Adoption Adoption process Adoption Counselling Adoption Cooperation Countries Bulgaria Colombia India South-Africa Thailand Questions about Adoption Costs of the Adoption Process Requirements married couples and (restricted number of) single applicants can applythe applicant family can have biological or adopted children in the familygood physical and mental healthat least five years’ duration of the relationship (applying couples)the age of the applicants correlates with the adoptive child’s agesocial worker’s recommendation for an adoption of a special needs or an older childadoption preparatory course Families are sought for children aged 0–2 yearsmild special needs are possible, most commonly prematuritychildren with more severe special needs and older children also need families Estimated waiting time a few months’ waiting to send the application1–2 years in South Africa Adoption trip usually the family leaves for South Africa in two weeks after the child proposalthe trip takes about four weeks Our cooperation contact in South Africa Abba Specialist Adoption & Social Services (Abba) More information of South Africa: Marika Elmeranta, Senior Adoption Coordinator, marika.elmeranta(at)interpedia.fi or 050-919 5380.