Who can adopt a child in Lithuania and what are the requirements?
It depends on the person — adoption is allowed in Lithuania, but not for everyone and not just any way, and the myth "you need to own a home and have a high income" is wrong. Under the Civil Code and the rules of the State Child Rights Protection and Adoption Service, adoption is open to adults of working age with full legal capacity. The right to adopt belongs to spouses; an unmarried couple cannot jointly adopt the same child, and single people or one spouse adopt only in exceptional cases. The age gap between the adopter and the child must be at least 18 years, though a court may reduce it to 15 years. Most importantly, and often overlooked: owning a home is not required, and the law sets no minimum income — what matters is that the family can decently provide for the child. You must complete the GIMK training, and the final decision is made only by a court, weighing the best interests of the child. People convicted of serious crimes or who have had their parental authority restricted cannot adopt.
📋 The rules
- The right to adopt belongs to spouses; single people only in exceptional cases (with court leave)
- Adopters must be adults of working age with full legal capacity
- The age gap with the child is at least 18 years, reducible by a court to 15 years
- Owning a home is not required, and no minimum income is set by law
- You must complete the GIMK training; adoption is approved only by a court
🔓 Exceptions
- A single (unmarried) person or one spouse adopts in exceptional cases, when no couple seeks to adopt that child
- When adopting a spouse's child or a relative, a court may allow a smaller age gap or an older adopter
- Adoption is barred for people convicted of crimes against life, health, a child or morality, and for those stripped of parental authority
⚠️ Penalties & fines
What matters here is not a fine but the fact that, if the requirements are not met, a court will not allow the adoption. The Service pulls data from the register of suspects, accused and convicted persons, so a conviction for intentional crimes against life, health, sexual self-determination, a child or morality bars adoption even if it is spent. Often overlooked: people whose parental authority was restricted, dismissed guardians, or those with illnesses on a government-approved list also cannot adopt. GIMK specialists assess living conditions, health and motivation, and a negative conclusion stops the process. Adoption is irreversible and creates the same legal ties as kinship: adopters take on all parental duties, including the child's maintenance and inheritance. Concealing the child's origin or the fact of adoption does not serve the child's interests and can later cause a crisis of trust and identity.
📎 Official sources
- State Child Rights Protection and Adoption Service · who can adopt →
- e-seimas · Civil Code, Book III (adoption) →
- e-tar · list of illnesses barring adoption (ministers' order) →
❓ Frequently asked
Can a single person adopt?
The right to adopt belongs first to spouses, but in exceptional cases adoption is allowed for a single (unmarried) person or one of the spouses. Such an exception is applied by a court when no couple seeks to adopt the particular child or when it best serves the child's interests.
What age gap is required between adopter and child?
The age gap between the adopter and the adopted child must be at least 18 years. To serve the best interests of the child, a court may reduce this gap to 15 years, for example when a spouse's child or a relative is being adopted.
Do you need to own a home and have a high income?
No, owning a home is not required for adoption, and the law does not set how much income you must have. What matters is that living conditions are safe and income lets the family and child live a full life, and this is assessed by GIMK specialists.
Who cannot adopt a child?
Adoption is barred for people declared legally incapable or partly incapable, those whose parental authority was restricted, dismissed guardians and people with certain illnesses. It is also barred for people convicted of intentional crimes against life, health, a child or morality.
How long does the adoption process take?
Before adoption you must complete GIMK training and a readiness assessment, which take several months, and then you wait for a suitable child. The final decision is made by a court, so the whole process from application to court ruling often takes well over a year.
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