Gender recognition
The UK Gender Recognition Act came into force on 4 April 2005. The Act enables transsexual people, who have applied for and obtained a Gender Recognition Certificate from the Gender Recognition Panel, to have their acquired gender recognised in law.
The Process
The Gender Recognition Panel will notify the Registrar General for Northern Ireland of the issue of a Gender Recognition Certificate. The Registrar General will then send to the holder of this certificate a copy of the draft entry (in the form of a draft birth certificate) which is to be made in the Gender Recognition Register as well as an application form to apply for a new birth certificate.
On confirmation that the draft contains the correct information, a new record showing the certificate holder’s new name and gender will be created and where the record of the birth or adoption of a transsexual person is held by the Register General, a replacement birth certificate (both full and short) will be available showing the new name and acquired gender. A short birth certificate may be issued free of charge.
In the case of an adopted person, a new extract from the Adopted Children Register will be issued if appropriate.
A confidential link will be made by the Registrar General between the original details and the new record on the Gender Recognition Register. However, current contact details (such as the certificate holder's postal address) would not be recorded in the register. Please note that the register is not open to public inspection or search.
More information
Details of how and when you may apply and the relevant application forms are on the Gender Recognition Panel website.
Alternatively, you may wish to write directly to the Gender Recognition Panel at:
Gender Recognition Panel
PO Box 6987
Leicester
LE1 6ZX