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Passports: Sex

Asked by Mike WoodConservativeHome OfficeTabled Answered 3 July 2026UIN 12710

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it her policy to require that the Passport Office records the legal sex not the gender of the passport applicant.

Answered by Mike Tapp

Current Government policy is that UK passports record the gender of the passport holder, using a ‘male’ and ‘female’ sex marker. In the majority of cases, this is determined by the person’s sex as registered at birth and recorded on their birth certificate.

However, a customer can apply to change the sex marker in their passport if they meet specific criteria of providing a Gender Recognition Certificate, new birth or adoption certificate showing their acquired gender, or provide evidence from a doctor or medical professional.

Home Office passport policies are regularly reviewed as part of work to modernise and improve our processes.

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