2025 update
On January 22, 2025, the Colorado Name Change project reported via Facebook:
It appears that the US State Department is no longer processing gender marker correction applications and have been instructed to confiscate the supporting documentation submitted as a part of the application.
Unfortunately, it appears that the ability to get a US passport that accurately matches your gender is not currently possible. We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates, but at this time we do not recommend applying for a corrected passport.
On January 24, 2025, the ACLU reported on Bluesky:
- The State Department suspended all applications for passport gender changes in response to President Trump’s executive order restricting transgender rights. We know this has caused confusion. We’re monitoring the situation closely — here are 2 important things to know.
- The Trump administration said the executive order would not apply retroactively to current passports, meaning current passports, including those with X gender markers, remain valid. It is unclear how they intend to enforce the policy for transgender people renewing passports.
- All applications for gender marker change are on hold while the State Department changes this policy. Anyone who now submits an application for a change runs the risk of losing access to their passport and documents while their application is being processed.
Applicants should wait to submit until we have more information. If you have been impacted by these actions, please report your experience to the ACLU.
The information below may no longer be applicable.
pre-2025 information
All transgender American adults MUST get a passport that shows their new name and gender as soon as they can. This may be harder to do later if the rules change.
If you are an American who has never had a US passport, please choose a page based on your age:
- Transgender passport resources: US citizens age 18+
- Transgender passport resources: US citizens age 16-17
- Transgender passport resources: US citizens under age 16
- Transgender passport resources: citizens of other countries
How to change gender marker if you had a passport before
IMPORTANT: This is no longer applicable as of January 2025.
In September 2023, the State Department website stated:
As of June 2021, State Department policy is that changing the gender marker on a U.S. passport does not require a physician’s certification.
You can select the gender marker you would like printed on your U.S. passport. The gender you select does not need to match the gender on your supporting documentation such as a birth certificate, previous passport, or state ID. We no longer require medical documentation to change the gender marker on your U.S. passport.
You can select male (M), female (F), or unspecified or another gender identity (X) as your gender marker if you are applying for a U.S. passport book or passport card. You can apply in person or renew by mail for routine or expedited service.
While the choice is yours, an X designation may complicate your travel in certain countries. If you are comfortable getting an M or F, please consider those. If you are considering an X designation, weigh the risks and benefits before making that choice.
Resources
US Department of State (travel.state.gov)
- US passports
- https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports.html
- Selecting your Gender Marker [redirects as of January 2025]
- https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/need-passport/selecting-your-gender-marker.html
This is information, not advice. Policies may change. You must do your own research by calling or checking the latest information from the US Department of State.