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Gender recognition

Information on how transsexual people can have their acquired gender legally recognised.

Recognised in law

The UK Gender Recognition 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 when a Gender Recognition Certificate is issued, if the birth was originally registered here. The Registrar General will then contact the holder of the certificate to arrange the re-registration of the birth.

Once agreed, a new registration showing the certificate holder’s new name and gender will be created and a replacement birth certificate (both full and short) will be available showing the new name and acquired gender. A short birth certificate will be issued free of charge.

In the case of an adopted person, a new extract from the Adopted Children Register will be issued.

Application for gender recognition

You can find out more information on gender recognition and make an application by visiting the Gender Recognition Panel website at the following link.

Rights

In April 2008, the Sex Discrimination (Amendment of Legislation) Regulations 2008 came into force in Northern Ireland. This extended protection against discrimination and harassment to transexual people.