New online service simplifies adoption process for Ukrainians

As the war in Ukraine continues and scores of children count the cost, a new online service has launched as part of efforts to simplify the adoption process.

The new service will further shore up efforts to protect children left without parental care, who are among the most vulnerable groups in times of crisis.

Ukrainians who wish to adopt a child can now register for free online using the Diia portal, where they can also download all necessary documents.

"An institutional care facility is definitely not the place where children should grow up,” said the initiator of the project, Darya Gerasymchuk, Commissioner of the President of Ukraine for Children's Rights and Children's Rehabilitation. “This service will help children to exercise  their right to a family more simply. We will also work on the digitization of services regarding alternative parental care. Thus, more children and parents will be able to meet each other.”

"We're working on the digitalization of adoption services in Ukraine,” added Mykhailo Fedorov, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine. “We successfully passed the first stage: application on advising via Diia. Now we are taking the next step and launching applications for adoptive parents on the Diia portal. Previously, this service was only available offline. Ukrainians willing to adopt a child had to do a lot of paperwork and get stuck in queues. With Diia, it will be possible to get this service simply and conveniently, without unnecessary bureaucracy.”

How to apply for the status of candidate for adoptive parent:

1. Register or log onto the Diia portal;
2. Select the “Adoption: registration as a candidate” service;
3. Fill in basic information about your marriage and spouse, place of residence and the children you wish to adopt – gender, age, etc.;
4. Wait up to 15 minutes to receive data from database;
5. Continue filling out the application and upload the necessary documents;
6. Sign the application electronically and send it for processing.

The service is free. Submitting an application takes no more than 30 minutes. After processing the application, the children's affairs service will check the applicant's living conditions and, if everything meets the requirements for the adopter, send the candidate for training and further registration.