Changing the registration of gender on official documents
Do you want to change the registration of your gender designation on your official documents? If so, it must first be changed on your birth certificate. For people born in the Netherlands, this is done in the municipality where you were born. If you want a gender-neutral birth certificate, you can send a request to the district court. After the registration of your gender has been changed on your birth certificate, you can apply for a new passport, identity card or driving licence.
The Government of the Netherlands uses 2 genders: ‘man’ (male) and ‘vrouw’ (female). For people born in the Netherlands, changing the registration of your gender from ‘man’ to ‘vrouw’, and vice versa, can be done at the municipality where you were born.
It is not possible to choose gender-neutral registration at the municipality. Do you want to change the registration of your gender to gender-neutral? If so, send a request to the district court.
There are rules for changing the registration of your gender on official documents.
Medical certificate needed to change the registration of your gender
To change the registration of your gender, you will need a certificate from an expert. This may be a doctor, psychologist or psychotherapist. The certificate is a statement containing the designation ‘deskundige transgenders’ (transgender expert) (in Dutch). You do not need to have undergone an operation, hormone treatment or sterilisation.
Change to registration of gender designation for children under 16 years of age
It is not currently possible for children under 16 years of age to have the registration of their gender changed.
Gender registration change and citizenship
To change the registration of your gender in the Netherlands, you must:
- hold Dutch citizenship; or
- have resided in the Netherlands for at least 1 year, if you do not hold Dutch citizenship.
Do you want to have the registration of your gender changed by the municipality in the Netherlands where you were born? If so, you can also specify your new forename(s). The municipality where you were born will then put those names on your birth certificate.
You can have the registration of your gender changed in the municipality where you were born. That municipality will amend your birth certificate. The municipality where you were born will notify the municipality where you live of the change. The municipality where you live will then amend your data in the Personal Records Database (Basisregistratie Personen – BRP).
Were you born outside the Netherlands? If so, you can submit a request to the municipality of Den Haag (The Hague).
Applying for a new passport, identity card or driving licence after changing the registration of your gender
Is your new gender registration entered in the BRP? If so, you can apply for a new passport, identity card or driving licence. You can do this with the municipality where you live. Old documents are no longer valid, and you must return them.
This is how it works for you
Here is some information from your municipality.
Gender Change
If you have changed gender, you can have this amended in the Personal Records Database (BRP). You can change your gender from 'male' to 'female', or vice versa.
Four steps must be taken:
- Obtaining a certificate from an expert;
- Making an appointment with the Civil Registry at your place of birth (or in The Hague);
- Applying for a new identity card and/or new passport;
- Informing other institutions.
Any institutions linked to the Personal Records Database (BRP) will be notified automatically about a change of gender and any possible change of first names. On the basis of this, they will change your details themselves. This applies to:
- Your healthcare insurer
- Your pension fund
- The Social Insurance Bank (SVB)
- The Dutch Tax Authorities (Belastingdienst)
- The Netherlands Vehicle Authority (RDW)
- The Netherlands Employee Insurance Agency (UWV)
You will need to notify institutions and companies that do not have access for the BRP that you want your personal data changed yourself. These include your:
- Bank
- Insurance companies
- Clubs and associations
- Subscriptions
- General practitioner
- Dentist
- Hospital
- Payroll administration
Please take note that certain businesses will require a copy of your new identity card or passport for this.
- Valid proof of identity;
- Statement (no older than 6 months) by a designated expert from one of the following bodies:
- The Knowledge and Care Centre for Gender Dysforia at the VU Medical Centre in Amsterdam
- The Gender Team at the Groningen University Medical Centre in Groningen
- The Gender Team at the Curium Leiden University Medical Centre in Leiden
You will receive a print-out of the change immediately.
Registering a change of gender is free of charge. Please be aware that there are costs involved in replacing your passport, identity card and/or driving licence. After registering a change of gender these are no longer valid.
Book an appointment
Make an appointment to change the gender registered on your birth certificate in the municipality where you were born. Were you born in Montferland? Please call the municipality. At this appointment you must indicate the first name(s) by which you want to be known from then onwards. From 16 years of age, this declaration can be made without the consent of your parent(s) or guardian(s).
You do not have Dutch nationality;
If you do not have Dutch nationality, you can only make this request if you have a valid residence permit and have lived in the Netherlands for at least one year.
If your birth certificate is not in the Dutch civil registers, you must make a declaration to a civil registry officer in The Hague.
Registering a change of gender is free of charge. Please be aware that there are costs involved in replacing your passport, identity card and/or driving licence. After registering a change of gender these are no longer valid.
You will receive a print-out of the change immediately.
Questions about this topic?
Contact the Municipality of Montferland