What Is the Average Cost of Foreign Adoption?

Deciding to adopt a child can be a very exciting, yet stressful, time in a parent's life. Several factors go into the choice of whether to adopt through a domestic or international route. The average cost for domestic adoptions is $8,000 to $10,000, while the price of international adoptions can reach beyond $30,000.

Travel

• Several reasons exist as to why foreign adoptions are more expensive than domestic ones. Travel costs largely factor into these types of arrangements, as potential parents may have to visit their child's country of origin more than once in order to secure adoption rights.

Donations

• In addition to expenses associated with travel, parents may be required to make a "donation" or prearranged payment to the foreign adoption agency before the child can be brought home. These donations are often not a factor in domestic adoptions.

Health

• The physical condition of the child may present an added cost burden to the parents. Substandard medical care given in the child's country of origin may mean further health problems down the road, which the adoptive parents will then need to rectify.