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.
Notification of change in registration of gender
Your gender is stated on your birth certificate and in the Municipal Personal Records Database (BRP): male or female. If you are transgender and you want to change your gender registration, you can arrange this in your municipality of birth. You can also change your first names if you wish.
Please note: you can only change the registration of your gender if you live in the Netherlands and are registered with a municipality.
To have your gender changed on your birth certificate, you must meet the following conditions:
- You are 16 years or older. Your parent's permission is not required.
- You can only apply in Zwolle if you were born in Zwolle. If you were born in another municipality in the Netherlands, you can apply for the adjustment at that municipality.
- Were you born abroad? Then you arrange the adjustment with the municipality of The Hague.
- Do you not have Dutch nationality? Then you must also have lived in the Netherlands for at least 1 year with a valid residence permit.
- It is not possible to have "Unknown" as an official gender designation.
- a valid identity document;
- a statement from a designated expert.
Designated experts
- VU Medical Centre’s Kennis- en Zorgcentrum voor genderdysforie (knowledge and care centre for gender dysphoria) in Amsterdam;
- Universitair Medisch Centrum Groningen – UMCG (University Medical Centre Groningen) gender team in Groningen;
- Radboud UMC’s Centre of Expertise for Sex & Gender in Nijmegen.
You must apply for the change in registration of gender on your birth certificate in person. It is not possible to ask someone else to do it for you.
To apply, make an appointment with the municipality.
By telephone
You can make an appointment via: 14038.
Important information for after the change in registration
Once your birth certificate has been changed, the municipality will update the Basisregistratie Personen – BRP (Personal Records Database). Public organisations whose systems are connected to the BRP will receive the changes automatically. Those organisations include:
- the Belastingdienst (Tax and Customs Administration);
- pension funds;
- the Rijksdienst voor het wegverkeer – RDW (Netherlands Vehicle Authority);
- the Sociale Verzekeringsbank – SVB (social insurance bank);
- health insurers.
You must inform other organisations yourself that the registration of your gender and, if applicable, your first names have changed.
Amendment of the registration your gender on your birth certificate is free of charge. However, you do have to pay for a new identity document (passport, identity card, driving licence).
Questions about this topic?
Contact the Municipality of Zwolle