From April 11, U.S. citizens will be able to select an ‘X’ as their gender marker on their U.S. passport application. The option will become available for other forms of documentation next year. ‘X’ will indicate “Unspecified or another gender identity.” People do not need to submit medical documentation to update their passports. In addition, the Transportation Security Administration’s policies and procedures are also being updated to limit the use of gender-based pat-down searches and other measures deemed particularly invasive for transgender people.
Timeline
- In June, Secretary of State Blinken announced that U.S. Passport applicants could self-select their gender without submitting any medical documentation, even if their selection differed from their other citizenship or identity documents.
- In October, the State Department added a new option for gender, ‘X,’ for individuals who identify as nonbinary, intersex, or gender-nonconforming.
- Starting on April 11, U.S. citizens will be able to select an ‘X’ as their gender marker on their U.S. passport application.
The State Department solicited public feedback through the notice and comment process as they updated the passport application forms. DOS also consulted with other countries that have already added a Gender X option to their passports and with the CDC and members of the LGBTQI+ community.
Information on applying for a passport with this new option can be found here: travel.state.gov/gender.
Erickson Insights
This latest change by the Department of State aligns with the Department’s goal to serve all U.S. citizens, regardless of their gender identity. DOS is the first federal agency to offer the ‘X’ gender marker for non-binary, intersex, and gender non-conforming individuals.
Erickson Immigration Group will continue to share updates as more news is available. If you have questions about anything we’re reporting above or case-specific questions, please contact your EIG attorney.