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CARA adoption fees include Rs 6,000 for registration and home study, Rs 50,000 for the child care corpus, and legal charges between Rs 20,000 and Rs 50,000
Married couples seeking to adopt must demonstrate at least two years of marital stability. (Local18)
As the trend of remaining unmarried continues to rise, an increasing number of individuals are opting to become single parents or adopt children while staying single.
However, single parents in India face considerable challenges when it comes to adoption, particularly if they are unmarried. Local18 spoke with a Supreme Court lawyer to gather insights on the matter.
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The adoption process in India is governed by the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015.
Prospective adoptive parents must obtain permission from the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA), without which adoption is not permitted.
The process involves registration on the Carings portal, submission of various documents (including income proof, health report, and police verification), and a home study, followed by a waiting period of 6-8 days for registration.
The adoption process in India is not only legally intricate but also financially demanding. Fees set by CARA include Rs 6,000 for registration and a home study report, Rs 50,000 for child care corpus fees, and legal fees ranging from Rs 20,000 to Rs 50,000.
Additionally, follow-up visits after adoption cost Rs 2,000 each. For couples or single parents residing in India, the total cost can range from Rs 200,000 to Rs 2.5 lakh. For international parents (NRIs), the cost ranges from Rs 2.6 million to Rs 3.7 million, encompassing agency fees, legal formalities, and travel expenses.
Can A Single Man Adopt A Child?
The rules for single men wishing to adopt children vary significantly across different countries. In India, single men are permitted to adopt but must adhere to strict regulations. They must be at least 25 years old and can only adopt male children, with a minimum age difference of 21 years between the child and the adopting father. Additionally, single men must be physically healthy and financially stable.
Single women, on the other hand, can adopt either male or female children. The minimum age limit for women is 25 years.
Age Limit Set For Adoption
Age limits for single parents are also set: for children aged 4 or under, parents must be between 25 and 45 years old; for children aged 5 to 8, parents must be between 25 and 50 years old; and for children aged 9 to 18, parents must be between 25 and 55 years old. Single parents over 55 years old are not permitted to adopt.
Married couples seeking to adopt must demonstrate at least two years of marital stability. Their age limit is based on the combined age of both parents: 85 years for children up to two years old, 90 years for children up to four years old, 100 years for children between four and eight years old, and 110 years for children between eight and 18 years old.
October 03, 2025, 17:53 IST
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