How to update your gender on formal documents in the ACT 

Which form should you use?

If you are aged 18 or older and your birth was registered in the ACT, you can update the recorded sex on your birth certificate by completing an ‘Application to alter birth register to record change of sex” form.  

If you are aged 14 to 17, you can apply by yourself by completing an ‘Application for young person to register a change of given names; change of sex; or both’  form. You can use this form even if your parents don’t support the change, and you don’t need to pay any application fee. Alternatively, your parent(s) or guardian(s) can apply on your behalf by completing an ‘Application to alter birth register to record change of sex’ form, if they think it’s in your best interest. They would need to pay an application fee. 

If you are aged 12 or 13: 

• If you have consent from your parent(s) or guardian(s), you can apply using the ‘Application for young person to register a change of given names; change of sex; or both’ form. There is a section for your parent(s) or guardian(s) to complete to give their consent. If you use this form, you don’t need to pay any application fee. 

• Your parent(s) or guardian(s) can apply on your behalf by completing an ‘Application to alter birth register to record change of sex’  form, if they think it’s in your best interest. They would need to pay an application fee. 

• If you don’t have consent from your parent(s) or guardian(s), you can apply to the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal (ACAT) for permission to register a change of sex. You can find out more here. 

If you are under 12, you will need support from one parent or guardian and permission from ACAT to change your recorded sex. You can find out more here. 

What supporting documents do you need? 

The person applying needs to provide proof of their identity. If you are:  

• aged 18 or older, you’ll need to provide proof of your identity, as outlined on the ‘Application to alter birth register to record change of sex’ form.  

• aged 14 to 17 and applying for yourself using the ‘Application for young person to register a change of given names; change of sex; or both’ form, you’ll need to provide proof of your identity (explained on the form). Parents or guardians applying on behalf of their child using the ‘Application to alter birth register to record change of sex’ form will need to provide proof of their own identities (not their child’s). 

• aged 12 or 13 and applying using the ‘Application for young person to register a change of given names; change of sex; or both’ form with your parent(s)’ or guardian(s)’ consent, they will also need to provide proof of their identities (explained on the form). 

How do you submit your application? 

You can submit your application and supporting documents by either: 

• emailing them to bdm@act.gov.au; 
• posting them to GPO Box 158, Canberra City ACT 2601; or 
• taking them to an Access Canberra service centre in person. . 

Do you need to pay a fee? 

If you are under 18 years old and applying using an ‘Application for young person to register a change of given names; change of sex; or both’ form, you don’t need to pay any application fee. You will get a copy of your new birth certificate for free. 

If you are over 18 years old and applying (either for yourself or on behalf of your child) using an ‘Application to alter birth register to record change of sex’ form, you will need to pay the required fee. Fees may change.  

If you are experiencing financial hardship and urgently need the birth certificate for immediate access to essential support services, you may be able to request a financial hardship fee waiver. Please visit the Access Canberra website for more information. 

Which form should you use? 

If you are aged 18 or older, you can apply for a recognised details certificate by completing an ‘Application for recognised details certificate’  form. 

If you are aged 14 to 17, you can apply by yourself by completing a ‘Application for recognised details for a young person’ form. You can use this form even if your parents don’t support the change, and you don’t need to pay any application fee. Alternatively, your parent(s) or guardian(s) can apply on your behalf by completing an ‘Application for recognised details certificate’ form, if they think it’s in your best interest. They would need to pay an application fee. 

If you are aged 12 or 13: 

• If you have consent from your parent(s) or guardian(s), you can apply using ‘Application for recognised details for a young person’ ‘ form. There is a section for your parent(s) or guardian(s) to complete to give their consent. If you use this form, you don’t need to pay any application fee. 

• Your parent(s) or guardian(s) can apply on your behalf by completing an ‘Application for recognised details certificate’ form, if they think it’s in your best interest. They would need to pay an application fee. 

• If you don’t have consent from your parent(s) or guardian(s), you can apply to the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal (ACAT) for permission to apply for a recognised details certificate. You can find out more here. 

If you are under 12, you will need support from one parent or guardian and permission from ACAT to apply for a recognised details certificate. You can find out more here. 

What supporting documents do you need? 

If you are applying for yourself, you will need to provide both: 

• proof of your identity; and 

• proof that you have lived in the ACT for at least three months (see the Access Canberra website for more information). 

Parents or guardians applying on behalf of their child will need to provide proof of their own identities and residency in the ACT, as well as their child’s birth certificate.  

How do you submit your application? 

You can submit your application and supporting documents by either: 

• emailing them to bdm@act.gov.au; 
• posting them to GPO Box 158, Canberra City ACT 2601; or 
• taking them to an Access Canberra service centre in person. 

Do you need to pay a fee? 

If you are under 18 and applying using a ‘Application for recognised details for a young person’ form, you don’t need to pay any application fee. You will get a copy of your recognised details certificate for free. 

If you are an adult applying (either for yourself or on behalf of your child) using an ‘Application for recognised details certificate‘ form, you will need to pay the required fee.  

If you are experiencing financial hardship and urgently need the certificate for immediate access to essential support services, you may be able to request a financial hardship fee waiver. Please visit the Access Canberra website for more information. 

What you need to do in the ACT 

There is no sex/gender marker on physical driver’s licence cards issued in the ACT. However, Access Canberra records the gender of each person when they apply for a licence. 

To update the records associated with your driver’s licence, you will need to visit an Access Canberra service centre with your updated birth certificate or a recognised details certificate. You can choose from the following gender options: 

• male; 

• female; 

• unspecified; 

• indeterminate; 

• intersex; 

• unknown; or 

• unspecified/indeterminate/intersex. 

Do you need to provide supporting documentation? 

Under the Australian Government Guidelines, you need to provide one of the following with your request for a change of your recorded gender: 

• A statement from a registered medical practitioner or registered psychologist which specifies your gender. 
• A state or territory gender recognition certificate or recognised details certificate showing a change in sex marker. 
• A valid Australian government travel document, such as a valid passport, which specifies your gender. 
• A state or territory birth certificate which specifies your gender, or a document from an Australian Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages recognising an updatechange of gender.  

Will every application and outcome be the same? 

No. The different departments may have different application forms and therefore varied outcomes around updating your gender. 

What’s an example? 

Services Australia can update your gender as male, female or non-binary for their personal records system. You can also tell them you prefer not to use a courtesy title such as Miss, Mr or Ms. 

Whereas the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade can record your gender as M (male), F (female), or X (indeterminate/intersex/unspecified) on your passport. However, the Department notes that those travelling with a passport showing ‘X’ may encounter difficulties when crossing borders due to its infrequent use. In more conservative countries or areas you may become the focus of unwanted attention. 

Updating documents: 

• The Australian Government Guidelines on the Recognition of Sex and Gender. 
• For more information on updating your gender on your birth certificate, visit Access Canberra. 

Support: 

• The Department of Foreign Affairs offers travel advice for LGBTQIA+ travellers on its Smart Traveller website. 
• Parents of Gender Diverse Children provides peer support nationally to parents and those parenting trans and gender-diverse children. 
• A Gender Agenda provides information and an online community for gender-diverse people in the ACT. Information on support groups that you can connect with is also available via their website. 
• Twenty 10 provides a range of support services and social spaces for people of diverse genders and sexualities aged under 26, mainly in NSW but they also service the ACT.