Many patients will want to legally change their name and/or gender on government identification as part of their transition.
Currently residents of New Brunswick are able to change their name on official government ID without needing supportive documentation from a physician. The birth certificate must be the first piece of ID to be changed and it is then used as a supporting document to change other forms of identification.
- Birth Certificate: This can be changed in New Brunswick even if someone was born in a different province. More information can be found here. See this form for children 15 years of age and younger.
- Driver’s license, health card, vehicle registration: After a name has been changed on a birth certificate this can be taken to Service New Brunswick to have the driver’s license, health card, and vehicle registration updated.
- Social Insurance: A name change must be made through Service Canada. For a list of required documents click here.
- Canadian Passport: Changing your name on your passport requires proof of a legal name change via an updated birth certificate or citizenship certificate.
Gender Change
Residents of New Brunswick are now able to change their sex designation on official government ID without needing to have undergone gender confirming surgery. A supporting form must be filled out by a health care professional (see link below). The birth certificate must be the first piece of ID to be changed and it is then used as a supporting document to change other forms of identification.
- Birth certificate: This can be changed in New Brunswick, even if someone was not born there. There is no cost for this change. See this form for children 15 years of age or younger.
- Driver’s license, health card, vehicle registration: After the sex has been changed on a birth certificate this can be taken to Service New Brunswick to have the driver’s license, health card, and vehicle registration updated.
- Social Insurance: Canadians now have the option to have their gender marked as X (not male/female) or not to declare their gender at all. However, until the computer systems can be upgraded to register this information, “male” or “female” will still appear on their SIN record. In the mean time, a note will be added to their record indicating their choice. See exactly what is needed to apply here.
- Passport: Currently children (supported by an adult) and adults (16 years of age and older) can have the sex on their passport changed to the opposite sex. Soon, the option to have the sex indicated by an “X” will also be available however this may limit travel options as many countries will not recognize this as an acceptable sex designation. The application must be supported by documentation that includes the same sex as the one you are requesting (e.g. a birth certificate).
Advice for LGBTQ citizens travelling abroad is available here.