travel.

2^nd Trip Travel

Adoptive parents should be ready to travel within two to four months from the first trip. The second trip is seven to ten days, during which time adoptive parents will receive the child’s passport and the immigration documents from the U.S. Embassy. Only one parent is required to travel on the second trip and a representative from FSP will accompany a family throughout their entire stay in Bulgaria.

Post-Adoption

In Bulgaria, an adoption is finalized before entrance into the United States. Upon arrival, post-adoption reports are due at three, six, 12, 18, and 24 months after the placement anniversary date.

Children Available	Children from 12 months to 14 years old are available for adoption. Many sibling groups and older children are also available.
Applicants Age	All applicants must be between the ages of 23 to 55 years. Parents 23 to 49 years can adopt a child 12 to 24 months or older. Parents 50 to 55 years can adopt a child two years or older. Single women must be at least 25, per CIS requirements.
Marriage Status & History	Married couples and single women may adopt. Couples must be in a stable marriage for at least nine months.
Divorce	Applicants can have two or fewer divorces per person.
Children in Family	Applicants with fewer than four children in the home are able to adopt.
Income	Applicants must have a minimum annual income of $30,000.
Citizenship	At least one of the adoptive parents must be a U.S. Citizen.
Travel	Bulgaria requires two trips. The first trip is approximately five days. The second trip is approximately seven to ten days and occurs three to five months after the first trip.
Timeframe	Approximate time frame from application through finalization of the adoption is 20 to 28 months. Approximate timeframes from application through finalization for a waiting child is nine to 12 months.
Waiting Child Program	Criteria is the same. Adoption process is expedited for Waiting Children. Learn more about AGCI's waiting children.

To request a complete list of AGCI requirements please e-mail info@allgodschildren.org.

Bulgaria, founded in 681 AD, is the homeland of ancient civilizations, and remnants of their cultures, and the ruins of their cities, palaces and monasteries are found throughout the country. After centuries of Turkish control, military conflicts, decades of Communist Party rule, and assorted political squabbling, Bulgaria is finally adjusting to its switch to democracy in the early 1990s. Tourism is a real growth industry here, and Europeans frequent the beautiful city of Sofia, the numerous historic sites, as well as the resorts and spas on the Black Sea coast. http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/
europe/bg.htm

Flag:

Orphan Statistics:

An estimated 10,000 children are living within government orphanages.

Adoption Trend:

Immigrant Visas issued to US Citizens

1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004
91	133	97	110	163	148	151	221	214	297	260	198	110

After 2004 Bulgarian adoptions fell off of the department of state site due to change in adoption law.

Map of Bulgaria

Capital: Sofia

This map of Bulgaria is copyright of Globe Media Limited. Please contact us if you wish to license travel maps of Bulgaria or other destinations for use on your website or brochure. We also offer custom mapping solutions.

Land Divisions:

28 provinces, including; Blagoevgrad, Burgas, Dobrich, Gabrovo, Khaskovo, Kurdzhali, Kyustendil, Lovech, Montana, Pazardzhik, Pernik, Pleven, Plovdiv, Razgrad, Ruse, Shumen, Silistra, Sliven, Smolyan, Sofiya, Sofiya-Grad, Stara Zagora, Turgovishte, Varna, Veliko Turnovo, Vidin, Vratsa and Yambol

Climate:

The climate of Bulgaria is one of the country's most favorable features. With four distinct seasons the weather in Bulgaria is generally hot and dry in summer with moderate humidity, mild and pleasant in autumn, cold and crisp in winter and boomingly beautiful in spring. Along the Black Sea Coast the climate is maritime, the Mediterranean Sea cooling summer temperatures compared to the interior of the country. Temperatures average 75°F (24°C) in summer and around 32°F (0°C) in the winter months. http://www.wordtravels.com/Travelguide/Countries/Bulgaria/Weather

Government:

Parliamentary democracy

Population:

7,917,855

Life Expectancy:

72.57 years

Religion:

Bulgarian Orthodox 82.6%, Muslim 12.2%, Roman Catholic 0.6%, Protestant 0.5%, other, 4.1% (2001 cencus)

Language:

Bulgarian is an Indo-European language, a member of the Slavic linguistic group. As of 2007, there are more than 12 million people around the world who speak Bulgarian fluently.

Currency:

Official Bulgarian currency is the Lev (BGL), however with Bulgaria’s accession to the European Union, the Euro is beginning to take over.

Photos of the Country:

http://www.wordtravels.com/Travelguide/Countries/Bulgaria/Photos

Kolpeck Family

Extreme Expecting

Bernard Family

We love our son Peter and he says all the time he loves us!

Cox family

Our little Gracie is a special child and a gift from the Lord

Lambert Family

We have had a wonderful adoption experience!

Kosco family

Faith had adapted beautifully. She is a very well balanced loving child who loves life.

Kennedy Family

She is growing up in the knowledge and admonition of the Lord Jesus and is beginning to understand “Where her strength comes from, it comes from the Lord.”

We love her very much and she also loved by many other people who know her.