Russia
Children:
Caucasian babies and children up to 15 years of age are available for international adoption. All children are in relatively good health though some may have minor correctable medical conditions. Under the Russian law, all children must be registered with National Data Bank in Moscow.
Parents:
Couples and single parents may adopt. There can be no more than 45 years difference between the child's age and the age of the youngest adopting parent.
Documents:
The Russian government requires that every document in your dossier is accompanied by an apostille. (An apostille verifies the legality of the Notary and usually issued by the Secretary of State).
Ammendments:
On December 30, 2004 the Federal Law of the Russian Federation "About the introduction of amendments to the Family Code of the Russian Federation" # 185 FL was published in an official source and came to force on January 10, 2005.
The purpose of these changes is to create greater opportunity for Russian citizens to adopt. Here are the three amendments (translated into English).
1. Foreign citizens cannot adopt unless there is no possibility to place the child with families of citizens of the Russian Federation permanently residing within the Russian Federation. A foreign adoption is disallowed before six months elapse of time that the information about the child appeared on the federal level of the
Databank.
The time frame of tentative adopting Russian citizens permanently residing within the Russian Federation is thus prolonged from two months, as it is currently outlined in the Family Code, to six months on the Federal level, which translates from three to seven months in the State Databank.
2. The amendments extend the circle of potential adopters. The Court may now authorize an adoption even when the applicant's income is below the subsistence level and/or his dwelling does not meet sanitary and technical standards.
3. The Court may authorize the adopted child's birth date to be changed to keep the adoption secret even after the child reaches twelve months of age.