Adoption in India is regulated by the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act and the Adoption Regulations, 2022, and run through the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) and its online portal. This guide sets out what the official process costs, the other expenses families should budget for, and a practical money plan for the first year and beyond. It is general information, not legal or financial advice; always confirm current rules on the CARA website.
How much does it cost to adopt a child in India?
For resident Indians adopting within India through a Specialised Adoption Agency (SAA), CARA’s published FAQs (2026) list these fees:
| Stage | What it pays for | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Home study report | A social worker’s assessment of your home and readiness | ₹6,000 |
| Child placed with you | Adoption fee paid to the SAA (₹10,000 for each additional sibling) | ₹50,000 |
| Post-adoption follow-up | Four visits by a social worker, ₹2,000 each | ₹8,000 |
| Total official fees | ₹64,000 |
Source: CARA FAQs 2026, cara.wcd.gov.in, as of October 2026. Fees paid to the agency are non-refundable once paid. Inter-country and relative adoptions follow different schedules. Check the official source before acting.
Any agency or individual asking for “donations”, extra charges or money to “speed up” a referral is acting outside the rules. Adoption must go through CARA’s process; anything else risks being illegal.
When you pay: official fees by stage
Bars drawn to scale. Fees as published by CARA for in-country adoption by resident Indians, as of October 2026. The time between stages depends on your place in the waiting list and is not fixed.
The costs that are not on the fee schedule
The official fees are only part of the picture. Families commonly spend on:
- Documents: medical fitness certificates, photographs, income and address proofs, and attestation.
- Travel: visits to an agency in another city or state, sometimes more than once.
- Setting up home: furniture, clothes, a car seat or school supplies, depending on the child’s age.
- Health: a paediatric check-up, vaccinations, and for an older child or a child with special needs, ongoing therapy or treatment.
- Time off work: lost income if paid leave does not cover the settling-in period.
- Childcare and schooling: school admission, fees, uniforms and day care.
These vary enormously by city, the child’s age and needs, and your choices, so build your own estimate rather than relying on an average.
Who can adopt: the eligibility rules
CARA requires prospective parents to be physically, mentally, emotionally and financially capable. A married couple needs both spouses’ consent and at least two years of stable marriage; a single woman can adopt a child of any gender; a single man cannot adopt a girl. Age limits depend on the child’s age:
| Age of the child | Maximum combined age (couple) | Maximum age (single parent) |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 2 years | 85 years | 40 years |
| Above 2, up to 4 years | 90 years | 45 years |
| Above 4, up to 8 years | 100 years | 50 years |
| Above 8, up to 18 years | 110 years | 55 years |
Source: CARA eligibility criteria (Regulation 5, Adoption Regulations 2022), as of October 2026. The minimum age gap between the child and either parent is 25 years. Different rules apply to relative and step-parent adoptions and to couples with two or more children.
The process, and where the money fits
The waiting period is the best time to get your finances ready. Use it.
A financial plan for adoptive parents
Fund the fees and set-up costs from savings
Set aside the ₹64,000 in official fees plus your own estimate of set-up costs in a separate account. Because the timing is uncertain, keep it in something you can access at short notice, such as a savings account or short-term deposit.
Grow your emergency fund
A child adds fixed monthly costs. Aim for six months of the new, higher household expenses. Our emergency fund calculator and guide to building an emergency fund can help.
Plan your leave and income gap
Check your employer’s policy. In March 2026 the Supreme Court held that adoptive mothers are entitled to 12 weeks’ maternity leave regardless of the child’s age; earlier, this applied only to a child below three months. Confirm with your HR how it applies to you.
Add the child to your health cover
Ask your insurer or employer how and when an adopted child can be added to your family floater or group policy, and whether any waiting periods apply.
Review life cover, nominations and your will
Once the adoption order is issued, the child is legally your child. Update nominees on bank accounts, insurance and provident fund, and consider term life cover sized to your child’s needs until they are independent.
Start long-term goals early
Education is the largest future cost. A monthly investment started now, even a small one, has years to grow. For a girl below 10, a parent or legal guardian can also open a Sukanya Samriddhi account.
Should you borrow to adopt?
For most families, the official fees are small enough to pay from savings over the months of waiting, and that is the healthiest route. The home study also looks at your financial stability, so taking on heavy debt just before or during the process is not wise.
Borrowing can be reasonable if…
- A specific one-off cost (home changes, medical needs) arrives before your savings are ready
- The EMI fits comfortably within your income alongside the child’s new costs
- You borrow from a regulated lender with a clear Key Fact Statement
Avoid borrowing if…
- The loan is to pay someone outside CARA’s process
- It would stretch your monthly budget during the settling-in months
- It means short-term app loans with daily interest
If a personal loan does make sense, compare the APR and total cost, and choose a tenure that keeps the EMI small. Omozing, our own product, offers personal loans to salaried people from an RBI-registered NBFC, with every cost shown in the Key Fact Statement before you sign.
Get your family finances ready
Work out the emergency fund your family will need after the adoption, and plan the rest from there.
Frequently asked questions
How much money is required to adopt a child in India?
The official CARA fees for an in-country adoption total about ₹64,000: ₹6,000 for the home study, ₹50,000 at placement and ₹8,000 for four follow-up visits, as of October 2026. Budget separately for documents, travel, setting up home and the child’s ongoing costs.
What is the CARA adoption fee?
CARA’s 2026 FAQs list ₹50,000 as the adoption fee paid to the Specialised Adoption Agency when the child is placed, plus ₹10,000 for each additional sibling. The home study (₹6,000) and follow-up visits (₹2,000 each) are charged separately.
Is the adoption fee refundable?
According to CARA, adoption fees paid to the Specialised Adoption Agency are non-refundable once paid. Check the current position on the CARA website.
How long does adoption take in India?
There is no fixed time. Registration and the home study take a few months; the wait for a referral depends on your seniority and the preferences you set, such as the child’s age, health and state.
Can a single person adopt a child in India?
Yes. A single woman can adopt a child of any gender, and a single man can adopt a boy. Age limits apply based on the child’s age, and the parent must be financially capable of caring for the child.
Do adoptive mothers get maternity leave?
Yes. In March 2026 the Supreme Court held that adoptive mothers are entitled to 12 weeks’ maternity leave regardless of the child’s age. Confirm with your employer how it applies to you.
Sources: Central Adoption Resource Authority, eligibility criteria and FAQs 2026 (cara.wcd.gov.in); Adoption Regulations, 2022; Supreme Court of India ruling on maternity leave for adoptive mothers, March 2026 (sci.gov.in). Figures as of October 2026; check the official source before acting.
Omozing is the digital lending brand of Aparampaar Finance Private Limited, an RBI-registered non-deposit-taking NBFC. This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. See our regulatory disclosures and grievance redressal process.