Republic of Lithuania ratified the Hague Convention on Child Protection and Cooperation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption. The Civil Code and the Code for Civil procedure of Republic of Lithuania govern the adoption process.

To adopt a Lithuanian child you must first meet the adoptional requirements of USA. You must apply for immigrant visa for the child.

The Government authority responsible for international and domestic adoptions is the Ministry of Social Security and Labour. The Adoption Services office of this Ministry holds the registry of all children available for adoption with relevant medical and social information and the registry of all adoptive applicants.

Adults under fifty years of age are properly prepared to be adoptive parents. Priority is given to married couples. Adoptive applicants of Lithuanian connection or descent have priority. The prospective adoptive parent(s) must be legally capable and do not have parental rights removed at any time. The Lithuania adoption program gives preference to applicants of proven Lithuanian descent.

After adoptive applicants have received the approval by the Provincial Central Adoption Authority in Canada, the adoption dossier is sent to our representative in Lithuania for translation, and then submitted to the Lithuanian Central Adoption Authority for review and registration. Average expecting waiting period for a child proposal is currently 1.5 years. This period becomes longer for younger child.

To complete the adoption process two trips are recommended. If the adoptive applicants prefer to have one trip only, they have to be prepared to stay in Lithuania for at least 49 days. Escorts are not permitted. The adoptive applicants are required to be present during the Court hearing. There is a 40-day waiting period from the time an adoption petition is filed with the judge and when it becomes final. After the adoption annual reports must be made. During 2010 more than 15 children from Lithuania were adopted in the USA.