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 (applicant couples)the age of the applicants correlates with the adoptive child’s ageadoption preparatory course Families are sought for children aged 0–6 yearsmild special needs are possible, most commonly prematuritychildren with more severe special needs and older children also need families Estimated waiting time a pproximately 10–12 months’ waiting time to send the application to South Africa1–3 years in South Africathe waiting time depends on the child’s needs and the applicants’ abilities 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.