Gender Marker • 8 min read • February 18, 2026
Changing Your Gender Marker: What Each Agency Actually Requires
SSA, passport, and DMV each have different gender marker policies. This guide breaks down what documentation each agency requires in 2025.
SSA gender marker update
Editor's note (August 2026): SSA gender marker policies have changed sharply since this article was first published in February 2026. Following a January 2025 executive order, SSA gender field corrections are currently restricted — SSA's 2026 operational guidance and its prior 2025 guidance generally do not accept gender field changes except as a record correction. The self-certification process described below is no longer available and is retained here only as change history.
Historically (2022–2025), SSA allowed self-certification for gender marker changes without a physician letter or court order — a completed SS-5 form with your attestation was sufficient.
SSA name changes remain a separate, still-available process. Verify current requirements directly with SSA (ssa.gov/life-events/change-name) before applying.
- Confirm the current SSA gender marker policy at secure.ssa.gov before applying.
- Form SS-5 is still used for name changes; bring required identity documents.
- Do not assume the 2022-era self-certification process still applies.
Passport gender marker (X marker no longer issued)
The State Department no longer issues new X gender markers on U.S. passports. Requests for a marker that differs from the sex recorded at birth — including an X marker — may be delayed and may be issued with the sex recorded at birth.
The previous policy (2022–2025) accepted self-selected M, F, or X markers on passport applications without medical documentation. That is no longer available for marker changes.
Passport name changes follow a separate process. Confirm current requirements at travel.state.gov before applying.
- Verify the current passport gender marker rule at travel.state.gov.
- Use Form DS-11 or DS-82 depending on your passport status.
- Expect possible delays or issuance with the sex recorded at birth for marker changes.
DMV / state ID gender marker
Requirements vary significantly by state. As of 2025, most states allow self-certification, but some still require a physician letter or court order.
Check your state guide in NameRight for the exact requirements. States like California, Colorado, and New York have the most streamlined processes.
- Self-certification states: visit the DMV with Form DL-44 or equivalent.
- Physician-letter states: obtain a signed letter on letterhead.
- Court-order states: bring a certified copy of your name/gender order.
- Fees range from $0 to $72 depending on state.
Birth certificate gender marker
Birth certificate policies are set by the state where you were born, not where you live. Requirements vary from simple self-certification to requiring surgery documentation.
Some states (Tennessee, Idaho) have restrictions. Contact the vital records office of your birth state for current requirements.
Keep moving forward
Pair this guide with your state-specific rules or start from a pathway that matches your situation if you want a calmer next step.
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