Romania’s Government recently approved a bill that sets a more flexible adoption process, for both domestic and international adoptions.

The bill includes a series of procedural provisions which will allow an adoption to be completed in a shorter period of time. For example, the term of appeal in court will be reduced from 30 days to 10 days, and the first hearing will take place 15 days after the application is registered, reports local Hotnews.ro.

The bill also includes an adaptation holiday with a maximum duration of 90 days, and a monthly allowance during the time the child is entrusted to the family who wants to adopt him. The allowance is to be given to any of the spouses who makes taxable income in Romania. The leave shall be granted for the adoption of a child aged over 2 years old.

Moreover, those who want to adopt a child can require free time, in the limit of 40 hours per year, to carry out the evaluations required for getting the certificate and achieving practical suitability. Free time will not be affecting the person’s remuneration.

The law will enter into force in maximum 4 months after being published in the Official Gazette.

According to Gabriela Coman, president of the National Authority for Child Protection and Adoption, the adoption process now takes about 14-15 months, reports Hotnews. A total of 840 children were adopted in Romania last year.

Romania brings together child protection and adoption activities within newly created institution

Over 58,100 children in Romania’s special protection system

Over 80,000 Romanian children’s parents work abroad

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com