| Parental Age | Parents must be at least 25 and at least 17 years older than child. Some Mexican states require that parents be no more than 50 years older than the child. |
| Length of Marriage | Some Mexican states have no specific requirement, while others require parents to be married up to 5 years. |
| Divorce | No country requirement, but each Mexican state or adoption agency can impose a requirement. |
| Children in Family | Most Mexican states have no specific requirement; while others limit placement to families with no more than 2 children in the home. |
| Single Applicant | Most Mexican states allow. Female and male. |
| Sexual Orientation | Does not knowingly place with homosexuals. |
| Children Available | Most children are over the age of 3. Mexico is required under the Hague Treaty to try to find an adoptive family in Mexico before turning to international families. Most very young children are adopted by Mexican families. Children under 3 with special needs available. Sibling groups available. |
| Race/Ethnicity | Hispanic, Indian |
| Gender | Boys and girls; Parent may choose. |
| Adopting more than one unrelated child at same time | Allowed |
| Travel in Country | - Both parents, if married, must make 2-3 trips to Mexico lasting 2 to 3 weeks each. Some states require a parent to stay in Mexico while adoption is being processed. This period can be up to 4 months.
- Some Mexican states require that parents bring 2 witnesses with them on one of the trips.
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| Referral Method | Standard; DIF makes the referral; although it is allowed for adoptive parents to identified a child that is available for adoption and apply to adopt that child. |
| Wait for referral (after dossier submitted) | 2-6 months |
| Wait after referral | All Mexican states require a bonding period ranging between 1-3 weeks before the adoption can be finalized. Total time for adoption to be finalized can range from 3 to 8 months. |
| Approximate Cost | $15,000-25,000 plus travel and living expenses while in country |
| Adequacy of medical reports | Not enough placements to get a consensus from IA doctors interviewed. It is possible to have the child evaluated while visiting the child in Mexico. |
| Youngest Age Upon Arrival Home | 6 months, but usually much older |
| Orphanage/Foster Care | Usually orphanages |
| How children enter government care | Relinquishment by birth parents due to poverty or single motherhood; abandonment; removal by government for abuse, neglect, or incarceration. |
| Prevalence of FAS | Not enough placements to get a consensus from IA doctors interviewed. Children who are removed from the home due to abuse or neglect are at higher risk in all countries, including Mexico. |
| Program Stability | Variable; significant differences between Mexican states; depending on the program and state, can be an arduous process. |
| Number of children placed in the US 2002- 2009 | 645 |
| Growing/Declining | Holding fairly steady |
| Post Adoption Reports | Varies by state but usually one at 6 months and 12 months prepared by home study agency. |
| Hague Treaty | Yes |
| Health Restrictions for Adoptive Parents | Mexico does not have additional specific health restrictions. |
| Additional Information | - Adoption finalized in Mexico.
- Some Mexican states and judges require a psychological evaluation.
- Document requirements are greater than for most other countries.
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| Useful Links | US Department of State Mexico page http://adoption.state.gov/country/mexico.html Latin America Parents Association www.lapa.com |
