Start a Search for Biological Family with Russian Roots

BIRTH FAMILY SEARCH

Start a Search for Biological Family

Adoption Records Submission
Schedule an Appointment with the Investigator

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👉 The search for one's birth family is not limited to simply looking for and contacting biological parents or siblings through social media.
It is a much broader and deeper process that includes meeting biological family members whenever possible, discovering photographs and personal accounts, observing family members' reactions, and gaining insight into their current living conditions.
It also involves searching for brothers and sisters born before or after the adoption, whether they were adopted themselves or not, exploring the family's genetic background, and redacting a life story that helps provide a better understanding of one's personal and family background, as well as the circumstances surrounding the adoption. 🔍

🇫🇷 Français : veuillez remplir le formulaire ci-contre.
🇪🇸 Español: por favor, complete el formulario adjunto.
🇮🇹 Italiano: per favore, compila il modulo accanto.

I – General Information

I am... *

Why 'Other'? (I am...) *

I am doing a birth family search... *

Child's country of birth: *

Why 'Other'? (Search for...) *

⚠️ The selected categories cannot be combined.
If you are an adoptee and wish to start a search for your biological family, please select "On my own behalf" for the question "I am doing a birth family search…".

⚠️ The selected categories cannot be combined.

⚠️ The Russian Roots association only handles birth family search requests for individuals adopted from countries of the former USSR, particularly Russia.
Genealogical research falls outside the scope of birth family searches, and such requests will not be processed.

Current first name and last name: *

First

Last

Gender: *

Male
Female
Non-binary

First name and last name: *

First

Last

Gender: *

Male
Female
Non-binary

Date of birth: *

Country of birth: *

City/Town of birth: *

E-mail address: *

Phone number:

City of residence: *

Country (and State) of residence: *

II – Search for Biological Family

Which search method would you be interested in? *

Field searches in Russia together with the investigator and meeting with the biological family
Searches conducted exclusively by the investigator

⚠️ To travel to Russia, an adopted person must hold, in addition to a valid passport from their country of adoption, a valid Russian passport. If needed, the association may, upon membership registration, assist the adoptee in renewing their Russian passport.

👉 For any questions regarding compulsory military service in Russia for men, please click here.

👉 The costs and arrangements for travelling to Russia and for conducting searches with the investigator will be determined at a later stage.

✅ A Russian child adopted by a foreign family retains Russian citizenship and the right to obtain a Russian passport, unless the adoptive family formally renounced the child's Russian citizenship during the adoption process.

⚠️ For individuals adopted from Ukraine, the feasibility of initiating a birth family search and conducting field investigations will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Current first name and last name of your adopted child: *

First

Last

Child's gender: *

Male
Female
Non-binary

Child's date of birth: *

Child's city/town of birth: *

Are you doing a search on behalf of an adoptee? *

Adoptee's country of birth: *

⚠️ For individuals adopted from Ukraine, the feasibility of initiating a birth family search and conducting field investigations will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Current first name and last name of the adoptee: *

First

Last

Adoptee's gender: *

Male
Female
Non-binary

Adoptee's date of birth: *

Adoptee's city/town of birth: *

I am looking for: *

Purpose of your request: *

Are your adoptive parents aware of your quest for your origins? *

Yes
I would rather not tell them
I plan to inform them about it later

Is your adopted child aware of the steps you are taking on their behalf? *

Yes
I would rather no tell him/her
I plan to inform him/her about it later

Personally, have you already started doing some searches? *

What were the results? *

Do you have your adoption papers with you? *

Your adoption papers are required before starting any investigation.

⚠️ If you currently do not have access to your adoption records, or if your parents refuse to provide them to you, please click here and follow the instructions.

✅ Once you have obtained the adoption records, please complete the form again and submit the documents via digital upload.

Do you have your child’s adoption papers with you? *

The adoption papers are required before starting any investigation.

⚠️ If you currently do not have access to your child's adoption records, please click here and follow the instructions.

✅ Once you have obtained the adoption records, please complete the form again and submit the documents via digital upload.

Do you have the adoptee’s adoption papers with you? *

The adoption papers are required before starting any investigation.

⚠️ If you currently do not have access to the adoptee's adoption records, please click here and follow the instructions.

✅ Once you have obtained the adoption records, please complete the form again and submit the documents via digital upload.

Adoption records submission (in the original language):

– birth certificates (pre-adoption and post-adoption);
– adoption certificate;
– adoption court decree;
– letter(s) of relinquishment from the mother (and/or father) OR report on a found abandoned child OR court decree(s) terminating parental rights OR death certificate(s) of the mother (and/or father);
– consent from the children's home (or orphanage, or hospital) for the child's adoption.

👉 Membership in the association is required in order for the investigator to review the documentation.
Once the review of the adoption records has been completed (usually within around two weeks), a video call will be arranged with the investigator during which the initial findings and the next steps for the search will be presented.

⚠️ If you are unsure which documents to upload, you may submit all original-language documents in your possession. Our investigator will contact you if any documents are missing.

✅ The confidentiality, protection and processing of information contained in adoption records are governed by the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Adoption records submission (in the original language): *

Drag & Drop Files, Choose Files to Upload You can upload up to 25 files.

Accepted file formats: .pdf, .doc, .odt, .jpg, .jpeg, .png.

III – Other

Have you ever returned to Russia with your child? *

Would you like to travel to Russia again? *

Would you like to take a trip to Russia? *

⚠️ To travel to Russia, your child must have, in addition to a valid passport from their country of adoption, a valid Russian passport.

Do you have your Russian passport with you? *

Is it still valid? *

Would you like to renew it? *

⚠️ A valid Russian passport is required for any adopted person wishing to travel to Russia. We encourage you to contact your adoptive parents in order to obtain your Russian passport, whether it has expired or remains valid.

👉 If your Russian passport has been lost or if your adoptive parents refuse to provide it to you, you may request a copy by applying for access to your archived adoption records through the competent authorities in your country of adoption.

👉 If you would like assistance with renewing your Russian passport, membership is required. Otherwise, you may undertake the process independently.

⚠️ To renew your Russian passport, you must hold a valid passport issued by your country of adoption.

👉 If you do not wish to renew your Russian passport, we encourage you to consider an alternative search method, as as without a valid Russian passport, it will not be possible to travel to Russia and carry out on-site searches with the investigator.

Would you like to renew your child's Russian passport? *

Yes
No
Their Russian passport is already up to date

👉 If you would like assistance with renewing your child's Russian passport, membership is required. Otherwise, you may undertake the process independently.

👉 For any questions regarding compulsory military service in Russia for men, please click here.

⚠️ To renew your child’s Russian passport, a valid passport issued by their country of adoption is required.

Have you maintained your ability to speak Russian? *

Yes
No
I am (re)learning it

How did you hear about the 'Russian Roots' organization? *

Why 'Other'? (hearing about association) *

Additional information:

Useful Information: *

I confirm that I have read the information regarding the birth family search process and accept the associated conditions.

Useful Information

Legal Notices and Privacy Policy: *

I accept the personal data management policy. The documents and information are collected in order to better understand your situation, needs and expectations.

Legal Notices and Privacy Policy

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🇫🇷 Français : veuillez remplir le formulaire ci-contre.
🇪🇸 Español: por favor, complete el formulario adjunto.
🇮🇹 Italiano: per favore, compila il modulo accanto.

I – General Information

I am... *

Why 'Other' ? (I am...) *

I am doing a birth family search... *

Child's country of birth: *

Why 'Other' ? (Search for...) *

⚠️ The selected categories cannot be combined.
If you are an adoptee and wish to schedule a video call with the investigator, please select "On my own behalf" for the question "I am doing a birth family search…".

⚠️ The selected categories cannot be combined.

Current first name and last name: *

First

Last

Gender: *

Male
Female
Non-binary

First name and last name: *

First

Last

Gender: *

Male
Female
Non-binary

Date of birth: *

Country of birth: *

City/Town of birth: *

E-mail address: *

Phone number:

City of residence: *

Country (and State) of residence: *

II – Video Call

When are you available for a video call? *

Date

Time

Please select a date and time based on your time zone.

Possibly another date?

Date

Time

If necessary, select another date and time that would work for you.

⚠️ Video call appointment requests submitted on the same day for the following day cannot be processed due to very short notice.

Which platform would you like to use for the video call? *

WhatsApp
Telegram
Zoom

WhatsApp phone number: *

Telegram username: *

How did you hear about the 'Russian Roots' organization? *

Why 'Other'? (hearing about association) *

Appointment confirmation: *

By checking this box, I commit to attending the video call appointment with the investigator at one of the dates and times specified above.

Legal Notices and Privacy Policy: *

I accept the personal data management policy. The collected information is solely intended for processing your request.

Legal Notices and Privacy Policy

BIRTH FAMILY SEARCH