Adopting from Lithuania
Adoptions between New Zealand and Lithuania are done according to the Hague Convention. All adoptions are approved by the Lithuanian State Child Rights Protection and Adoption Service, under the Ministry of Social Security and Labour, the Central Authority for Adoption in Lithuania.
ICANZ was authorized to work in Lithuania in April 2006 (view our Authorisation Certificate here) through its representative in Vilnius, Attorney Egle Mickeviciute Tiazkijiene. ICANZ families are also assisted by staff from the Family Law Centre (FLC). New Zealand adoptive parents cannot adopt directly from Lithuania but must work through their accredited agency in NZ. Attorney Egle Mickeviciute Tiazkijiene liaises with the Lithuanian Adoption Service on behalf of ICANZ and the adoptive parents, translates documents, and represents the parent during the legal process, including the court hearing.
Statistics on adoptions from Lithuania including numbers (in age groups) of children available can be veiwed here.
Lithuania is a small independent democratic European country next to Poland, Latvia, Belarus, and Russia. Its population is 3.6 million people, a little smaller than NZ. Vilnius is the capital city. Lithuania is mostly a Catholic country with many beautiful churches. Families must be prepared to help the children understand the importance of where they came from, the rich history, language and heritage, and to respect the children’s Christian heritage.
Read the New Zealand Herald article, the TVNZ news report or watch TVNZ's video of our recent arrivals from Lithuania.
The Children
Children are cared for in orphanages as in other European countries, having been placed under government care earlier in their lives. Children are usually of European ethnicity, aged 1-15 years of age, with many older sibling groups waiting for adoption. Children may have backgrounds of abandonment, neglect or abuse. Families should be comfortable dealing with post-institutionalization issues and possible developmental delays in the children. Children often need personal attention from a dedicated parent to reverse the developmental delays caused by living in an institution. The developmental needs of institutionalised children are well documented and we advise you to educate yourself on this topic so that you can offer wise parenting and have realistic expectations.
Video: The Russo family of Long Island struggled with their adoptive daughter, Alyona, adopted at the age of 13, as she coped with anger and alienation. But the family has turned the tide.
ICANZ accepts applicants for 2 programmes:
Waiting Children.
Children needing adoptive families through this programme are -
- Children over 9 years, as individual children or with one or more younger siblings OR
- Siblings groups of three or more children of any age, but typically the oldest sibling is 9-10 years OR.
- Children who need to maintain regular contact with birth relatives in Lithuania, Typically these children are also over 9 years OR.
- Children with significant medical needs of any age.
Regular Programme.
Children placed with foreigners are usually aged 4-8 years, or siblings with at least one child of school age. ICANZ can accept only 2 couples per year for this programme.
Information provided on referred children includes medical records, birth family social history, immunization records and information pertaining to physical, emotional and intellectual development.
ICANZ will accept prospective adoptive parents who are
- approved by the NZ Central Authority for adoption, CYF
- married
- aged between 18 and 50 years at time of adoption (no more than 47 at time of application), but some flexibility exists if adopting children over 8 years.
- prepared to respect the child’s Lithuanian and Christian heritage.
- in most cases, ready to adopt “waiting children”. ICANZ accepts 2 younger applicants/year for the regular programme. Costs are higher due to extra processing. Applicants with Lithuanian heritage have priority and should contact ICANZ.
The Process
The process includes a 3 day education/preparation course and an assessment with CYF to gain approval from the New Zealand Central Authority to adopt from Lithuania (see Adoption Process).
Once you have obtained approval from the New Zealand Central Authority, ICANZ will assist you with document preparation and completion of the placement process.
Children are referred by the Lithuanian Adoption Service and approved by the New Zealand Central Authority. Matching is done on the basis of the best interests of the child. You will consider and accept the placement while in NZ.
You will travel to Lithuania for the court hearing about 1-2 months after your acceptance of the child(ren), for a trip of about 4-5 days. You will return to Lithuania 40 days later for a second trip, of about a week, to bring your child(ren) home. On both trips to Lithuania you will be assisted by the ICANZ representative, Attorney Egle Mickeviciute Tiazkijiene, and translators from FLC. In some cases the appeal period will be waived, resulting in a single trip.
After your return to NZ you will have ICANZ social worker visits and post-adoption reports written, for 4 years. As the adoption is finalised in Lithuania, the child can gain NZ Citizenship by descent immediately on return to NZ.
Timeframes
The adoption process is very well regulated and adoptions of waiting list children are usually completed in under a year. Applicants for adoption via the regular programme can expect to be matched to a child in 3 years. Families of Lithuanian decent will have approximately half the waiting time.
Costs
You will need to pay for all costs associated with ICANZ work for you in NZ, FLC work in Lithuania, travel, accommodation, personal costs and post placement reporting costs. Please contact ICANZ for details.