Change in gender registration

Checklist

• Conditions

  Since 1 January 2018, transgender persons no longer need to satisfy certain medical conditions in order to have their gender and first name(s) officially changed on the certificates at the register office and in the population register.

  From the age of sixteen, minors can also have the gender stated on their birth certificate changed, provided they are assisted by their parents or legal representative. They must also be able to provide a statement by a child and adolescent psychiatrist confirming that they are making a free and conscious choice.
  
  

  Who can apply for a change in gender registration?

  • ·A Belgian adult or emancipated minor

  • ·An adult foreign national registered in the population register or foreign nationals register

  • ·A non-emancipated Belgian minor or foreign national (registered in the population register or foreign nationals register) over the age of 16 accompanied by: both parents, the legal representative, the ad hoc guardian if the parents or legal representative refuse (or just one parent refuses) to consent to the change in gender

  
  Where can you apply for a change in gender registration?

  • ·The municipality in which you are registered in the population register or foreign nationals register.

  • ·The place of birth for Belgians, born in Belgium, who are not registered in Belgium

  • ·The city of Brussels for Belgians who were not born or registered in Belgium

  Evidence

  • Your identity document
  • and your signed declaration. You can find the documents on the FPS Justice website.
  • Non-emancipated minors over the age of 16: a statement from a child or youth psychologist

• Procedures

  The procedure consists of two steps: the declaration and the preparation of the certificate.

  Declaration

  You submit a declaration to the Civil Affairs Office of your municipality saying that you are convinced that the gender stated on your birth certificate does not match your true gender identity. In this declaration, you confirm your desire to have this changed on an administrative and legal level.

  The municipality provides you with an acknowledgement of receipt and more information about the further course of the procedure and the administrative and legal consequences of this change.

  Preparation of the certificate

  You appear a second time before the Civil Affairs Office and confirm your initial declaration, no earlier than three and no later than six months after the declaration.

  After that, the Civil Affairs Office prepares the certificate for changing the gender registration and will generate a new national registration document for you. You will be invited to apply for a new identity card or residence card.

• Regulations

  Act of 25 June 2017 reforming regulations concerning transgender persons with regard to the indication of a change in gender registration in register office certificates and the consequences thereof (Belgian Official Gazette of 10/07/2017)