Policy : Gender Identity / Transgender passport applicants
Changing sex / gender details
Background
Released
Some applicants maintain a sex / gender identity that differs from that shown
on their birth or citizenship record. These applicants may wish to have their
passport issued showing their new gender identity.
A passport may now be issued in an applicant’s preferred sex / gender of, M
(male), F (female) or X (indeterminate/unspecified), without the requirement to
amend their birth or citizenship record.
under
Policy statements
Click on a heading below.
Change in Sex / Gender Identity (Gender as 'F' 'M' or X)
the
• Applicants must complete the Adult General Form.
Official
• Complete a Statutory Declaration indicating
o The sex / gender identity they wish to be displayed in their passport
(M,F or X)
o How long they have maintained their current gender identity
Information
Applicants must meet all other normal passport requirements.
These applications must be reviewed prior to issue by a Business Support
Officer.
Applicants under 18 years of Age
Applicants under 18 years of age are required to provide the following
additional information.
Act
• A Statutory Declaration from the parent or legal guardian which
supports the change in gender identity in their passport.
•
1982
A Statutory Declaration from a registered counsellor / medical
professional which supports this change.
Applications for applicants under the age of 18 years of age must be referred
to the Operations Manager for approval
Multiple Changes in Gender Identity
While this new policy was developed to remove unnecessary obstacles in
recording a person’s preferred gender in their passport, multiple changes in a
person’s gender may have implications for a person at overseas border
Released
controls, affect their ability to confirm their identity in the wider community and
increases risks around identity fraud.
Applicants must be advised of the following risks prior to progression of their
application
o possible implications at overseas border controls; and
o difficulties confirming their identity in the wider community
under
Applicants applying to change their gender identity more than once, e.g. from
M to F and then wishes to return to M again, must provide their previous
passport with their application. The passport should be cancelled and
returned to the applicant.
the
If the passport has been lost or stolen, the lost/stolen declaration and Police
report are required.
Official
When an applicant is requesting more than one change in gender identity, the
application must be approved by the Operations Manager.
Changing the gender details recorded on your New Zealand birth record
Information
This change has no effect on the Births, Deaths and Marriages and
Relationships Registration Act 1995 which allows for an adult or guardian of
an eligible child to apply to the New Zealand Family Court for a declaration to
have their birth record reflect their nominated gender.
A New Zealand Family Court Declaration is sufficient to change a person’s
sex / gender identity in their passport.
Legislation
Births Deaths and Marriages Registration Act 1995
Act
Sections:
28 Declarations of Family Court as to sex to be shown on birth certificates
issued for adults 29 Declarations of Family Court as to appropriate gender identity for children. 1982
Changing the gender details recorded on your Citizenship Certificate
A citizenship certificate or evidentiary certificate may be issued with the sex field
shown as different from the sex shown on the applicant's birth certificate.
An evidentiary certificate issued by the Citizenship Office is sufficient to change a
persons sex / gender identity in their passport.
Legislation
Released
Citizenship Act 1997 A citizenship certificate or evidentiary certificate may be
issued with the sex field shown as different from the sex shown on the applicant's
birth certificate.
Further information regarding this process is available on
http://www.dia.govt.nz/diawebsite.nsf/Files/Citpol15Transgendercitapp/$file/Citpol15T
ransgenderandintersexcitapp.pdf
under
the Official
Information
Act 1982
