Located between Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey, Armenia is a beautiful country which has endured a history of strife. The smallest of the former Soviet republics, it gained its independence in 1991.
The people of Armenia are fair to olive-skinned and dark haired, and are Orthodox in their beliefs. It is a highly urbanized society, with an astounding 70% of its population living in towns.
Most Armenians speak Russian in addition to the national language, Armenian, which is a 2,000 year-old language with its own unique alphabet.
Children Available
It is possible to adopt children as young as 6 months as well as older children and those with special needs.
Eligible Applicants
Unlike many countries, single women are eligable to adopt from Armenia, and married couples of course. Adoptive parents should be under 49 years old to adopt an infant who us under one year of age, or least 20 years older than the child. Having older children already in your home is also acceptable.
The Process
In Armenia, the full adoption process takes from 10 months to one year. It is necessary for the adoptive parent/parents to travel to Armenia for 2-3 weeks to complete the adoption process, and only one parent is required to travel. A brief trip to Moscow, Russia may also be necessary to complete the immigration requirements of your embassy as well as the child’s medical certification.
For more information, inquire at your Armenian consulate or online.
Note: Most agencies prefer adoptive parents of Armenian descent or similar cultural/religious beliefs. Adopting parents will also be asked for a promise to maintain the child’s cultural heritage, and to provide a letter of reference from their church leader.
Originally posted on September 2, 2006 @ 6:14 pm