Gender Recognition Certificate
You must apply to the Gender Recognition Panel for a Gender Recognition Certificate if you want your acquired gender to be legally recognised in the UK. There are different pathways to get a certificate – which one you use depends on your situation and please note items marked with * these parts of the legislation and processes are currently in the process of being reviewed by the UK Government.
To apply, you can download and fill in the right form for your application. These can be found on the government website here – GRC Applications. It costs £5 to apply and you can apply for help paying the fee if you’re getting certain benefits or on a low income. Once you have completed the forms, then send the completed form with your fee and any supporting documents relevant to your application.
When you apply for Gender Recognition Certificate, currently you need to provide a medical report written by a doctor or psychologist specialising in gender dysphoria. Doctors must be registered with the General Medical Council (GMC) and have a licence to practice. If your medical report was written before 16 November 2009, they only need to be registered with the GMC.
The GEO and HM Courts & Tribunals Service have published this list of doctors and psychologists specializing in gender dysphoria in relation to applying for a GR – you can find more information here. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/gender-recognition-certificate-list-of-medical-practitioners-in-gender-dysphoria/doctors-and-psychologists-specialising-in-gender-dysphoria
Standard route (You must be 18 or over) – Apply by the standard route if all the following are true:
- you’re 18 or over
- you’ve been diagnosed with gender dysphoria (discomfort with your birth gender) *
- you’ve lived in your acquired gender for at least 2 years
- you intend to live in your acquired gender for the rest of your life
Alternative route (You must be 18 or over) – Apply by the alternative route if all the following are true:
- you’ve been diagnosed with gender dysphoria or had surgery to change your sexual characteristics*
- you live in England, Wales, Northern Ireland or Scotland most of the time
- you intend to live in your acquired gender for the rest of your life
- you’re in (or have been in) a protected marriage or protected civil partnership before 10 December 2014 (16 December 2014 for Scottish marriages and civil partnerships)
- you’ve lived in your acquired gender for at least 6 years before 10 December 2014 (16 December 2014 for Scottish marriages and civil partnerships)
Overseas route (You must be 18 or over)
Apply by the overseas route if your acquired gender has been legally accepted in an ‘approved country or territory and you have documents to prove it.
If you’re married or in a Civil Partnership
You can stay married if you apply for a Gender Recognition Certificate. You and your spouse must fill in a statutory declaration saying you both agree to stay married. Contact the administrative team at the Gender Recognition Panel if either you or your spouse change your mind about staying married during the application process.