Coram IAC run an accredited Country Programme with India, meaning that we can liaise directly with Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) and the Specialised Adoption Agencies in India about your case and about the child matches proposed.
India is a signatory to the 1993 Hague Convention, which ensures that the intercountry adoption process is ethical, transparent and child-first. All adoptions from India are regulated through Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA). Since 2011, Coram IAC has been enlisted as an Authorised Foreign Adoption Agency by CARA.
The adoption process – India
India can offer prospective adopters with Indian heritage the opportunity to adopt a child of the same background. Prospective adoptive parents who are not of Indian heritage are also eligible. Our India Country Programme is our most popular and successful programme to date and we work together with our colleagues in India to support adopters through the process.
CARA require that approved adoptive parents must be registered online with them. Once you have been through the UK assessment process and have your Certificate of Eligibility from the Department for Education, Coram IAC will help you to register with CARA’s online portal. Once accepted, you will be able to see your position on the waiting list via the portal. When you are matched with a child, their profile will be shared with you via Coram IAC, and we will support you to consider all aspects of the match.
Once you are matched, you will be required to travel to India, and Coram IAC will support you through the process with regular contact with the institution and local authorities where the child is living.
The waiting period to be matched with a child might be several years. Coram IAC will support you during this time to continue your preparation to become parents, including carrying out your Annual Review, which is a requirement to continue being registered with DfE and CARA. There are virtual coffee mornings and workshops where you can meet other families who are also waiting.
Some prospective adopters also consider Parallel Planning with our UK Domestic programme during this time.
The children waiting
India has many children living in institutions who would benefit from family life. As India is a Hague Convention country, the first option is for children to be placed within families living in India (domestic adopters). CARA regulations state that non-resident Indians (NRIs) and those holding Overseas Citizenship of India status living overseas are treated on a par with domestic adopters. Any UK resident wishing to adopt from India will need to process an application through the Hague procedure.
Eligibility for India
- Both single adopters and heterosexual married couples may adopt.
- A married couple with a combined age of up to 90 years, or a single adopter up to 45 years may apply for a child up to 4 years of age.
- A married couple with a combined age of up to 100 years, or a single adopter up to 50 years may apply for a child between 4-8 years of age.
- A married couple with a combined age of up to 110 years, or a single adopter up to 55 years may apply for a child between 8-18 years of age.
Please see the Information Pack for details of further eligibility criteria, which is sent to you by the Advice Line team.
Who can use the India Country Programme?
Coram IAC is able to register any eligible family with CARA provided that the prospective adopter is:
- Eligible to adopt from India. The Coram IAC Information Pack (India Country Programme) provides full details of eligibility criteria.
- Lives in an area where Coram IAC is able to undertake an adoption assessment or where the Local Authority agrees to commission Coram IAC to undertake it
- Is not adopting an identified child*
- Willing to work exclusively with Coram IAC for assessment and approval
*If you are already in the process of adopting an identified child from India, or wish to, please speak to the Advice Line for information about the process.
There is a charge for this service and further details concerning the service and costs can be found in the Information Pack, which is sent to you by the Advice Line team.
Get in touch
If you’d like to hear more about the India Country Programme and access our Information Pack, please contact the Coram IAC Advice Line using the button below. We are here to help.