Can I change the sex that’s on my passport?

Important information

The January 2025 federal bans on changing sex identifiers on federal records won’t affect your Washington state ID or driver’s license, including REAL IDs. If this changes, we’ll update this information. You can still change the sex identifier on your Washington state IDs. On Department of License issued IDs in Washington, this is called your “gender designation.” 

The federal bans created many questions about what defines your legal gender. Read about what defines legal gender to learn more about these impacts.

Important Notice: During the current federal administration, the information related to federal ID rights and sex/gender on federal records is changing rapidly. An executive order issued in 2025 temporarily banned sex or gender changes on federal identity records and documents. This included passports, Social Security records, tribal and BIA related records, immigration records and other federal records. These bans are being challenged by lawsuits. 

As of January 2026 you can’t change the sex or gender designation that is listed on your passport or other federal IDs. If you ask to change your passport, no matter what proof you provide, you could be issued a passport with the sex that was assigned on your original birth certificate.

Can I change some of my IDs but not all of them?

Yes. 

Which IDs to change, if any, is a personal decision. It’s unique to your individual situation and daily life needs. It’s specific to your safety and lived identity needs. There can be consequences for both changing or not changing various IDs if you’re a person who is transgender, nonbinary, or gender diverse, or who has a sex or gender change. Learn more about these issues and the consequence possibilities of various choices. Learn more about these issues and the consequence possibilities of various choices.

Many people choose to only ever change their state photo ID. You can still change the gender that’s on your Washington state photo ID, and can still choose between 3 genders designation options.

Can I change my name on my IDs but not change my gender on those IDs?

Yes absolutely. Many people who are transgender, nonbinary, intersex, or gender diverse only change their name legally and may never change their sex on any IDs. All identity records and IDs should have a process for changing your name on them. You will probably need to provide a copy of a name change court order to do so. This includes Passports and Social Security records. Gender diverse people can still change their names on their Passports and Social Security records if they meet the proof requirements. A name change court order is enough to change your name on those records. 

Are my photo IDs the only IDs that list my sex or gender?

No. Many different identity records or IDs have your gender or sex listed on them somewhere in the record or on the ID itself. 

Your Social Security card doesn’t list your sex or gender marker anywhere on the card itself. But your actual Social Security record does in fact have a sex listed on the record. And that Social Security record sex designation can be found on credit reports, hospital medical records, Federal Student Aid records, federal records, background searches, financial records, certain federal records and many other places. 

Your photo ID is also important and can impact many records that could have your sex or gender listed on them. 

Many people choose to change the gender or sex on their photo ID first before changing other records. Many people may choose to have their photo ID be the only sex or gender record change they make changes to. 

You don’t have to change your birth certificate, Social Security record, Passport, or any other ID to be able to choose your sex or gender identifier on your Washington photo ID or driver's license. 

Do I need a court order to change my legal gender?

No. In Washington, you don’t need a court order to change the gender that is on your state ID. If you were born in Washington, you don’t need a court order to change the sex on your birth certificate.