Bulgaria


Spence-Chapin began placing children from Bulgaria in 1995 and is pleased to re-open this program to adoptive families. Bulgaria is located in southeast Europe on the crossroads between Europe and Asia and is surrounded by Turkey, Greece, Serbia, Romania and the Black Sea. It is a small and very beautiful country with an ancient and rich history, and a population of approximately eight million people.

Spence-Chapin’s long-time partner in Bulgaria is Milossardie Association, a Bulgarian NGO licensed to be an intermediary in international adoption. They are based in the capital city of Sophia. Bulgaria’s central authority for adoption, the Ministry of Justice (MOJ), is responsible for the referral of children to adoptive families. The current wait for a referral is estimated at 1-3 years. For applicants requesting older children or sibling groups and children with special needs, the wait may be shorter.

Program Requirements:

  • At least one prospective parent must be a U.S. citizen to be able to sponsor a child to enter the U.S.A..


  • Applicants must have no recent criminal record and must be in good mental and physical health


  • Married couples and single women are permitted to adopt


  • Applicants should be no more than 50 years of age

The Children:

Children available for adoption in Bulgaria range in age from 18 months to adolescence. Both boys and girls are available. Families should expect the typical delays and medical risks associated with international adoption, institutionalization and the difficult life histories that the children may have experienced. Children are primarily of Roma and Turkish heritage. The Roma minority in Europe have historically faced prejudice and exclusion. The governments in central and southeastern Europe, along with many governmental and non- governmental partners have declared 2005-2015 as the Decade of Roma Inclusion. For more information, visit www.romadecade.org.

From Referral to Homecoming:

Information included in child referrals from Bulgaria may include:

  • Data from the child’s birth certificate


  • Information about the child’s current health, medical evaluation and identified special needs


  • Information about the birth parents’ participation or lack of participation in agreeing to the full adoption of the child


  • Data about the birth parents from their identification cards and birth certificates, as well as any health information if such is are available


  • The reasons for the placement of the child in an institution as well as information about the institutions (orphanages), foster parents or other people that the child has lived with, and about any contact with the birth family while in the orphanage


  • Other available, significant information on the child’s circumstances
Adoptions from Bulgaria require two trips, several months apart, each lasting approximately one week. Since parents must meet their child and formally accept the referral within one month from the issuance of the referral from the Bulgarian MOJ, the first trip will occur shortly after receipt of the child referral. MOJ requires that the family spend five days bonding/visiting with the child at the orphanage before they formally accept the referral. During this first trip, the adoptive parents will have the opportunity to meet the child in person and to determine the appropriateness of the match and to begin the adoption and bonding process. The adoption will be finalized within 3-4 months after the formal acceptance of the referral. It is done in court by proxy, and the family does not have to be present. During the second trip, the family returns to Bulgaria to pick up the child.

Humanitarian Aid:

Spence-Chapin initiated and funded the first innovative Granny Program in Bulgaria in October 1998. Through this program, children in orphanages who have very limited opportunities for crucial, personal attention are provided with a “granny” from the community enabling them to develop emotional attachments and bond with a primary caregiver, thereby stimulating growth in many areas. This program has contributed to the children’s significant developmental growth. Currently S-C is sponsoring two such programs in Bulgaria. Other organizations have replicated the program in other locations in Bulgaria.
Spence-Chapin expanded the Granny program to China in 2001 and to Moldova in 2005. There are currently six fully funded Spence-Chapin programs underway, including the two in Bulgaria.

In addition, Spence-Chapin has provided basic assistance to orphanages in Bulgaria over the years in the form of clothing, bed linens, food and other basic needs.

Out-of-State Families:

Spence-Chapin welcomes families from other areas of the country to adopt through our international adoption program in Bulgaria. Families outside our geographic area work with a local agency in addition to Spence-Chapin, allowing them to benefit from our well-established international placement program in Bulgaria while receiving direct service from a social worker in their area. Spence-Chapin collaborates closely with other high-quality and reputable adoption agencies to help families complete all stages of the adoption process and receive support from both agencies that follow them every step of the way. For more information about networking and a list of Spence-Chapin network agencies, please contact our International Inquiry Coordinator at 212-400-8150.

For more information about the Bulgaria Program, please contact the international intake coordinator at 212-400-8150 or internationalinquiry@spence-chapin.org. You are also invited to attend a free information session. We look forward to seeing you there!