Change the gender on your Washington driver’s license or state ID

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 our guide about legal gender to learn more about these impacts.

Important Notice: During 2025, the information related to federal ID rights and sex/gender on federal records is changing rapidly. An executive order issued earlier 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. The ACLU’s lawsuit about the passport ban got back the right to change passports as of June 18, 2025 through a temporary preliminary injunction. This means that the case isn’t done yet but that gender diverse people can resume changing their passports while the case continues. It is possible that the Social Security Administration (SSA) will similarly update their systems to allow sex changes again later this summer but currently the SSA can’t process sex changes for their 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, 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 drivers license. 

Which ID is my legal gender?

None of them exactly are your one true single legal gender. 

There are many records that have your sex or gender listed on them. No single record or ID exclusively controls what is called your “legal gender.” Historically, no single government or agency rule defines what is your legal gender. This is because so many various records can affect the sex designations that are used in a person’s daily life.

Even if you get a court order proving your sex change, your legal gender will be defined by each type of record and situation as you deal with them individually.

Your legal gender will be specific to each ID or record type in each situation.

Here are some examples:

• If you are asked to show photo ID during an interaction, usually in that situation the sex that is listed on that specific photo ID will be considered to be your legal gender.
• If you have your credit checked, the sex that is listed on your Social Security record can show up on the credit report record. In that situation, the sex on your Social Security record would be your legal gender.
• When you apply for a job, if the employer asks for your sex, usually you will list the sex that is on your state photo ID or whatever photo ID you provide to your employer to verify your identity. You will usually have to provide your Social Security card or proof of work permit but those won’t have your sex designation listed on the card itself.
• If your employer does a background check when you are hired that includes checking full records from Social Security or a credit check, then your employer might be able to see the sex that is listed on your Social Security record. This could require a conversation with your employer if that sex differs from the sex that is listed on your photo ID. If you feel that your employer or a potential employer has discriminated against you because of a sex mismatch on your IDs, you can try to file a complaint with the Washington Human Rights Commission. There are strict deadlines for these complaints. You must file within 6 months of the incident. File your complaint as soon as the negative action was taken against you.
• Usually, the gender or sex that will show up on all your school records would be the sex that is on your Social Security record. But for people under 18, the sex that is on your birth certificate can be used a lot too.
• In Washington, you can ask your employer to make sure your badge or anything else visible to coworkers and customers does have your chosen identifiers on it even if your legal records haven’t been changed. This applies to most but not all employers in Washington. If your workplace has less than 8 employees or is a religious organization, these protections might not apply.
• You can get a state ID or driver’s license in Washington and you can choose “X”, “M” or “F” for your WA state ID. This is available for adults and teenagers.
• A school might change all the visible records except your transcript to match that ID. It can be very hard to change school transcripts in most places without a court order or changed birth certificate. Some schools might accept other proof of sex or gender change if you are under 18. If you get a court ordered name change, your school should change your name on your transcripts.  Even if you don’t legally change your name, your school still has to follow Washington rules about letting you use your chosen name and pronouns at school even if they can’t change them on your transcript. You will have to ask your school about what they need to change your sex or gender if it is listed on your transcript. Changing your gender on your permanent school and work records can be very complicated for people who are under 18 depending on your situation. If you need help with your school, try to get legal help from Team Child. If you are a houseless youth, contact Legal Counsel for Youth and Children to see if they can help you with your ID changes.

Do I need to have specific medical treatments to change the sex or gender on my IDs?

No, not for your Washington state ID or driver’s license. Not for your birth certificate if you were born in Washington. But specific medical treatments (like surgery) could be required by your birthplace to change your birth certificate sex designation if you were born elsewhere. 

Our guide about gender affirming medical care protections in Washington has more information about medical care rights. 

Does my doctor decide what gender is listed on my IDs?

No. Your lived gender identity can be different than what your IDs and records say. It is okay to get medical treatment for gender related care and to also not change any of your IDs. Some people will change their IDs to match their lived gender experience, other people won’t. Our guide about legal gender explains how all your different IDs determine what sex or gender is listed on them. 

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. 

What will happen if I change the sex on my photo ID? What can happen if I don’t?

Washington residents can choose one of three genders for their Washington state ID or driver’s license. There is no proof of your sex or gender required. You don’t need a medical letter or court order.

The most common ID that people will change their sex or gender on is their photo ID. This is the state issued ID that you show the most to other people during daily interactions like at stores and the bank. 

Historically, if your photo ID has a different gender or sex on it than your other IDs have on them, it shouldn’t cause you any problems legally. But it can result in you having two genders or sex identifiers during the same encounter which can cause issues. For example, the lab at your medical provider uses the sex that is on your photo ID but the ER uses the sex that is on your Social Security record. The two sexes don’t match between your 2 IDs. This can happen and can be problematic depending on the situation.

If you receive a letter about an information mismatch from Social Security, it could be related to the information that is on your state ID. Get legal help right away if you get one of these letters. 

Decisions about what is best on your photo ID should be about your safety, your privacy, and your lived gender expression needs.

How does the REAL ID Act affect the sex that is on my IDs?

Historically, the REAL IDs have been issued by state ID issuers but are issued according to federal rules for background checks. Typically, the sex marker ID rules for your REAL ID have been based on the state you were in even though federal rules are part of the process. This is the same for REAL IDs here in Washington. 

In Washington, your REAL ID or enhanced ID can still say “F”, “M”, or “X” because Washington Department of Licensing issues the ID. If that changes, this information will be updated. Currently, the State Department says it will accept X designations on IDs for entering a U.S. border. 

If you are worried about how the X designation on your ID might impact your travel, you might want to get legal advice before you leave the country. You can try to get legal help from the non-emergency Legal Help Desk at Lambda Legal.

What if I need to change the gender on other IDs? 

Each type of ID has its own requirements and rules. 

Your birthplace will determine if you’re allowed to change the sex that’s on your birth certificate. If you were born in Washington, you can change the sex that’s on your birth certificate. 

What if I need to change my name on my ID too?

To change your name on your Washington state ID or driver’s license, you must give DOL a copy of your legal name change order.

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. 

Where can I get legal help and information related to the federal ID bans?

The information related to the federal bans is changing rapidly. We’ll update our guides as information changes. 

Organizations around the country are suing to challenge most of the federal bans related to transgender, nonbinary, intersex, and other gender diverse people. You may be able to learn more about how the bans and lawsuits impact you from the non-emergency Legal Help Desk at Lambda Legal. 

If you’re affected by the active-duty military ban:

• Contact the non-emergency Legal Help Desk at Lambda Legal. Lambda sued to challenge the military service ban. You can also try to contact the National Center for Lesbian Rights and the GLBTQ Legal Advocates and Defenders (GLAD). They also filed suits against the military service ban. 

If you’re affected by the federal passport ban:

• Try to get help using the ACLU-WA online intake form. The ACLU sued to challenge the federal passport ban. You can now change your passport again while the lawsuit continues. If you are otherwise affected by the executive orders related to your passport or international travel, try to contact the ACLU.

If you’re affected by the federal Social Security ban:

• Try to get information from the non-emergency Legal Help Desk at Lambda Legal. The SSA said it will update its emergency directive in the summer of 2025.

If you’re affected by the gender affirming care for youth ban:

• The January 2025 federal ban related to gender affirming care for youth generally shouldn’t affect your care in Washington state. Washington law still protects certain gender affirming care for people under 18 in this state. Certain providers might not provide services to you. If you’re under 18 and have experienced issues related to your gender affirming care since the federal ban, try to get legal help.
• P-FLAG is challenging the January 2025 federal order with a lawsuit filed by the ACLU and Lambda Legal. You may be able learn more from the non-emergency Legal Help Desk at Lambda Legal. If the trans-related care ban for minor youth has impacted your life, try to get legal help using the ACLU-WA online intake form.

If you’re impacted by the federal trans youth in sports ban:

Try to get help using the ACLU-WA online intake form. The ACLU sued about the sports ban. You can also try to contact the GLBTQ Legal Advocates and Defenders (GLAD). They also filed suit against the sports ban.