UK Passport

[Ryan]

My passport is ready to be renewed but this year I changed my name.
So how do I go about filling in the new one? Enclose a Deed Poll and just fill it in my new name?
And also, what do I do about the gender box? I really don't want to tick female, but I don't know if it's legal to tick male.

Thanks,
Ryan

[Jay]

Gizzy,

I enclosed my deed poll, my old passport, and a doctors letter to ask them to change my sex from F to M. Personally I would give them a call and ask them about the sex thing. I am guessing that you don't have a doctors letter. I would also enclose a letter with your documents relaying what you are wanting to happen regarding sex.

Jay

[Flameboy]

As Jay says, to change your name on your passport you just need to include your deed poll. To change you gender, you need a letter from your doctor saying that you're transitioning from Female to Male and that it's a permanent change. I can give you a link to a sample letter if you want one. You don't need to have started any treatment, and you can get the letter from your GP, so if they're willing to write the letter for you, you might be in luck.

Failing that, I'd suggest holding off on renewing your passport until you can get a letter from your GP - else you'll end up having to pay the £77.50 fee twice - once to change your name and then a second time to change your gender marker. Of course, if you're planning to travel before that then I guess you don't really have an option.

[Pippa]

I believe that under the current law, you need to have the ruling of a gender recognition panel before you can change your gender on your passport.   However, you can change your name by providing your deed poll.   You have to send the original certificate and they will not accept a photocopy.   You will also need to send a new photo.

[Flameboy]

I believe that under the current law, you need to have the ruling of a gender recognition panel before you can change your gender on your passport.   However, you can change your name by providing your deed poll.   You have to send the original certificate and they will not accept a photocopy.   You will also need to send a new photo.

No, you absolutely DO NOT need to have a Gender Recognition Certificate to change the gender on your passport - and you never have done; whoever has told you this is completely wrong Pippa! You can change your gender on your passport with a letter from either your GP or gender specialist saying that you are transitioning and that it's a permanent change. A GRC is ONLY needed to change your birth certificate.

[Pippa]

OOPS!

I misread the app;lication form.   You need a letter from your Doctor, a gender recognition certificate or a new birth certificate.

I feel a complete dunce.

[Flameboy]

Pippa - please don't feel like a dunce, it's a very easy mistake to make - especially when it's worded like that. The key bit is the word "or" though - a letter from your doctor is fine, you don't need to wait until you have your GRC.

[Dennis]

Thanks for this info guys. I had a fail when I tried to get a GRC so I've never bothered renewing my UK passport. Great to know I only need a doctor's letter.

Dennis

[Flameboy]

Thanks for this info guys. I had a fail when I tried to get a GRC so I've never bothered renewing my UK passport. Great to know I only need a doctor's letter.

Dennis

Hey Dennis

Do you have a UK birth certificate then? Or are you resident here in the UK? I can't understand why you wouldn't get a GRC if so, as long as you sent the correct paperwork in. I got mine with no problems at all, so if you want to try again then I'd be happy to give you a hand with the application process.

[Dennis]

I have a UK birth certificate, but I'm not resident in the UK, so I used the non-resident process. They failed to read my paperwork and requested things that you don't get in Canada, and then told me that you can get a court order in Canada (which, as a lawyer, I am well aware that you cannot) to change sex. So it was an expensive failure and I'm reluctant to go through it again.

Dennis