Dominican Republic Program

Dominican Republic - The Country

Located in the Caribbean, eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, east of Haiti. Tropical climate with little seasonal variation. Country consists of white sand beaches, impressive mountain ranges with spectacular rivers and waterfalls.

Why Choose to Adopt in Dominican Republic?

Children reside in orphanages. Travel to the Dominican Republic is relatively easy and the country is located in the Caribbean! The language is Spanish. Adopting parents will live with the child in the Dominican Republic for sixty days (child under 12 years of age) or thirty days (child 12 years or older) providing you an excellent opportunity to get to know the country, culture, and people – and your child!!

Children Available

Children available for adoption are over the age of 1 year. Boys and girls are available. Rarely are siblings available. The majority of the children are of Spanish descent with African descent and is listed as “73% mixed, 16% white, 11% African.” Children are referred for adoption by CONANI, the Central Authority in Dominican Republic.*

Who Can Adopt From Dominican Republic?

Married couples between 30 and 60 years of age are eligible to adopt. Couples must be married at least 5 years. There must be at least fifteen years difference between adopting parent and child.

Dominican Republic Adoption Process

Please remember this is a Pilot Program and the process can change.

1.      Apply to Hands Across The Water for services.

2.      Complete your Home Study with Hands Across The Water or an appropriate agency in your state. Please contact HATW for assistance if you live outside of Michigan.

3.      File your I-800A with the USCIS.

4.      Prepare your dossier for Dominican Republic. HATW can do this for you or you can take this on yourself.

5.      Dossier is sent to country and reviewed and approved by CONANI.

6.      Your referral wait time may be 12-24 months.

7.      After a referral is received, you will need to accept or decline the referral. Should you accept, the adoption process starts in Dominican Republic.

8.      Travel to Dominican Republic for a period of 10 weeks/6 weeks (depending on age of child—see above) stay is 4 to 6 weeks after process starts. Your stay in Dominican Republic is a very valuable time to learn about the country, people, and culture of your child's birth.

Post Adoption Supervision

Your child’s adoption is finalized in Dominican Republic, but post placements are still required. Three post placement reports are required, at 6 months, 12 months, and 18 months after arrival home. The frequency and number is subject to change.

*CONANI is the responsible entity for matching and referring children, not HATW.