Ethiopia is not a party to the Hague Adoption Convention, which means any Ethiopia adoption needs to not only meet the requirements of Ethiopia, but also of the state that the prospective adoptive parent resides within the United States.
Guidelines required for Ethiopian Adoptions include:Age - Prospective adoptive parents that are married have no minimum or maximum age requirements for an Ethiopian adoption. But, the Ethiopian government has a practice of keeping no more than an age limit of 40 years difference between the prospective adoptive parent and the child.
Marriage - Married couples who have been married for at least five years are preferred over single parent adoptions in Ethiopia.
Single Parents - According to the United States State Department, single woman adoptions is an issue that the Ethiopian Government is researching. Know that adoption service providers in Ethiopia may not make referrals to single women.
Income Requirements - While no minimum is set, prospective adoptive parents must be able to financially provide for any child added to their family.
Residency - No residency requirements for prospective adoptive parents wishing to adopt from Ethiopia.
Gay and Lesbian - Gay and lesbians are not allowed to adopt from Ethiopia due to Ethiopian law.
