Update
January 10, 2024

Information for U.S. Citizens in the Middle East

Intercountry Adoption

English

Country Information

Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan
Republic of Kazakhstan
Exercise normal precautions in Kazakhstan.

Reissued after periodic review with updates to the Travel Advisory Level.

Exercise normal precautions in Kazakhstan.

Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Kazakhstan.

If you decide to travel to Kazakhstan:

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Hague Convention Participation

Hague Adoption Convention Country?
Yes
Are Intercountry Adoptions between this country and the United States possible?
Intercountry adoptions to the United States from Kazakhstan are possible.

Hague Convention Information

Kazakhstan: Case-by-Case Determination for Intercountry Adoptions between the United States and Kazakhstan.

This notice updates the January 31, 2020 notice. 

Please note: While policy changes appear to have made adoptions possible again, the Mission has not yet observed any completed adoptions.   

Nearly a decade after Kazakhstan suspended intercountry adoptions, recent policy changes appear to have made it possible once again for U.S. adoptive parents to adopt in the country.

Kazakhstani authorities have informed the U.S. Department of State of the resumption of case-by-case processing of intercountry adoptions from the Republic of Kazakhstan consistent with the Hague Adoption Convention. 

Pursuant to information received from the Government of Kazakhstan, the Committee for the Protection of Children’s Rights of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan according to paragraph 7 of Article 112 of the Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Marriage (Matrimony) and Family,” has authorized Cradle of Hope as an adoption service provider to operate in the Republic of Kazakhstan. The Ministry also requested full compliance with post-adoption report submission in accordance with paragraph 4 of Article 86 of the Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Marriage (Matrimony) and Family”.

The U.S. Mission in Kazakhstan is actively seeking clarification of the adoption process from the Government of Kazakhstan’s Central Authority and will provide updates as they become available.

Please continue to monitor adoption.state.gov for updated information on intercountry adoptions from Kazakhstan.  For questions about this notice, please contact the Office of Children’s Issues at Adoption@state.gov.

Kazakhstan is a party to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Hague Adoption Convention or Convention).  Intercountry adoption processing in Convention countries must be done in accordance with the requirements of the Hague Adoption Convention; the U.S. implementing legislation, the Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000 (IAA); and the IAA’s implementing regulations; as well as the implementing legislation and regulations of Kazakhstan.

U.S. Immigration Requirements

To bring an adopted child to the United States from Kazakhstan, you must meet certain suitability and eligibility requirements.  USCIS determines who is suitable and eligible to adopt a child from another country and bring that child to live in the United States under U.S. immigration law.

Additionally, a child must meet the definition of a Convention adoptee under U.S. immigration law in order to be eligible to immigrate to the United States with an IH-3 or IH-4 immigrant visa.

Who Can Adopt

In addition to being found suitable and eligible to adopt by USCIS, prospective adoptive parents seeking to adopt a child from Kazakhstan must meet the following requirements imposed by Kazakhstan:

  • Residency: Kazakhstan requires a four-week physical bonding period where the child remains in the orphanage and the prospective adoptive parents will spend time with the child. Other than this time-period, there is no requirement that the PAP be resident in Kazakhstan.
  • Age of Adopting Parents: There are no age requirements. However, the age difference between prospective adoptive parents and the prospective adopted child must be between 16 and 45 years of age.
  • Marriage: A couple must have a marriage that is recognized as legal in Kazakhstan. Married couples and single women can adopt unless one of the following is applicable as listed under additional eligibility requirements.
  • Ineligibilities: the following categories of people will not be allowed to adopt from Kazakhstan.
    • Lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgendered, or intersex individuals or same-sex couples;
    • Determined to be incompetent by a court of law;
    • Had parental rights deprived;
    • Had guardianship rights suspended;
    • Had adoptive rights annulled;
    • Has certain infectious diseases and medical conditions (see medical information listed below);
    • Are without domicile or are stateless;
    • Has a previous criminal conviction;
    • Do not have sufficient income;
    • Are currently in a common law marriage.

Please note: Male singles are not allowed to adopt a child unless the adoptive father has been living with the prospective adoptive child for at least three years due to the death or incompetency of the child’s mother, and meet the additional eligibility requirements listed above.

  • Income: Kazakhstan will use the U.S. Government’s current minimum poverty guidelines to determine sufficient income levels for prospective adoptive parents.  
  • Medical: Prospective adoptive parents need to be free of certain diseases and/or medical conditions.  Contact an authorized adoption service provider for more information.
  • Post Adoption Reporting Agreement: Prospective adoptive parents must sign an agreement to provide post adoption reports as required by Kazakhstani Law. Please see additional information under Post-Adoption Requirements.

Who Can Be Adopted

Because Kazakhstan is party to the Hague Adoption Convention, children from Kazakhstan must meet the requirements of the Convention in order to be eligible for intercountry adoption. For example, the adoption may take place only if the competent authorities of Kazakhstan have determined that placement of the child within Kazakhstan has been given due consideration and that an intercountry adoption is in the child’s best interests.

In addition to qualifying as a Convention adoptee under U.S. immigration law, the child must also meet the following requirements imposed by Kazakhstan:

  • Relinquishment or Abandonment: A child can be adopted if his or her biological parents are unknown, have died, relinquished their parental rights, agreed to give the child for adoption to relatives, had their parental rights taken away, have been recognized by the court as legally incapable of caring for the child, or abandoned the child.
  • Age of Adoptive Child: There are no age restrictions on children who can be adopted. The child must consent to adoption if he or she is ten years old or older. 
  • Sibling Adoptions: Different adoptive families cannot adopt siblings who previously resided or were raised in one family unless such an adoption is in the best interests of the child in a sibling group and/or the siblings do not know about their blood relationship and/or have never been residing or raised together.
  • Special Needs or Medical Conditions: Children with special needs, including physical or mental disabilities, are eligible for adoption from Kazakhstan. Among the medical conditions encountered are central nervous systems disorders (anxiety, headaches, and hypertension), delays in psychological and motor function development skills, intrauterine infections (i.e., syphilis) and side effects of alcohol and drug use that have been passed on from the biological parents.  
  • Waiting Period or Foster Care: Kazakhstan maintains a database of children without parental care. Under Kazakhstani law, a child must first be registered in a local database for one month, a regional database for two months, and a central national database for three months before the child is eligible for intercountry adoption. The total amount of time before a child is eligible for international adoption is six months.
  • Other: Prospective adoptive parents are permitted to adopt more than one child. They can be either siblings or children who are not related. 

Caution: Prospective adoptive parents should be aware that not all children in orphanages or children’s homes are eligible for adoption. In many countries, birth parents place their child(ren) temporarily in an orphanage or children’s home due to financial or other hardship, intending that the child return home when possible. In such cases, the birth parent(s) have not relinquished their parental rights or consented to the adoption of their child(ren).

How to Adopt

Warning: Do not adopt or obtain legal custody of a child in Kazakhstan before: 1) USCIS has approved your Form I-800A, Application for Determination of Suitability to Adopt a Child from Kazakhstan, 2) the Central Authority of Kazakhstan has determined the child is available for intercountry adoption, 3) USCIS has provisionally approved your Form I-800, Petition to Classify Convention Adoptee as an Immediate Relative, and 4) a U.S. consular officer has issued an “Article 5/17 Letter” in the case.  Read on for more information.

Kazakhstan’s Central Adoption Authority

Committee for the Protection of Children’s Rights of the Ministry of Education and Science (MOES)

The Process

Because Kazakhstan is party to the Hague Adoption Convention, adoptions from Kazakhstan must follow a specific process designed to meet the Convention’s requirements. A brief summary of the Convention adoption process is provided below. You must complete these steps in the following order to meet all necessary legal requirements. Adoptions completed out of order may cause significant delays or result in the child not being eligible for an immigrant visa to the United States.

1. Choose a U.S. Accredited or Approved Adoption Service Provider To Act as Your Primary Provider that has been authorized by Kazakhstan’s Central Authority to operate in Kazakhstan.

2.  Apply to USCIS to be Found Suitable and Eligible to Adopt (Form I-800A)

3.  Apply to Kazakhstan’s Authorities to Adopt, and Be Matched with a Child

4.  Apply to USCIS for the Child to be Found Provisionally Eligible for Immigration to the United States as a Convention Adoptee (Form I-800) and Receive U.S. Agreement to Proceed with the Adoption (Art. 5/17 letter)

5.  Adopt the Child in Kazakhstan  

6.  Apply for a U.S. Immigrant Visa for Your Child and Bring Your Child Home

1. Choose a U.S. Accredited or Approved Adoption Service Provider to Act as Your Primary Provider that has been authorized by Kazakhstan’s Central Authority to operate in Kazakhstan.

The first step in adopting a child from Kazakhstan is to select an adoption service provider in the United States that has been accredited or approved to provide intercountry adoption services to U.S. citizens and that has been authorized by the Government of Kazakhstan. A primary provider must be identified in each Convention case and only accredited or approved adoption service providers may act as the primary provider in your case. Unless a public domestic authority is providing all adoption services in your case, a primary provider is required in every intercountry adoption case. Your primary provider is responsible for:

  • Ensuring that all six adoption services defined at 22 CFR 96.2 are provided consistent with applicable laws and regulations.
  • Supervising and being responsible for any supervised providers, and otherwise complying with the requirements regarding the provision of adoption services using other providers (see 22 CFR 96.14); and
  • Developing and implementing a service plan in accordance with 22 CFR 96.44.

Learn more about Agency Accreditation.

2.  Apply to USCIS to be Found Suitable and Eligible to Adopt

In order to adopt a child from Kazakhstan, you will need to meet the requirements of the Government of Kazakhstan and U.S. immigration law.

After you choose an accredited or approved adoption service provider, you must be found suitable and eligible to adopt by USCIS by submitting Form I-800A, Application for Determination of Suitability to Adopt a Child from a Convention Country. You will need to submit a home study, provide biometrics, and cooperate in a background check as part of this application. Read more about Suitability and Eligibility Requirements. Unless an exception applies, the home study must be prepared by a person who is authorized under 22 CFR 96 to prepare home studies and must comply with the requirements in 8 CFR 204.311.

3.  Apply to Kazakhstan’s Authorities to Adopt, and be Matched with a Child

Submit Your Dossier to the Central Authority

After USCIS determines that you are suitable and eligible to adopt and approves the Form I-800A application, your adoption service provider will provide your approval notice, home study, and any other required information to the central authority in Kazakhstan as part of your adoption application. Kazakhstan’s adoption authority will review your application to determine whether you are also suitable and eligible to adopt under Kazakhstan’s law.

Receive a Referral for a Child from the Central Authority

If both the United States and Kazakhstan determine that you are suitable and eligible to adopt, and Kazakhstan’s Central Authority for Convention adoptions has determined that a child is eligible for adoption and that intercountry adoption is in that child’s best interests, the Central Authority for Convention adoptions in Kazakhstan may provide you with a referral. The referral is a proposed match between you and a specific child based on a review of your dossier and the needs of the child. The adoption authority in Kazakhstan will provide a background study and other information, if available, about the child to help you decide whether to accept the referral.  We encourage families to consider consulting with a medical professional and their adoption service provider to understand the needs of the specific child but you must decide for yourself whether you will be able to meet the needs of, and provide a permanent home for a specific child. You must also adhere to the recommendations in the home study submitted to USCIS with respect to the number of children and capacity to deal with any special needs of an adoptive child. Learn more about Health Considerations. If you accept the referral, the adoption service provider communicates that to the Central Authority in Kazakhstan. Learn more about this critical decision.

4.  Apply to USCIS for the Child to be Found Provisionally Eligible for Immigration to the United States as a Convention Adoptee and Receive U.S. Agreement to Proceed with the Adoption

Submit a Petition for a Determination on the Child’s Immigration Eligibility

After you accept being matched with a particular child, you will apply to USCIS for provisional approval for the child to immigrate to the United States by filing the Form I-800, Petition to Classify Convention Adoptee as an Immediate Relative. USCIS will make a provisional determination as to whether the child appears to meet the definition of a Convention adoptee and will likely be eligible to be admitted to the United States.

Submit an Immigrant Visa Application

After provisional approval of Form I-800 petition, you or your adoption service provider will submit a visa application to the consular section of the U.S. Consulate General in Almaty responsible for issuing immigrant visas to children from Kazakhstan.  

You should receive a letter from the National Visa Center (NVC) confirming receipt of the provisionally approved Form I-800 petition and assigning a case number and an invoice ID number. Use this information to log into the Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC) to file the Electronic Immigrant Visa Application (DS-260) for your child. An adoptive parent should fill out these forms in your child's name. Answer every item on the form. If information is not applicable, please write “N/A” in the block. Please review the DS-260 FAQs, our Online Immigrant Visa Forms page, or contact the NVC at NVCAdoptions@state.gov or +1-603-334-0700 if you have questions about completing the online DS-260 form. A consular officer will review the provisionally approved Form I-800 petition and the visa application and, if applicable, advises you of options for the waiver of any ineligibilities related to the visa application.

The consular officer will send a letter (referred to as an “Article 5/17 Letter”) to Kazakhstan’s Central Authority in any intercountry adoption involving U.S. citizen parents and a child from Kazakhstan if all Convention requirements are met and the child appears eligible to immigrate to the United States. This letter will inform the Kazakhstan’s Central Authority that the parents are suitable and eligible to adopt, that the child appears eligible to enter and reside permanently in the United States, and that the U.S. Central Authority agrees that the adoption may proceed.

Warning: Do not attempt to adopt or obtain custody of a child in Kazakhstan before you receive provisional approval of your Form I-800 petition AND a U.S. consular officer issues the “Article 5/17 Letter” for your adoption case.

Remember: The consular officer will make a final decision about a child’s eligibility for an immigrant visa later in the adoption process.

5.  Adopt the Child in Kazakhstan

Remember: Before you adopt a child in Kazakhstan, you must have completed the above four steps. Only after completing these steps can you proceed to finalize the adoption or a grant of legal custody by Kazakhstan for the purposes of emigration and adoption.

The process for finalizing the adoption or obtaining legal custody for purposes of emigration and adoption in Kazakhstan generally includes the following:

  • Role of Competent Authority: The Committee for the Protection of Children’s Rights (CPCR) receives adoption dossiers, matches prospective adoptive parents with prospective children, and sends a child’s profile to the prospective adoptive parents. If the PAPs accept the match, the CPCR issues a visa support letter to the parents and directs the parents to the orphanage, where they will complete a four-week bonding period.
  • Role of the Court: Adoptions in Kazakhstan are concluded by a court and are based on the prospective parents’ application. The process requires the physical presence of the prospective adoptive parents, guardians or custodians, and representatives of the General Procurator’s Office. The individuals or state agencies who have custody of the child must agree to the adoption. After the four-week physical bonding period with the child, prospective adoptive parents can apply to the court to finalize an adoption. It takes one to three weeks to have a court date scheduled. After the court decision and a 15-day appeal period (see Kazakhstani Administrative law, Article of the Administrative Procedural and Process-Related Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan), the parents can apply to a local office of civil records for an adoption certificate, birth certificate and passport.
  • Role of Accredited or Approved Adoption Service Providers: Prospective adoptive parents can only adopt through adoption agencies authorized in Kazakhstan. They help submit and obtain documents, provide translation services and host and escort children, if necessary.
  • Unless a public domestic authority is providing all adoption services in your case, there must be a U.S. accredited or approved adoption service provider acting as the primary provider in every case. Also, any agency or person providing an adoption service on behalf of prospective adoptive parents in any Convention or non-Convention intercountry adoption case must be accredited or approved, or be a supervised or exempted provider.  Adoption service means any one of the following six services:    Identifying a child for adoption and arranging an adoption;
    • Securing the necessary consent to termination of parental rights and to adoption;
    • Performing a background study on a child or a home study on a prospective adoptive parent(s), and reporting on such a study;
    • Making non-judicial determinations of the best interests of a child and the appropriateness of an adoptive placement for the child;
    • Monitoring a case after a child has been placed with prospective adoptive parent(s) until final adoption; or
    • When necessary because of a disruption before final adoption, assuming custody and providing (including facilitating the provision of) child care or any other social service pending an alternative placement. 22 CFR 96.2 Definitions.
  • Adoption Application: Prospective adoptive parents must file an adoption application with the Consular Section of the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Washington, D.C. or the Consular Section of the Consulate General of Kazakhstan in New York. After the adoption application is registered and a certificate confirming the receipt and registration of an adoption dossier is received, the adoption agency will send the registration certificate and adoption dossier to the Committee for the Protection of Children’s Rights. Once the required bonding period is completed, the prospective adoptive parents should submit their application to a local court to finalize the adoption.

Adoption Fees:

The total cost for all court related processing and document issuance fees in Kazakhstan should not exceed $150. The Central Authority does not charge any fees for placement of the child.

Please note: In the adoption services contract that you sign at the beginning of the adoption process, your agency will itemize the fees and estimated expenses related to your adoption process. Kazakhstan does not regulate these fees.

We encourage prospective adoptive parents to obtain detailed receipts for all fees and donations paid, either by them directly or through their U.S. adoption service provider, and to raise any concerns regarding any payment that you believe may be contrary to the Convention, U.S. law, or the law of Kazakhstan, with your adoption service provider, and, when appropriate, through the Complaint Registry. Improper payments violate applicable law or create the appearance of buying a child, and could put all future adoptions in Kazakhstan at risk. The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, for instance, makes it unlawful to make payments to foreign government officials to assist in obtaining or retaining business. Further, the IAA makes certain actions relating to intercountry adoptions unlawful, and subject to civil and criminal penalties. These include offering, giving, soliciting, or accepting inducement by way of compensation intended to influence or affect the relinquishment of parental rights, parental consent relating to adoption of a child, or a decision by an entity performing functions as a competent central authority, or to engage another person as an agent to take any such action.

In the adoption services contract that you sign at the beginning of the adoption process, your adoption service provider will itemize the fees and estimated expenses related to your adoption process.

Some of the fees specifically associated with adopting from Kazakhstan include:

  • Documents Required:
  • For court processing:
  1. Application;
  2. Adoption dossier;
  3. Child’s profile issued by child’s orphanage;
  4. Copy of parents’ passports and Kazakhstani visas.
  • For consular registration at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nur-Sultan:
  1. Application;
  2. Adoption certificate;
  3. Birth certificate;
  4. Court decision;
  5. Copy of prospective adoptive parents’ passports and Kazakhstani visas;
  6. Child’s passport;
  7. Child’s picture;

Note:  Additional documents may be requested.

  • Authentication of Documents: The United States and Kazakhstan are parties to the Hague Apostille Convention. You may be asked to provide proof that a document from the United States is authentic.  The U.S Department of State’s Authentications Office has information on the subject. Note: Every document must be authenticated. Additional documents may be requested.

6.  Apply for a U.S. Immigrant Visa for Your Child and Bring Your Child Home

Once your adoption is complete there are a few more steps to take before your child can head home.  Specifically, you need to apply for three documents before your child can travel to the United States:

Birth Certificate

You will need to obtain a birth certificate for your child.

If you have finalized the adoption in Kazakhstan, you will first need to apply for a new birth certificate for your child. Your name will be added to the new birth certificate.

If you have been granted legal custody for the purposes of emigration and adoption of the child in the United States, the birth certificate you obtain will, in most cases, not yet include your name.

The new name(s) for the child and the names of the adoptive parents must be specified during the court hearing and included in the court documents. After a court decision granting an adoption becomes effective, a representative of the facilitating U.S. adoption agency, on the parents’ behalf, will apply for an adoption certificate and new birth certificate with the names of the adoptive parents as the child’s parents and the child’s new name. These documents take five working days to process.

Kazakhstan Passport

Your child is not yet a U.S. citizen, so he/she will need a travel document or passport from Kazakhstan.

A representative of the facilitating U.S. adoption agency will apply for, and obtain, a passport as soon as the adoption certificate and the birth certificate are issued. It takes seven working days to receive a passport. Adopted children must also obtain consular registration from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nur-Sultan and exit visas from the local office of the Migration Police prior to departure from Kazakhstan.

U.S. Immigrant Visa

After you obtain the new birth certificate and passport for your child you need to apply for a U.S. immigrant visa for your child from the U.S. Consulate General in Almaty. After the adoption is granted, make an appointment to visit the U.S  Consulate General in Almaty for a final review of the case, and if applicable, the issuance of a U.S. Hague Adoption Certificate or Hague Custody Certificate, the final approval of the Form I-800 petition, and to obtain your child’s immigrant visa. This immigrant visa allows your child to travel home with you and be admitted to the United States as your child. Please contact the U.S. Consulate General in Almaty to schedule your child’s immigrant visa appointment. As part of this process, you must provide the consular officer with the Panel Physician’s medical report on the child if you did not provide it during the Form I-800 provisional approval stage. Read more about the Medical Examination.

Before coming for your child’s immigrant visa interview, please complete an Electronic Immigrant Visa Application (DS-260) online at the Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC). You should receive a letter from the National Visa Center (NVC) confirming receipt of the provisionally approved Form I-800 petition and assignment of a case number and an invoice ID number. You will need this information to log into CEAC to file the DS-260 for your child. You should fill out these forms in your child's name. Answer every item on the form. If information is not applicable, please write “N/A” in the block. Print and bring the DS-260 confirmation page to the visa interview. Review the DS-260 FAQs, our Online Immigrant Visa Forms page, or contact NVC at NVCAdoptions@state.gov or +1-603-334-0700 if you have questions about completing the online DS-260 form.

Upon receipt of the case at post, the Consular Section generally notifies the petitioner. Visa issuance after the final interview generally takes 24 hours. It is not usually possible to provide the visa to adoptive parents on the same day as the immigrant visa interview. You should verify current processing times with the U.S. Consulate General in Almaty before making final travel arrangements. Additional information on immigrant visa processing can be found on our website.

Child Citizenship Act

For adoptions finalized abroad prior to the child’s admission into the United States: An adopted child residing in the United States in the legal and physical custody of the U.S. citizen parent pursuant to a lawful admission for permanent residence generally will acquire U.S. citizenship automatically upon admission into the United States if the child otherwise meets the requirements of the Child Citizenship Act of 2000, including that the child is under the age of eighteen.

For adoptions finalized after the child’s admission into the United States: You will need to complete an adoption following your child’s admission into the United States and before the child turns eighteen for the child (if he or she otherwise meets the requirements of the Child Citizenship Act of 2000) to automatically acquire U.S. citizenship.

Read more about the Child Citizenship Act of 2000.

Traveling Abroad

Applying for Your U.S. Passport

U.S. citizens are required to enter and depart the United States on a valid U.S. passport. Once your child acquires U.S. citizenship, s/he will need a U.S. passport for international travel. Only the U.S. Department of State has the authority to grant, issue, or verify U.S. passports.

Getting or renewing a passport is easy. The Department of State’s Passport Application Wizard will help you determine which passport form you need, help you to complete the form online, estimate your payment, and generate the form for you to print—all in one place.

Obtaining a Visa to Travel to Kazakhstan

In addition to a U.S. passport, you may also need to obtain a visa. Where required, visas are affixed to your passport and allow you to enter a foreign nation. To find information about obtaining a visa for Kazakhstan, see the Department of State’s Kazakhstan Specific Information.

Staying Safe on Your Trip

Before you travel, it is always a good practice to investigate the local conditions, laws, political landscape, and culture of the country. The Department of State provides Country-Specific Information for every country in the world about various issues, including health conditions, crime, currency or entry requirements, and any areas of instability.

Staying in Touch on Your Trip

When traveling abroad during the adoption process, we encourage you to enroll with the Department of State through our Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive important information from the Embassy about safety conditions in your destination country. Enrollment makes it possible for the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in Kazakhstan, to contact you in an emergency, whether natural disaster, civil unrest, or family emergency. Whether there is a family emergency in the United States or a crisis in Kazakhstan, enrollment assists the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in reaching you.

Enrollment is free and can be done online via the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP).

After Adoption

Post-Adoption Reporting Requirements

According to Kazakhstani law (see Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Marriage (Matrimony) and Family”), parents who adopt Kazakhstani children must provide post-adoption reports every six months for the first three years after the final adoption and then once a year until the child is 18 years old. Reports must have pictures of the child, a letter signed by the parents, and information about the child’s welfare, studies and health.

Parents must submit their post-adoption reports to the Central Authority via the Consular Section of the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Washington, D.C., the Consulate General of Kazakhstan in New York, or the Kazakhstani diplomatic mission in the country of the family's residence. We strongly urge you to comply with Kazakhstani post-adoption requirements in a timely manner. The obligation to provide post adoption reports rests with the adoptive parents. Your adoption agency will include the matter of post-adoption reporting in your service contract, specifying that the adoptive parents are required to provide all necessary information for the reports and disclosing who will prepare the reports and the fees that will be charged.  Your cooperation will contribute to Kazakhstan’s history of positive experiences with U.S. citizen parents.

  • Authentication of Documents: The United States and Kazakhstan are parties to the Hague Apostille Convention. The U.S Department of State’s Authentications Office has information on the subject. Note: Every document must be authenticated. Additional documents may be requested.

Post-Adoption Resources

Many adoptive parents find it important to find support after the adoption. There are many public and private nonprofit post-adoption services available for children and their families. There are also numerous adoptive family support groups and adoptee organizations active in the United States that provide a network of options for adoptees who seek out other adoptees from the same country of origin. You may wish to take advantage of all the resources available to your family, whether it is another adoptive family, a support group, an advocacy organization, or your religious or community services. Your primary provider can provide or point you to post- placement/post-adoption services to help your adopted child and your family transition smoothly and deal effectively with the many adjustments required in an intercountry adoption. 

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services maintains a website, the Child Welfare Information Gateway, which can be a useful resource to get you started on your support group search.

COMPLAINTS

If you have concerns about your intercountry adoption process, we ask that you share this information with the U.S. Embassy in Nur-Sultan or Consulate General in Almaty, particularly if it involves possible fraud or misconduct specific to your child’s case. The Department of State takes all allegations of fraud or misconduct seriously. Our Adoption Comment Page provides several points of contact for adoptive families to comment on their adoption service provider, their experience applying for their child’s visa, or about the Form I-800/A petition process.

The Complaint Registry is an internet based registry for filing complaints about the compliance of U.S. accredited or approved adoption service providers with U.S. accreditation standards. If you think your provider's conduct may not have been in compliance with accreditation standards, first submit your complaint in writing directly to your provider. If the complaint is not resolved through the provider's complaint process, you may file the complaint through the Complaint Registry.

Contact Information

U.S. Embassy Nur-Sultan
Rakhymzhan Koshkarbayev Avenue, No. 3.
Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan, 010010
Phone: +7 (7172) 70-21-00
Fax: +7 (7172) 54-09-14
Email: USAKZ@state.gov
Internet: https://kz.usembassy.gov/

U.S. Consulate General Almaty
97 Zholdasbekov St.
Samal-2
Almaty, Kazakhstan 480099
Tel: +7 (7272) 50-76-12
Fax: +7 (7272) 50-48-67
Email: USAKZ@state.gov
Internet: kz.usembassy.gov/

Kazakhstan’s Adoption Authority
Childrens Rights Protection Committee
Ministry of Education and Science
8, Mangilik Yel avenue
010000, Republic of Kazakhstan
Nur-Sultan
Government House
11th Entrance
939, 941 Rooms
Tel.: +7 (7172) 74-25-85, +7 (7172) 74-15-82 (reception)
Fax: + 7 (7172) 74-23-43
E-mail: kopd.mon@gmail.com
Internet: http://bala.edu.gov.kz  

Office of Children’s Issues
U.S. Department of State  
CA/OCS/CI 
SA-17, 9th Floor
Washington, DC 20522-1709
Tel:  1-888-407-4747
Email: Adoption@state.gov     
Internet: adoption.state.gov

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
For questions about filing a Form I-800A application or a Form I-800 petition:
USCIS National Benefits Center (NBC):
Tel:  1-877-424-8374 (toll free); 1-913-275-5480 (local); Fax: 1- 913-214-5808
Email: NBC.Adoptions@uscis.dhs.gov

For general questions about immigration procedures:
USCIS Contact Center
Tel:  1-800-375-5283 (TTY 1-800-767-1833)
Internet: uscis.gov

Last Updated: June 28, 2023

Assistance for U.S. Citizens

U.S. Embassy Astana
Rakhymzhan Koshkarbayev Ave
No. 3
Astana 010010
Kazakhstan
Telephone
+(7) (7172) 70-21-00
Emergency
+(7) (7172) 70-21-00 (or 011-7-717-270-21-00 from the U.S.)
Fax
+(7) (7172) 70-22-80

Kazakhstan Map