www.genderspectrum.org 510-788-4412 info@genderspectrum.

org

How to Change Your Gender On Your Passport

Having all your government-issued documents reflect your present gender can be
useful. You can get a passport reflecting your current gender by submitting a
certified letter from a physician confirming that you have had appropriate clinical
treatment for gender transition. Sex reassignment surgery is NOT required.

What is appropriate clinical treatment?

That depends on you and your healthcare professional. Each case is different, and it
will be up to your health care provider to determine what is appropriate. In fact, no
specific treatment is required and you do not have to provide details of your
treatment in your letter. Details about surgery, hormone treatment, or other
treatments are unnecessary and not helpful.

If you are having difficulty communicating or conveying your needs to your
physician, please contact Gender Spectrum.

Who can write a physician certification letter?

A licensed physician;
With whom you have a doctor-patient relationship. In other words, the
doctor must be familiar with your transition-related treatment. This may be a
primary care physician or specialist.

What does a physician certification letter require?

All certifications need to be on the physicians office letterhead and include
the physicians license or certificate number and DEA (Drug Enforcement
Administration) registration number.
Ask your physician to not give additional personal health information that is
not required.

Click here to see a model letter for physician certification.

What if my physician will not state that I have had appropriate treatment?

If your doctor will not state that you have had appropriate treatment, ask your
doctor if they will write that you are in the process of gender transition. If this is
the case, the State Department will provide you with a limited, two-year passport
that states that you are in the process of gender transition. If you are having

www.genderspectrum.org 510-788-4412 info@genderspectrum.org

difficulties communicating with your doctor, you can always find a different
provider.

Do I need my parents consent to change my gender on my passport?

If you are under 16, your parent(s) must be present and give consent to have a
passport issued to you. If you are over 16 and wish to change your gender on your
passport and do not have you parents consent, contact us here.

How do I change my name on my passport?

You must submit form DS-5504, which is an application for a U.S. Passport Name
Change. You will also need a court order reflecting the name change or records
showing consistent use of your current name over a five-year period.

The information provided here has been adapted from the National Center for
Transgender Equality: http://transequality.org/Resources/passports_2012.pdf