International Adoption as a Single Parent: Countries That Allow It in 2026

International adoption has become significantly more restrictive over the past decade — for everyone, not just single parents. The countries that historically processed large volumes of international adoptions have closed programs, paused them, or imposed tighter eligibility criteria. For single parents, the landscape is narrower still: most countries with active programs express a preference for married couples, and a handful outright prohibit single-parent applications.

What remains is a smaller but real set of programs. Understanding them accurately — what each country actually requires, not what someone's blog said three years ago — is the starting point for deciding whether international adoption is a realistic path for you.

The Current State of International Adoption for Singles (2026)

The biggest recent change: China officially ended its international adoption program for non-relatives in 2024. For decades, China was the primary international adoption destination for single American women, and its closure removed a large and relatively accessible pathway. If your research is more than two years old, assume any information about China adoption is no longer accurate.

Other programs — Haiti and Ethiopia — have been suspended or closed due to civil unrest and policy changes. Russia has been closed to American adoptions since 2012. Ukraine's war has suspended intercountry adoption programs.

What's actively open and accepting single-parent applications as of early 2026:

Countries That Accept Single Parent Adoptions

Colombia

Colombia has one of the most organized intercountry adoption systems in the world and is one of the few countries that accepts both single women and single men (with some restrictions for men).

Requirements:

• Minimum age: 25
• Minimum age gap: at least 15 years older than the child
• Primary child demographic: children aged 10 and older, sibling groups, and children with special needs
• Single men are accepted but typically placed with boys; placements for men with girls require additional justification

Colombia operates through ICBF (Instituto Colombiano de Bienestar Familiar) and requires a Hague-accredited U.S. agency. Wait times vary significantly by your flexibility on child age and needs.

India

India's CARA (Central Adoption Resource Authority) provides a centralized, relatively transparent system with specific rules for single applicants.

Requirements for single women:

• Can adopt children of any gender
• Composite age rule: to adopt a child under age 4, the parent must be under 45. For a child aged 4–8, parent must be under 50. For children over 8, no upper age restriction.
• Strong preference for Indian-origin applicants, but the program is open to non-Indian citizens with sponsoring relatives or through CARA's non-resident Indian program.

Requirements for single men:

• Can only adopt boys
• Same composite age rules apply

India's program is methodical but slow — expect a multi-year wait.

Brazil

Brazil accepts single parents of both genders, though the program is less common among U.S. adopters than Colombia or India.

Requirements:

• Minimum age: 18 (and at least 16 years older than the child)
• Mandatory in-country bonding period of 30 days before finalization
• Children are typically older or have special needs
• Post-adoption follow-up reports are required

Brazil's system operates through accredited Brazilian agencies and requires Hague compliance. The 30-day in-country requirement is logistically significant for single parents planning around work leave.

Thailand

Thailand accepts single women, with restrictions.

Requirements:

• Single women only (single men not accepted)
• Minimum age: 25
• Children typically over 12 months
• Thailand's program has limited capacity and can have significant wait times

Honduras

Honduras accepts both single women and single men.

Requirements:

• Minimum age: 25
• Children typically aged 2 and older
• The program is smaller in volume than Colombia; accredited agencies with Honduras experience are fewer

What Changes When You're a Single Parent in International Adoption

Dossier preparation: International adoptions require assembling a dossier — a comprehensive set of documents including your home study, financial statements, employment verification, background checks, birth certificate, and passport copies, all authenticated and often translated. For single parents, this dossier looks slightly different: there's no spouse's documents to include, but you'll need to provide additional documentation of your support network and emergency care plan.

Home study: The home study for an international adoption is the same process as domestic, but the home study writer must be experienced with the specific country program you're pursuing. Different countries have different home study requirements, and a home study written for domestic foster care may not satisfy Colombia's or India's standards.

In-country travel: Most international programs require at least one, often two, trips to the country. Coordinating international travel as a solo parent — who will care for your child while you travel for the second trip after the first placement? — requires planning that couples don't have to navigate the same way.

Post-adoption reporting: Most Hague Convention countries require post-adoption progress reports (photos and updates on the child's adjustment) for several years after finalization. These are coordinated through your agency and are a commitment you'll fulfill alone.

The Agency Question

Hague-accredited agencies are required for adoptions from Hague Convention countries. Not all accredited agencies have active programs in every country, and not all agencies welcome single-parent applicants. When evaluating agencies for international adoption as a single parent, ask:

1. Do you have active placements for single parents in your programs?
2. What is the average wait time for a single applicant at my age and flexibility level?
3. What percentage of your placements last year went to single parents?

Agencies with meaningful experience placing single parents in international programs will answer these questions directly and with specific numbers. Vague reassurances without data are a red flag.

Is International Adoption Right for You as a Single Parent?

International adoption makes sense for single parents who:

• Are specifically drawn to a particular country's program and child demographic
• Have the financial capacity for $25,000–$60,000 in total costs
• Can manage the logistics of international travel as a solo adult
• Have researched a country's specific program and confirmed it accepts single applicants

It does not make sense as a default choice because domestic options seem harder. Foster care adoption is genuinely easier and less expensive for single parents, and domestic private adoption — while more competitive — doesn't carry the same bureaucratic complexity and international logistics.

The Single Parent Adoption Guide includes a detailed chapter on international adoption for single parents: how to evaluate country programs, what to look for in a Hague-accredited agency, dossier preparation specifics for solo applicants, and how to build the financial plan for an international program on one income.