A transgender passport application in 2026 works like any other U.S. passport application with two important limits: the State Department will issue the document only with an M or F sex marker matching your biological sex at birth, and the X (unspecified) marker has been eliminated. Legal name changes, however, are still fully honored, and passports already issued with an X or a non-matching marker remain valid until they expire.
The Current Sex Marker Rule
A January 20, 2025 executive order directed federal agencies to ensure that government-issued identification “accurately reflect the holder’s sex,” defined in the order as “an individual’s immutable biological classification as either male or female.”1White House. Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism And Restoring Biological Truth To The Federal Government The State Department implemented the directive almost immediately.
Under the policy in force now, passports and Consular Reports of Birth Abroad are issued only with an M or F marker matching birth sex. The X marker is no longer available, and self-certification of gender, which used to let applicants select any marker without medical documentation, is no longer honored.2U.S. Department of State – Bureau of Consular Affairs. Sex Marker in Passports
If you submit an application asking for an X marker or a marker that differs from your birth sex, the State Department warns you will likely see delays. You may receive a letter requesting more information, and the passport ultimately issued will show your biological sex at birth based on your supporting documents and the agency’s records from prior applications.2U.S. Department of State – Bureau of Consular Affairs. Sex Marker in Passports
If You Already Have a Passport with X or a Non-Matching Marker
A passport already issued with an X marker or a sex marker that doesn’t match your birth sex stays valid for travel until it expires, you replace it, or the government invalidates it under federal regulations. The State Department has confirmed there are no current restrictions on using these passports, though some foreign destinations may have their own limitations on accepting X-marked documents.2U.S. Department of State – Bureau of Consular Affairs. Sex Marker in Passports
If you decide to replace it voluntarily, the process depends on how recently it was issued.
- Issued less than one year ago: replace it by mail using Form DS-5504. A new photo is required if the passport is more than six months old. There are no application fees unless you add the $60 expedited service.
- Issued more than one year ago: renew using Form DS-82 if you otherwise qualify for renewal by mail. Standard passport fees apply.
Any replacement will be issued with the M or F marker matching your biological sex at birth.2U.S. Department of State – Bureau of Consular Affairs. Sex Marker in Passports
Changing Your Name on a Passport
Name changes are handled exactly as they are for anyone else. Submit a certified copy of a court-ordered name change with your application, and the new passport will be issued in your updated legal name. The sex marker on that new passport will still reflect your birth sex under current policy, even if the passport it replaces showed something different.
The correct form depends on timing:
- Passport issued within the last year: Form DS-5504 lets you update the name by mail at no charge.
- Passport issued more than one year ago but within the last 15 years: Form DS-82 allows a mail-in renewal with full fees.
- Passport expired beyond 15 years, or you’ve never held one: Form DS-11, in person.3U.S. Department of State – Bureau of Consular Affairs. Name Change for U.S. Passport or Correct a Printing or Data Error
The underlying legal name change through a state court typically costs between $65 and $450 in filing fees depending on your state, and some jurisdictions require publishing a notice in a local newspaper, which adds to the cost. A few states allow fee waivers for financial hardship.
Documents You’ll Need
Whichever form you file, the core documents are the same:
- Proof of U.S. citizenship: a U.S. birth certificate issued by the city, county, or state of birth; a Consular Report of Birth Abroad; a Certificate of Naturalization; or a previously issued, fully valid U.S. passport (an expired one is fine).4U.S. Department of State. Get Citizenship Evidence for a U.S. Passport
- Government-issued photo ID such as a driver’s license or military ID.
- Certified court order or marriage certificate, if you’re changing your name.
- A passport photo taken within the last six months.
The photo has to be 2 x 2 inches, taken against a white or off-white background with no shadows, with a neutral expression and both eyes open. Glasses come off unless you have a signed doctor’s note explaining a medical reason to keep them on.5U.S. Department of State. U.S. Passport Photos If you’ve physically transitioned and no longer resemble the photo in your current passport, apply for a new one with an updated photo even if the current book hasn’t expired. That prevents comparisons at border crossings from becoming their own problem.
Picking the Right Form
Choosing the wrong form is one of the most common causes of delay.
- Form DS-11 is for first-time applicants, anyone whose previous passport was issued more than 15 years ago, anyone whose passport was lost, stolen, or damaged, and applicants under 16. It requires an in-person visit to an acceptance facility, where an authorized agent administers an oath and witnesses your signature. Don’t sign it before your appointment; the agent has to see you sign.6U.S. Department of State. Application for a U.S. Passport
- Form DS-82 is for renewals when your most recent passport was issued within the last 15 years, is undamaged, and was issued when you were 16 or older. Mail-in.
- Form DS-5504 is for correcting data errors, including name or sex, or replacing a passport issued within the past year. Mail-in, and there’s no application fee for corrections on a still-valid passport.7U.S. Department of State – Bureau of Consular Affairs. href=”https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/have-passport/change-correct.html” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>Name Change for U.S. Passport or Correct a Printing or Data Error
Fees and Processing Times
A first-time adult passport book in 2026 costs $130 in State Department application fees plus a $35 execution fee paid separately to the acceptance facility. Expedited processing adds $60.8U.S. Department of State. United States Passport Fees for Acceptance Facilities
Routine processing currently runs about four to six weeks. Expedited runs about two to three weeks.9U.S. Department of State. Processing Times for U.S. Passports
Getting Through Airport Security
When your passport sex marker doesn’t match your gender presentation, TSA policy is that officers should not deny you passage or comment on the discrepancy. A pat-down, if one is required, should be performed by an officer matching your gender presentation rather than the marker on your ID. Transgender women should be searched by female officers, transgender men by male officers. If officers seem unsure, they are supposed to ask you discreetly.
A few things reduce friction. Make sure the name and date of birth on your boarding pass match the ID you’re carrying. If you wear prosthetics, binders, or breast forms, you should never be asked to remove or reveal them; if an officer asks, request a supervisor. You can also request a private screening area at any point in the process and bring a companion of your choosing.
If you carry medically prescribed items that can’t go in checked luggage, such as syringes, a signed letter from your doctor explaining the medical necessity smooths the process. Keeping items in their original pharmacy packaging with a prescription label is even better.
Legal Challenges Still in Motion
The current policy is being challenged in federal court. In Orr v. Trump, filed in the U.S. District Court for Massachusetts on behalf of transgender and nonbinary applicants, a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction in June 2025 finding the policy likely unconstitutional and ordering the State Department to let the individual plaintiffs obtain passports reflecting their gender identity while the case proceeded.
That relief was short-lived. On November 6, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court stayed the preliminary injunction. As a result, the State Department is issuing passports reflecting only sex at birth and will not honor attestations requesting a preferred sex marker.2U.S. Department of State – Bureau of Consular Affairs. Sex Marker in Passports Other lawsuits remain pending, so check the State Department’s sex marker page before applying if timing matters to you.
A Note on Social Security and Other Federal Records
The same executive order that reshaped passport policy applies to other federal identity records. As of early 2026, the Social Security Administration is not processing requests to change the sex designation on Social Security records. The Social Security card itself does not display a sex marker, but the underlying record does, and it feeds into credit reports, financial aid applications, and background checks. Federal lawsuits are challenging these restrictions alongside the passport rules, so the situation may evolve. Check with the Social Security Administration directly before assuming any change is possible.