There are times when you receive a passport with printing mistakes, such as errors in sex/gender names, date of birth, address, etc. What if you want to correct these mistakes? In addition, those who have changed their sex or who fail to identify themselves as male or female might be confused to choose gender marks. Are there any other marks besides “M” and “F”? In this passage, we are going to talk about how to update passport gender.
Can You Travel with Wrong Gender on Passport?
Generally speaking, gender mistakes would not invalidate your passport. You can still travel internationally with it. However, if you are traveling to countries with special restrictions on certain genders, this kind of mistake might cause trouble. For example, if you are a woman and carry a passport with “male” gender marks, the officer might ask you to present proof of gender change while boarding the airplane or passing through the customs check. Worse still, you might be rejected to enter the country. Therefore, it is recommended to check the rules and regulations of your destination country and correct the mistake on your passport if possible.
Countries That Recognize Non-Binary Gender Markers
When it comes to sex/gender on passports, there used to be two options: F for females and M for males. However, there is an increasing need for a third option for intersex/non-binary, marked as “X” “Other” or “Unspecified”.
In 2003, Australia issued the first passports with gender X markers for transgender and intersex individuals. Starting from April 11, 2022, U.S. citizens can self-certify or self-select the gender that you want to print on their passports: M for males, F for females and X for unspecified sex/gender. After that, the following countries also introduced non-binary gender options.
- Australia
- Canada
- Denmark
- Iceland
- India
- Malta
- Nepal
- New Zealand
- Pakistan
- Austria
- Germany
- Netherlands
Gender recognition beyond the male-female binary not only protects people’s privacy but also ensures equal rights for transgenders, non-binary and intersex persons. In the next section, we will talk about gender change in passports.
How to Update Passport Gender
Supposing that you want to change the gender on an existing passport, you can apply for renewal or replacement. In the US, you can renew your passport by mail or in person while some countries allow online applications. Let’s see how passport gender change works.
Required Documents for Gender Change on Passport
- Application Form
The renewal process will gather your personal information again. The application form is usually available on the official website of passport offices or authorized passport centers.
For example, U.S. citizens can fill out the form online and then print it out. Canadian citizens can turn to the nearest post office. Australian citizens can apply for a replacement on the portal of Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade or get a paper sheet at a participating Australia Post outlet or an Australian diplomatic or consular mission. British citizens can go to a post office with Check and Send service or call the Passport Adviceline. Singaporean citizens can report change in e-service.
- Previous Passport
It can serve as proof of identity for passport renewal or replacements.
- Proof of Gender Transition
This is subject to the country you are applying from.
The US government allows applicants to select the gender markers at their will without medical documentation even if what they choose is different from that on their birth certificate, previous passports, or other supporting documents.
Australians have to provide a gender recognition certificate issued by RBDM, a birth certificate revised by RBDM, a details certificate recognized by RBDM, or a registered practitioner/physician’s statement on B14 Declaration in order to get a passport with the preferred gender.
UK requires a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC), a revised birth certificate with acquired gender, or a letter from the doctor to prove that you are likely to permanently change gender.
- A new passport photo
Your appearance might also change. Therefore, you have to submit a new photo that represents your current look.
Where to Submit Applications
In the United States, if you are renewing passports for minors under 16, both you and the child must appear in a passport acceptance facility or passport agency in person. Otherwise, you can use USPS to mail the completed application form, current passport, photo and receipt of payment to the passport centers. Where to send the application depends on where you are and how urgent it is.
- For routine service in CA/FL/IL/MN/NY/TX, please send to:
National Passport Processing Center
Post Office Box 640155
Irving, TX 75064-0155
- For routine service in other US states or Canada, please send to:
National Passport Processing Center
Post Office Box 90155
Philadelphia, PA 19190-0155
- For expedited service, please write “expedited” on the package and send it to:
National Passport Processing Center
Post Office Box 90955
Philadelphia, PA 19190-0955
In Canada, if you want to correct gender mistake on the passport due to the officer’s mistakes, just contact the passport program and follow their instructions. You can talk with them online, by phone call or by mail. If you identify a different gender from that on the travel document, just go to the nearby passport office for help.
In order to accelerate the reviewing process, some countries have launched online systems for applicants to update their passport gender, such as Australia, UK, Singapore, etc.
Change UK Passport Gender to Non-binary
UK passports have only Female and Male options, so there is no official mark for non-binary gender like the US, Canada, Australia, etc. However, as there are no specific legal requirements for identifying the third gender, there are other alternatives to updating gender identity on passports.
Ask your general practitioner (GP) to refer you to a gender identity clinic that provides guidance and advice on gender transition.
Submit a declaration of gender identity to HM Passport Office which is used to update your male/female to non-binary.
Summary
As you can see, although you can travel with passports with the wrong gender identity, it is recommended to update it. Gender change on the passport is an application for renewal or replacement. Printing mistakes are quite simple to correct. When it comes to updating passport gender for sex and gender-diverse applicants, requirements might vary from country to country. Proof of gender transition is required in most countries while US has cancelled it. Please note that not all countries allow non-binary gender passports. Remember to check the entry requirements for your destination and confirm whether a passport with X markers or unspecified gender is accepted and whether you need to provide extra documents.
Dolores Xiao