Country: Taiwan Adoption

Age Range: 1-14 years old
Sibling Groups: Yes
Medical Special Needs: Minor to Significant
Marriage Length: 3 years
Single Women: Rarely
Expat Accepted: Yes, if living in Taiwan
In-Country Travel: Possibly 2 trips, 1 week each

We are currently seeing families coming home with children aged 3-6 years old with moderate to significant medical special needs as well as children 6+ years old with minor to moderate needs. The majority of the files we receive are between 5-9 years old with a range medical special needs.

After families finalize their home study, they can submit a matching request for a waiting child. Cathwel then holds a matching meeting to choose the family best suited to pursue the child(ren)’s adoption. There may be multiple families submitting matching requests for one child.  Cathwel then presents the adoption plan to the child’s legal guardian for their approval. There is a final court process which results in the adoption finalization.

The process of adopting from Taiwan, if matching with a child 5 or more years old, is estimated to take 2 years. Families pursuing a child under 5 years old, should expect the process to take 2-3 years.

Depending on the requirements of the judge presiding over the child’s case, the family may be requested to travel to Taiwan once or twice. If asked to travel twice, the first trip would entail the court hearing with a judge and a meeting with the child. Both trips are approximately 7-10 days. During the second trip the family will travel to the child’s county, have a period of gradual bonding, receive the child in to their care, and attend the child’s visa appointment before returning to the states. The adoptive family may have the opportunity to meet the child’s birth family during one of these trips. Upon landing in the United States, the child receives US Citizenship.

About Taiwan

Taiwan is a small country with a population of only 23.46 million; however it is not immune to the orphan crisis. Taiwan is not a member of the Hague Convention, however the adoption process in Taiwan follows very closely the Hague process for adoptions. Birth families may be involved in the early matching process for waiting children. There may be opportunities for adoptive families to meet birth family members during travel to Taiwan. This provides Taiwan adoptive families a unique opportunity to minister to their child’s birth family.

The Need

There are approximately 3,000 children in care in this small island country. Most children eligible for adoption are in the custody of the Taiwanese government due to parental rights being terminated. Unfortunately, children over the age of 3 or children with medical special needs are unlikely to be adopted domestically, so intercountry adoption may be their best hope for a committed, loving family.

How You Can Help

Lifeline is committed to advocating for children from Taiwan to be placed in loving, Christian homes. We place a special emphasis on advocating for older children and children with moderate to significant medical special needs. We are dedicated to walking families through the adoption process and supporting them post adoption.

Other Ways to Get Involved
Other Ways to Get Involved
Pray

Share

Give

Advocate

What's Happening in Taiwan Adoption

Pray for Taiwan

One of the ways you can get involved in Taiwan is to begin praying for the needs that are present there. Check back occasionally to see an updated list of

Joy’s Story

Joy was born to a family in Taiwan who was unable to provide care for her. Because of Joy’s special needs, domestic adoption became elusive, causing her to wait for

International Adoption Continues As Borders Open

By Jenny Riddle We are praising the Lord for His continued providence for children and families in our international adoption programs in the middle of this pandemic. Although travel has

Walking with Expat Families Through the Adoption Process

Imagine saying “yes” to moving your life across the world to share the hope of Christ with a people who likely have never heard it and in a place with restrictive conversion laws. This reality is what the Whitleys experienced when they...