Bulgarian Adoption Cost
How much is it to adopt from Bulgaria?
The overall cost for a Bulgarian adoption is around $40,000. Parents can expect to pay closer to $50,000 when you include third party fees payable to entities other than the adoption agency. Examples of third parties, include the home study agency fees, USCIS fees, airfare, and lodging overseas.
How can I afford to adopt?
When are the fees due?
The fees are NOT due at once, or upfront. They only become due as you advance through the adoption process. To understand when a fee is due, please see the “Adoption Fee Schedules” below:
Traditional Fee Structure
| Bulgaria Fee Summary | |||
| Adoption Application – $500 | |||
1st Step: $8,400 Payment Plan Available | Due With Service Agreement to Begin the Adoption Process | ||
| Agency Fee | Can be split into a 3-month payment plan | $7,500 | |
| AE Oversight Fee | Third party fee ($850 if a mailed check) | $900 | |
| Families residing in NC will add the $1,750 Home Study “Payment 1” after submitting home study application | |||
2nd Step $3,000 | Due with Receipt of Dossier Guidelines (Typically after getting started with the home study process) | ||
| Dossier Fee 1 | If on payment plan, due 30 days after last installment of ‘agency fee’ payment plan | $3,000 | |
3rd Step $5,000 and 3,000 Euro Payment Plan Available | Due with Completed Dossier (Typically about 6 – 8 months after starting process) | ||
| Dossier Fee 2 | Can be reduced by $500 to $4,500 if dossier is submitted within 6 months of signed contract | $5,000 | |
| Dossier Fee 3 | 3,000 Euro | ||
4th Step $8,000 and 6,000 Euro | Due Before and After First Trip to Bulgaria (Depending on how long it takes to get matched) | ||
| Shortly Before First Trip | Due 7 Days before trip to Bulgaria | $4,000 and 4,000 Euro | |
| Shortly After First Trip | Due 7 Days after first trip to Bulgaria – after agreeing to adoption in Bulgaria | $4,000 and 2,000 Euro | |
| Referral Review Fee of $500 is charged upon review of any referral with agency social worker – which includes child specific counseling. If family accepts referral, $500 is subtracted from the dollar amount from “Shortly Before First Trip” making the total $3,500 instead of $4,000. | |||
5th Step $3,000 and 2,000 Euro | Due Before Second Trip to Bulgaria (Approximately 3 – 6 months after first trip) | ||
| Shortly Before Second Trip | Due 7 Days before trip to Bulgaria | $3,000 and 2,000 Euro | |
| Post Adoption fees and the refundable post adoption deposit fee are charged prior to the second trip. Amount varies depending on whether you are in NC. See description below. | |||
PLEASE NOTE | Child Care Prior to Adoption Finalization and Contributions | ||
| Child Care | In Bulgaria, the CA takes care of the child prior to the adoption being final. | $0.00 | |
| Contributions | Not required (Only voluntary) | $0.00 | |
Fees paid to and through Saint Mary Adoptions $27,850 and 11,000 Euro Estimated cost of third party expenses and travel are described below. | |||
Please Note: Adoption Tax Credit for 2025 is $17,280 So if you receive the tax credit, and apply the received deduction to the total above, it may look like: $10,570 and 11,000 Euros. Please note, this tax credit is not offered throug St. Mary’s. It is through the IRS for those who are eligible to receive this tax break. | |||
Please Note: 2 Siblings: Additional Cost: $3,900 and 8,000 Euro Note: Adoption of 3 Children – Siblings (or more) will increase by increments of the same amount – $3,900 and 8,000 Euro for the third child.
Note: As we understand adoption expenses are significant, we are able to work with you on a personalized payment plan. If you are interested, please contact us. If a payment plan is initiated, a separate exhibit may be signed detailing your specific timeline. A personal payment plan does not change in any way the disclosed fees in this document. | |||
Waiting Child Fee Structure
| Waiting Child Fee Schedule | |
| Agency Application Fee | $500 |
| Due with application | |
| Agency Fee | $7,500 |
| Due with signed contract. Payment Plans available | |
| IAAME Oversight Fee | $900 |
| Due 2 weeks after signed contract; third party fee; | |
| Upon MOJ Approval | $ 2,000 Euro |
| Due after MOJ approves your application | |
| Dossier Fee | $8,000 |
| 2,000 Euro | |
| Due when you are finished with dossier; On average, 6 – 9 months after signing contract. Payment plans available. | |
| Foreign Fees | |
| Before First Trip | 4,000 Euro and $4,000 |
| Due before first trip. | |
| After First Trip | 1,000 Euro and $4,000 |
| Due shortly after first trip, after you have agreed to the adoption in Bulgaria | |
| Second Trip | 2,000 Euros and $3,000 |
| Due after court date has approved you as parents | |
| Total | $27,900 and 11,000 Euro |
| Minus Adoption Tax Credit (if eligible thru IRS) | -$17,280 |
| Cost after factoring in the tax deduction. Please note: This IRS tax break is not done by our agency, but by the IRS to help those eligible receive a tax break after adopting a child. | $10,570 and 11,000 Euro |
Please Note: Siblings: Additional Cost: $3,900 and 8,000 Euro Note: Adoption of 3 Children – Siblings (or more) will increase by increments of the same amount – $3,900 and 8,000 Euro for the third child. | |
What is the 39 months adoption financing plan?
Exclusive to St. Mary’s, we’ve taken the total cost payable to our agency and its foreign representatives (not including 3rd parties) and divided it by 39 months. So $27, 900 plus 11,000 Euros (at exchange rate of 1.10) equals $40,000 even. Divided by 39 payments, including 3% interest, equals $1,056 per month. This has been a very popular option since we started offering it. We love doing it because we feel like it can help more people adopt a child! For more info, please call or text us at 704 527 7673.
39
months
$1,056
per month
Why choose the 39 month financing option?
We’ve seen that many parents want to apply for a grant. But all the grants are available only after you’re done with the home study. So this option lets you pay less before you’ve completed your home study. If you pay $1,056 a month and finish your home study in say 3 months, then you’ve only spent $3,168 over 3 months (instead of paying the entire agency fee of $7,500) and fees related to the home study before being eligible to apply for a grant. For more details, call or text us at 704 527 7673.
What Is Included in 39 Months Financing?
All fees that are payable to our agency for the adoption of a single child. This does not include fees due to third parties.
Since 2001, our agency has never charged anyone any more than what these fees say – so you can count that the cost we tell you, and therefore, the monthly payment is and will be as it is stated.
What Is NOT Included?
Fees payable to third parties, not our agency, are NOT included. Fees due for the review of third parties, such as home study review or post adoption reports, are NOT included.
Updates are not included. Updates of paperwork, like home study update, or other documents which may expire and have to be renewed.
What Else?
Our monthly estimate is based on an exchange rate of the Dollar to the Euro which has been pretty stable for the past few years, at least. However, if the exchange rate was to change, it would be the adoptive parent’s responsibility to pay the difference. The fees that are due in Euros are 11,000 in total. To see a current exchange rate, you can see the Treasury’s site here.
Crowdfunding with us!
Crowd funding has become very common. Our agency can try to help you with the logistics of fundraising with your family and friends by helping you share your story. Over the years we have seen adoptive parents raise money through their local churches, family and friends to pay for their adoption fees – owed to the agency for its services. We may be able to assist you with this. For further info, please call us, or email us. nick@saintmaryadoption.com
Note: Please note that the agency differentiates between money owed for its services and donations made above and beyond the money owed for its services. If you, or someone on your behalf, wish to make a donation, above and beyond the fees you owe, that donation will be used by the agency for general support of its operations. Adoptive families CANNOT donate toward their own expenses. The agency has in place procedures in place to ensure that donations (above and beyond the fees owed) do not influence child placing decisions in any way.
Grants Can Help Fund Your Adoption
We are happy to share some grants that can help you with the cost of international adoption. These organizations are third parties to us, and they operate separately from our agency. To qualify for most grants, you would need to have a completed home study (or a home study for expats) which approves you as an adoptive parent.
*New* – “The Catherine Grant”
This is a grant donated to us by one of our donors, Catherine. She has graciously paid for the application fee ($500) for a future adoptive parent. Applicable only through Saint Mary’s. If you are interested in applying for this grant, please contact us. (This grant expired in 2025 – we are hoping a similar grant becomes available soon)
*New* – “A Moment of Hope Grant”
This grant’s purpose is to give one adoptive family a moment of hope! It is worth $1,000 in total. It also covers $1,000 towards the agency fee.
So, if you have been praying and asking God for guidance, let this grant encourage you to get started! A moment of hope inspiring you to take the first step towards leaving the world with one less orphan!
This grant is only applicable thru an adoption with Saint Mary’s. It is available only for new clients who have not yet begun the adoption process, as it is meant to inspire people to start the adoption process. If you like to apply for this grant, please email Nick for more info.
1. Lifesong for Orphans
Lifesong for Orphans is one of the best-known Christian organizations helping families overcome the financial barriers associated with adoption.
They offer:
- Direct adoption grants
- Matching grants
- Interest-free adoption loans
- Adoption crowdfunding
- Church fundraising support
- Fundraising coaching
International adoption?
✅ Yes. Lifesong supports domestic and international adoption.
Christian requirement?
Yes. Applicants are generally expected to be Christians and may be asked to provide a statement of faith, church information, and a pastoral reference.
General eligibility requirements:
- A current, approved home study
- Demonstrated financial need
- An active adoption through a qualified agency or adoption provider
- Church or pastoral support
- A complete adoption budget and financial statement
When should families apply?
Applications are generally accepted on a rolling basis. Families should apply after completing their home study and before final travel or finalization.
2. Show Hope
Show Hope is a Christian ministry founded by Steven Curtis Chapman and Mary Beth Chapman. Its Adoption Aid program helps reduce the financial barriers that prevent children from entering permanent families.
They offer:
- Direct adoption grants
- Pre-adoption educational resources
- Post-adoption support
- Medical and therapeutic resources for adoptive families
International adoption?
✅ Yes. Show Hope supports qualifying domestic and international adoptions.
Christian requirement?
Show Hope is an explicitly Christian ministry. Applicants are generally asked about their faith and may be required to provide a pastoral or church reference.
General eligibility requirements:
- A completed and approved home study
- Adoption through a licensed nonprofit adoption agency
- Demonstrated financial need
- A pastor or church reference
- An adoption that has not yet been finalized
When should families apply?
Show Hope uses scheduled application periods throughout the year. Families should review the current application calendar before applying.
3. Katelyn’s Fund
Katelyn’s Fund is a Christian ministry that provides financial assistance to Christian families pursuing adoption.
They offer:
- Direct adoption grants
- Prayer and spiritual support
- Adoption education and encouragement
International adoption?
✅ Yes. International adoption is specifically included in its grant guidelines.
Christian requirement?
Yes. Applicants must generally be a married Christian husband and wife who profess faith in Jesus Christ.
General eligibility requirements:
- A completed and approved home study
- A married Christian couple
- A personal statement of Christian faith
- Demonstrated financial hardship
- Adoption through a licensed agency
- Personal, professional, and pastoral references
- Participation in an interview when requested
When should families apply?
Families pursuing international adoption generally must apply well before final travel. Applications submitted too close to travel or finalization may not be considered.
4. Ephesians 3:20 Foundation
Ephesians 3:20 Foundation is a Christian organization that seeks to help gospel-centered families follow God’s call to adoption.
They offer:
- Adoption grants
- Financial assistance
- Prayer and ministry support
International adoption?
✅ Historically, the foundation has supported both domestic and international adoption. Families should confirm current country and program eligibility.
Christian requirement?
Yes. Applicants are generally expected to demonstrate an active Christian faith and agreement with the organization’s biblical mission.
General eligibility requirements:
- A completed or substantially completed home study
- Demonstrated financial need
- Adoption documentation and agency information
- A statement of Christian faith
- References or church involvement
- A realistic adoption funding plan
When should families apply?
Application availability may depend on the foundation’s current funding cycle. Families should verify that applications are open before preparing a submission.
5. Sacred Selections
Sacred Selections is a Christian nonprofit that helps qualifying couples with the cost of adoption.
They offer:
- Full or partial adoption grants
- Financial support for qualifying adoption expenses
- Fundraising and donor support
International adoption?
✅ International adoption may qualify, although families are generally responsible for expenses such as travel, home-study costs, and certain related fees.
Christian requirement?
Yes. Sacred Selections has very specific denominational requirements.
General eligibility requirements:
- Applicants must be members in good standing of a conservative, non-institutional and non-instrumental Church of Christ
- A married couple who is eligible to adopt
- Successful completion of the home-study process
- Background checks and references
- Financial review
- Agreement with the ministry’s religious beliefs and requirements
6. Both Hands
Both Hands helps adoptive families raise funds through a unique Christian service project.
A family and a team of volunteers complete a home-repair or improvement project for a widow. Friends, relatives, churches, and businesses sponsor the volunteers, and the funds raised help cover adoption expenses.
They offer:
- Adoption matching grants
- A structured adoption fundraising project
- Fundraising coaching
- Church and community involvement
International adoption?
✅ Yes. International, private domestic, foster-care, and kinship adoptions may qualify.
Christian requirement?
Yes. Participating families are expected to agree with the ministry’s Christian statement of faith.
General eligibility requirements:
- An active adoption process
- A completed or approved home study
- Agreement with the organization’s statement of faith
- Willingness to organize a service project for a widow
- A volunteer team and fundraising campaign
- Eligible adoption expenses
Important distinction:
Both Hands is not simply a traditional grant. It is a service-based fundraising program that may include matching funds.
7. Tim Tebow Foundation Adoption Aid
The Tim Tebow Foundation Adoption Aid program helps families adopting children with significant medical or special needs.
They offer:
- Partner-funded adoption grants
- Financial assistance for special-needs adoption
- Advocacy for vulnerable and waiting children
International adoption?
✅ Yes. The program is especially focused on international adoption of children with identified special needs.
Christian requirement?
The Tim Tebow Foundation is a Christian ministry. Funding may be distributed through partner organizations that have their own eligibility and faith requirements.
General eligibility requirements:
- Adoption of a child with identified special needs
- An active international adoption process
- An approved home study
- Use of a participating or qualified adoption agency
- Eligibility under the requirements of a partner ministry, such as Lifesong or Show Hope
- Demonstrated financial need
How do families apply?
Families may need to apply through one of the foundation’s partner adoption-aid organizations rather than directly through the Tim Tebow Foundation.
8. Brittany’s Hope
Brittany’s Hope helps unite waiting children with permanent families by providing child-specific adoption grants.
They offer:
- Child-specific adoption grants
- Financial assistance for international adoption
- Grants for children with medical or developmental special needs
- Fundraising partnerships
International adoption?
✅ Yes. Brittany’s Hope focuses heavily on international adoption of waiting children with special needs.
Christian requirement?
Brittany’s Hope has Christian roots and a faith-centered mission. Specific family faith requirements may depend on the program and participating agency.
General eligibility requirements:
- Adoption of a qualifying waiting child
- The child must generally have identified special needs
- Adoption through an affiliated or participating agency
- A completed or approved home study
- Commitment to complete the adoption
- Participation in fundraising when required
Important distinction:
These grants are usually connected to a specific child and may not be available through every adoption agency.
9. ABBA Fund
ABBA Fund helps Christian families and churches address the financial challenges of adoption.
They offer:
- Interest-free adoption loans
- Church adoption-fund administration
- Assistance establishing adoption ministries
- Financial stewardship guidance
International adoption?
✅ Potentially. Families should confirm that their country, agency, and adoption type qualify.
Christian requirement?
Yes. ABBA Fund primarily serves Christian adoptive families and churches.
General eligibility requirements:
- An active adoption plan
- Christian faith and church involvement
- Financial review
- An approved home study or substantial progress in the adoption process
- Ability to repay an interest-free loan
- Agency and adoption documentation
Important distinction:
ABBA Fund primarily provides loans and church-fund support rather than direct, nonrepayable grants.
Military Adoption Reimbursement
Federal law authorizes reimbursement for certain expenses associated with adoption to a maximum of $2000 per child and not to exceed $5000 per calendar year. In order to qualify for the reimbursement, service members must be serving on continuous active duty for at least 180 days and the adoption must be finalized while on active duty. In addition, the claim must be submitted while on active duty and within the timeframe specified in DoD Instruction 1341.09 (within two years of the date that the adoption was finalized for claims submitted on and after July 5, 2016; within one year for claims submitted prior to that date).
Dave Thomas Foundation For Adoption
Each year since 2002, the Foundation has surveyed the nation’s employers and ranked the 100 Best Adoption-Friendly Workplaces. The 2018 list includes a diverse group of organizations, with six to nearly 500,000 employees, representing 22 industries.
Katelyn’s Fund Orphan Ministry
Founded by believers wishing to help others and give them hope through their orphan ministry and grants that are available. They give higher priority to families who make less than $100,000 a year.
A Child Awaits
They are a non-profit family foundation formed for the exclusive purpose of providing grants and low-interest loans to help families adopt children internationally. According to their website, they awarded grants to 183 families which resulted in the adoption of 225 children from 21 different countries.
The Never Alone Foundation
According to their site, they have awarded over $240,000 in an effort to help bring home or provide financial assistance to 98 children. Different grants are available that families can apply for.
CMomA
The CMomA Gifting Program Objective is to give up to ten $5,000 CMomA Grants per year to eligible new parents adopting older children in need (age 2-17) or special needs children of all ages, both domestically and internationally
Gift of Adoption Fund
According to their website, Gift of Adoption is the largest provider of adoption assistance grants awarded without regard to race, religion, age, marital status, or sexual orientation. Grants of up to $10,000 are awarded monthly to qualified applicants to remove prohibitive financial barriers and make possible the adoptions of some of the most vulnerable children in the U.S. and around the world.
Dream 4 Adoption
Under this program Dream4Adoption will be accepting applications for grants for the home study phase of adopting families. This program seeks to fund up $1,500.00 directly to the service provider involved in your adoption. There is also a bonus of $500.00 for the family when they complete the post adoption process.
Open Hearts for Orphans
They have given grants to over 90 deserving families in the U.S.! Their primary goal is for children with special needs to be adopted into traditional, two-parent Christian families.
Inspirational Story – Grant
This is not something you can apply for, but we wanted to share one of our adopted kids wanting to make a difference for orphans. Meet Victoria who raised $150 by selling pecans to donate to another adoptive family currently in process.
What Is The Adoption Tax Credit?
The adoption tax credit for 2024 is $14,400 per child adopted. Adopting siblings would therefore double it. According to the Tax Policy Center, the credit is available with no restrictions to anyone who makes less than $214,520. A “Tax credit” is the best kind of tax break you can get because the credit amount simply gets subtracted from taxes owed to the government. Here is a tax credit definition by Investopedia. Also it can be carried forward for up to 5 years.
Great resources we used to bring you this information are The Tax Policy Center and Investopedia. Check out their sites to learn even more!
What is a “Floating Fee Schedule”
This means that your agency only charges you when you have completed a step. One example is completing your home study and your dossier. When you’ve done this, you would be considered “paperwork ready”. Your dossier is submitted to the foreign country. There is a fee due with this step. A “floating fee schedule” charges you this fee whenever you, and you alone, are done with the dossier. If it takes you 3 months, then the “dossier fee” is due then. If it takes you 6 months, then it is due then. Most agencies have predetermined timetables for when fees are due based on averages or other criteria. Picking an agency with a “floating fee schedule” – like ours – helps you to better be able to manage your process and its fees. If you’d like to learn more about this, or would like another example, please call or text us at 704 527 7673.
What are “Third Party Fees”
These are fees that are not payable to our agency or its representatives. We estimate our adoptive parents will likely spend another $8,000 – $12,000 in addition to the fees listed by our agency above. These additional expenses aren’t included in our fee schedules listed above nor any of the financing options we provide – because again, they’re simply not due to us.
They include, but not are not limited to:
Home Study – payable to home study agency – usually about $3,000 – $5,000. See our Home Study Fees. See Home Study Fees for Expats.
Airplane Tickets – due to airlines – cost varies – but usually around $900 – $1,600 round trip.
Cost of hotels while overseas – due to hotels – different cities will provide different options also based on the length of your duration. $50 – $150 per night.
CIS Fees – Due to USCIS – $945.
Embassy Fees – Due to embassy – $325.
Mailing expense.
Other miscelleneous third party fees.
Additional Resources
Another good resource about the cost of a Bulgarian adoption are listed here by Holt and here by Considering Adoption.
A good source to learn more about adoption grants is this article by Adoption.com and this article by American Adoptions.
Some articles which we’ve written include: