Dual Citizenship Gender and Name Change (Australia and England)

[ConArtist]

Hey guys,

English born and Aussie raised here (15 years in Australia), and I hold a dual citizenship. I was wondering if anyone had any information about how I would register a change of name and/or gender, if I would have to register them in both countries, or if I would be able to go through the British Consulate here is Australia? I've been looking into going the Australian route and it's quite aggravating, the name change would not be registered on a new birth certificate and to be able to change my gender marker I would have to undergo a sex-reaffirmation surgery. But I'm not sure if the British changes would then be valid for me to change documentation like my drivers licence, passport etc. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks.

[sarah1972]

It depends a little bit on the regulations in the UK (I think they just made the process a lot easier). You should check the requirements first and then call the consulate and ask. Maybe some UK ex pat has more experience with UK...

Maybe this is a good starting point: https://www.gov.uk/changing-passport-information/gender

Apparently you need a "Gender recognition certificate" and there is a "overseas route" where documents of certain other countries are accepted to change your UK Gender: https://www.gov.uk/apply-gender-recognition-certificate.

So you would have to change everything in Australia first, then you can update your UK documents.

For me as a German living in another country it is a nightmare at the moment... Court hearing in Germany, have to see two court appointed specialists in Germany for several sessions and then maybe. I would pretty much have to live in Germany for 12 weeks to get that all done. Guess I have to put it of until the German laws change....

[gooseberry]

I live in Scotland, but the rules are similar here to in England. You should be able to change your name by deed poll in the UK.

https://www.gov.uk/change-name-deed-poll/overview

Deed polls and passports cost money unfortunately, and passports are extortionate. :c I'm not sure how any of this would effect your Australian documentation.

[LizK]

Hey guys,

English born and Aussie raised here (15 years in Australia), and I hold a dual citizenship. I was wondering if anyone had any information about how I would register a change of name and/or gender, if I would have to register them in both countries, or if I would be able to go through the British Consulate here is Australia? I've been looking into going the Australian route and it's quite aggravating, the name change would not be registered on a new birth certificate and to be able to change my gender marker I would have to undergo a sex-reaffirmation surgery. But I'm not sure if the British changes would then be valid for me to change documentation like my drivers licence, passport etc. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks.

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[Rachel_Christina]

I'm stuck with the same questions. Session and Irish blood, both nationalities.
I guess probably have to do it where you where born?
I'm really not sure, I need to sort this out too

[warlockmaker]

British and Hong Kong passports. Hong Kong requies a sex change surgery and need dr document notarized regardless of British passport gender change. British require 18 months(not sure) of RLE . Too complicated before srs, in UK, very easy after srs. Hong Kong requirements similar to Australia.

[elkie-t]

Normally, you need to have solid documents in the country where you live, not where you were born (unless you plan to go back there). Who cares what gender is in your British birth certificate if your driver license has your old gender and you're stopped by a cop?


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[MaiaOZ]

I have literally just changed my name this past month. I live in Australia (VIC) and was born in New Zealand.

In my case, it was easier for me to change my name via the NZ path, via their Birth, Deaths & Marriages department online. I could've changed my gender on my Birth Certificate as NZ allows it, but I didn't bother. Once my BC arrived in the mail, I used that to alter my name with Medicare and VicRoads. No titles are used on the cards.

With Centrelink, I was asked which title I would prefer. I chose to have no title. At the time I didn't really care.

A day or so later I went to my bank (ANZ). After they sent me my new debit card with a big fat MR in front of my name, I returned to the branch to have it removed. I was to discover that for the sake of their system records, you must have a title, which I changed to MS. Then I was informed that the title could be removed from the new card, so just be sure to bring this up in discussion when you're dealing with some institutions. This time I decided to just match it with the system, so now I have MS on my debit card.

Hope this helps.

[KathyLauren]

I am in a similar, but not identical, situation here in Canada.  Unlike you, I no longer have British citizenship.

Your birth certificate will be British, like mine.  You will need a Gender Recognition Certificate in order to change the gender on your birth certificate.  The requirement for that is two years of RLE (real life experience) in your new gender.  They announced an intention to change the regulations to remove that requirement, but that announcement was only a couple of weeks ago, so nothing is likely changed yet.

With your birth certificate changed, unless the Australian regulations are truly bizarre, you should be able to change the gender on all your other documentetion.  That is the way it works here.

Your name change should be easier.  Whatever the process is in your area, it is a local change where you live that matters.  Here, for example, it is the province of Nova Scotia that changed my name.  I just filled in the form, supplied the required documentation, paid my fee, and I received the certificate.  All other jurisdictions, including the Brits, will accept my Nova Scotia name change certificate.  Again, unless the regulations there are strange, it should be similar where you are.

You will have to research what the regulations are in the part of Australia where you live.  Each jurisdiction handles name changes in its own way.  Some use court orders, some use deed polls, some just require that you fill in a form.

[Megan.]

Hi,  I'm a US/UK citizen. UK policy is that if you have other passports they must be changed first. I changed my US one at the embassy in London.  Then I just sent of the UK passport forms with proof of name change and a letter from my GIC consultant.

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