Adoptive Parent Requirements
The eligibility requirements for adoptive parents are set by Philippine Inter-Country Adoption Law:
1. Adoptive applicants should be at least twenty-seven (27) years old and at least sixteen (16) years older than the child to be adopted at the time of application. The oldest parent in the home should not be more than 45 years older than the child being adopted.
2. The household income must be at least $40,000 per year.
3. Both prospective adoptive parents must have at least a high school diploma.
4. The applicants must be legally married for at least three (3) years and have no more than two divorces per couple.
5. The family should be actively practicing some form of religion to which they will expose their child.
6. Single women are permitted to adopt children ages 9-15 years old from the Special Home Finding Program.
7. Prospective Adoptive Parents who are 50 years old or over will qualify only for the Special Home Finding roster.
8. Effective November 1, 2009, ICAB will no longer accept adoptive applicants for the Philippine program who have the issues described below.
Unacceptable medical issues include:
a. Severe diabetes
b. Mellitus
c. Obesity (BMI should be 35 and below) BMI Calculator
d. Cancer
e. Kidney transplant or any major transplant (heart, lung, liver)
f. Pacemaker/stroke/myocardial infarction
g. Multiple sclerosis and/or other degenerative muscular disorder
h. Autoimmune disorders
i. Hepatitis C
j. Risk factors that will impede care of a child (e.g. blind, deaf, wheelchair bound)
Unacceptable psychological issues include:
a. Psychiatric disorders
b. Mood disorders/major depressive disorders
c. Anxiety disorders
d. Substance use disorders
e. Sexual disorders
