Can I Still Change My Gender on My Passport? | What Rules Apply

No, U.S. passports are now issued only with an M or F marker that matches sex at birth, so a later gender change request is not being accepted.

If you’re staring at a passport form and wondering whether you can still update the gender marker, the current federal rule is much narrower than it was before. As of now, the U.S. Department of State says it issues passports only with an “M” or “F” marker that matches sex at birth. It also says it will not honor requests for an “X” marker or a marker that differs from birth records.

That means the old path many travelers relied on is no longer open. You may still be able to renew, replace, or correct a passport in some situations. The catch is that the marker on the new passport may be set by the State Department’s current rule, not by the marker you request on the application.

This matters for more than paperwork. A passport touches booking records, visas, TSA identity checks, trusted traveler profiles, and travel plans that are already on the calendar. So the smart move is to sort out what the rule says, what kind of passport you have now, and what steps make sense before you send anything in.

Can I Still Change My Gender on My Passport? Current Rule

Right now, the plain answer is no. The State Department says it issues U.S. passports only with an “M” or “F” marker that matches sex at birth. It also says applications asking for an “X” marker or for a marker that differs from sex at birth can face delays while the agency asks for more information and then issues a passport based on supporting records and prior passport records.

That’s a sharp shift from the earlier policy that let applicants choose a marker without medical paperwork. So if you last looked into this a year or two ago, your old information is stale. The rule in effect today is the one that counts when your application is reviewed.

There’s one point that eases some stress: an already issued passport does not stop being valid just because it has an “X” marker or a marker that differs from sex at birth. The State Department says valid passports remain valid for travel until they expire, are replaced, or are invalidated under federal rules. So the rule hits hardest when you are applying for a new passport, renewing one, or asking for a replacement.

What This Means In Real Life

If your current passport is valid and your travel is coming up soon, replacing it just to make a record match may create more trouble than it fixes. Once you apply for a new passport, the old one is not something you should plan to travel on. That can put a trip at risk if timing gets tight, or if a visa is sitting in the old passport and you have not checked that country’s entry rules.

If your passport is expired, close to expiring, damaged, or lost, the issue becomes less about whether you want to change the marker and more about which form fits your case and what result the agency is likely to issue under the current rule.

What About The “X” Marker?

The current State Department page is direct on this point. The agency says it no longer issues U.S. passports with an “X” marker. So an application asking for “X” is not likely to end with a new passport carrying that marker under the rule now in force.

For travelers who already have a valid passport with an “X” marker, the document stays usable until it expires or is replaced. That does not mean every destination will handle it smoothly. Some foreign entry systems still do not accept all marker formats cleanly, so travelers with an existing valid passport should check airline data and destination entry rules before a trip.

When A New Passport May Still Be Needed

Even though a gender marker change request is not being accepted in the old way, many people still need a fresh passport for reasons that have nothing to do with gender. Your current situation decides the form, the fee, and whether you apply by mail, online, or in person.

If Your Passport Was Issued Less Than One Year Ago

The State Department says people replacing a passport that lists a sex other than sex at birth may use Form DS-5504 if that passport was issued less than one year ago. In that window, you may not owe regular passport fees unless you want expedited service. You may need a new photo if the passport was issued more than six months earlier.

This is a narrow rule. It does not reopen a broad choice of marker. It just gives a route for replacement inside the first year after issue.

If Your Passport Was Issued More Than One Year Ago

Once you’re past that first year, the path changes. Many adults will use Form DS-82 if they qualify for renewal. Others will need Form DS-11 and an in-person appointment. The reason may be age at issue, damage, loss, theft, or the age of the passport.

The marker you receive on the new passport is still governed by the current State Department rule. So the form matters, but the policy behind the final document matters more.

Situation	Usual Form	What To Expect
Valid passport with marker you want to keep, no renewal needed	No application now	Your passport stays valid until expiration or replacement.
Passport issued less than 1 year ago and you need a replacement	DS-5504	A replacement may be issued under the current rule, with a marker tied to sex at birth.
Passport issued more than 1 year ago and you qualify to renew	DS-82	Renewal can proceed, though the new marker follows current policy.
Passport issued more than 1 year ago and you do not qualify to renew	DS-11	You apply in person and submit identity and citizenship records.
Current passport has an “X” marker and is still valid	No application now	You can still travel on it until it expires, is replaced, or is invalidated.
You request an “X” marker on a new application	Varies by case	The State Department says it will not issue a new passport with an “X” marker.
You request a marker that differs from birth records	Varies by case	Your case may be delayed while the agency asks for more records.
Your birth record does not list sex	Varies by case	The agency says it may ask for extra records after you apply.

How To Decide Whether To Apply Right Now

This is where most travelers get stuck. The legal rule is one piece. The practical travel call is another. Before sending in anything, step back and ask three plain questions.

Do You Have Imminent Travel?

If a trip is near, a valid current passport is often the safer thing to hold onto. Renewing or replacing a passport can take weeks even in a routine case. If your current passport is still good and matches your reservation details well enough for the trip, waiting may save you a lot of friction.

If you do need a new passport on a short clock, pay close attention to posted processing times on the State Department site and count mailing time too. A routine service window is only part of the full timeline.

Does Your Current Passport Still Work For Your Actual Needs?

A passport does not have to match every other record perfectly to remain valid for international travel. Still, mismatched records can slow things down at check-in, security, or the border. If you already know your airline profile, visa record, or trusted traveler file needs the passport number from a renewed document, that may push you toward applying sooner.

On the other side, if your current passport is valid, your trip is booked, and no system is demanding a fresh passport, there may be little upside in replacing it right now.

Will A New Application Trigger A Different Marker Than The One You Have Now?

For many readers, this is the heart of the issue. A new application can lead to a passport issued under today’s rule, not the policy that existed when your last passport was printed. If your current passport already has the marker you want and it is still valid, that fact alone may shape your timing.

To check the State Department’s wording yourself, see its Sex Marker in Passports page. That page spells out the current rule, what happens with “X” requests, and how valid current passports are treated.

Forms, Fees, And Records That May Come Up

The paperwork side is less confusing once you break it into buckets. There is no single “gender change passport form.” Instead, you use the standard passport form that fits your case, then the current policy decides how the application is handled.

DS-5504

This form is used for certain corrections, replacements, and limited-validity passport situations. It may apply when a passport was issued less than one year ago and needs to be replaced. If you are inside that one-year window, this is the form many people overlook.

DS-82

This is the normal renewal form for adults who qualify. If your passport was issued when you were 16 or older, is not badly damaged, was issued within the last 15 years, and can be submitted with the application, there is a strong chance DS-82 is the route.

DS-11

This is the in-person form for first-time applicants and for people who do not qualify to renew. Lost passports, badly damaged passports, or old passports outside the renewal window often land here.

The State Department’s passport forms page lays out which form fits which situation and notes the current processing times.

Form	Common Use	Submission Style
DS-5504	Corrections, some replacements, some limited-validity cases	Usually by mail
DS-82	Standard adult renewal when eligible	Online or by mail, based on eligibility
DS-11	First passport, lost passport, damaged passport, or not eligible for renewal	In person

Travel Problems People Miss

Passport policy is only one piece of the trip. The messy part is the chain reaction that can follow a new passport or a marker issue.

Airline Reservations

Your ticket name should match your passport name. Gender fields in airline systems are less central than the name and document number, though mismatches can still create a pause at check-in in some cases. If you renew or replace a passport, update the airline profile tied to your frequent flyer account and any stored travel documents.

Visas In An Old Passport

If you still have a valid visa inside an older passport, do not assume a renewal wipes out the visa itself. Many travelers can carry both passports, but each country writes its own entry rules. Check the consulate or official immigration page for the destination before departure.

Trusted Traveler Programs

Global Entry and similar programs often need your newest passport number on file. If you receive a new passport, update that profile as soon as the new document arrives. Leaving the old number in place can cause a snag when you return to the United States.

Best Next Step Based On Your Situation

If Your Current Passport Is Valid And Travel Is Soon

Use the current passport and do not rush into a replacement unless a hard problem forces it. That choice lowers the odds of mailing delays, form errors, and last-minute document stress.

If Your Passport Is Expired Or Nearly Expired

Pick the form that fits your case and go in with clear expectations. You are applying under the rule in effect today, not the rule you may have seen in older articles or social posts.

If You Need A Different Name On The Passport Too

Name changes are handled under their own set of passport rules. That can mean a court order, marriage record, or other certified document depending on the timing and your case. Name and marker issues can intersect, though they are not treated as the same thing by the State Department.

If You Already Have A Valid Passport With The Marker You Want

That is often the strongest reason to hold off on replacing it unless the passport is close to expiration, damaged, or missing. A valid passport in hand is worth a lot when travel dates are fixed.

What The Answer Comes Down To

You can still apply to renew, replace, or correct a U.S. passport. What you cannot do under the current federal rule is ask the State Department to issue a new passport with a gender marker that differs from sex at birth, or with an “X” marker. So the real question is not just whether you can file paperwork. It is whether filing now helps your travel plans or puts a valid passport at risk of being replaced by one you did not want.

If your passport is still valid, your smartest move may be to use it until it expires while keeping an eye on policy changes. If you must apply now, use the form that fits your case, send clean records, and expect the agency to follow the rule it has posted today.