Resource ● Last updated 17 April 2026 ● 7 min read
How to update your gender on formal documents in the Northern Territory
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What is this resource?
This resource is for trans and gender-diverse young people and their families in the NT.
We answer some common questions about updating your gender on formal documents, such as your:
- federal documents:
- passport
- Centrelink
- Medicare records.
To find out more, click on the hyperlink above for the document or record you want to update.
Not in the Northern Territory?
This resource is also available for:
Can you update your gender on formal documents?
On most formal documents, yes. However, different documents have different requirements and different gender identity options. Unfortunately, some trans and gender-diverse people may have limited ability to update their gender on some formal documents.
The steps required depend on whether the document you would like to change is issued by:
- a state or territory government organisation; or
- a federal government organisation.
How to update the gender on your NT birth certificate
Birth certificates are issued and regulated at a state and territory level. This means that the approach to updating your birth certificate to match your gender identity will be different depending on which state or territory your certificate was issued in. In the NT, this is managed by the NT Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages.
There is a general requirement that you must have had clinical treatment of some kind before you can change the sex marker on your NT birth certificate. However, you do not need to have had gender-affirming surgery to apply.
You can choose between ‘male’, ‘female’, ‘non-binary’ or ‘unspecified’ as the sex marker on your new certificate.
You can apply to ‘register a change of sex or gender’ in the NT if:
- your birth was registered in the NT; and
- you:
- are an intersex person, or
- have received appropriate clinical treatment related to your sex or gender, such as surgery, hormone therapy or counselling; and
- you are at least 18 years old.
The legal definition of ‘intersex person’ is ‘a person who is born with physical or biological sex characteristics that do not fit typical classifications of male or female bodies‘.
What if you are under 18 years old?
If you are under 18, your parent(s) or guardian can apply on your behalf.
How do you apply?
If you are at least 18, you need to:
- Complete the ‘Register change of sex of adult application’ form.
- Get your supporting documents. You need one of:
- a statement from an Australian medical practitioner or psychologist declaring that you have received appropriate clinical treatment in relation to your sex or gender, or that you are an intersex person (this supporting statement is made on the application form); or
- a gender recognition certificate (issued under any law) certifying that you have a sex or gender that is different to the sex or gender specified for you in the Register of Births.
- your proof of identity documents (see here for more information)
- your existing birth certificate.
- Submit your application and supporting documents by either:
- posting them to GPO Box 3021, Darwin NT 0801 (or PO Box 8043, Alice Springs NT 0871); or
- taking them to a Births, Deaths and Marriages office in person.
- Pay the application fee.
If you are under 18:
If you were born in the NT, your parent(s) or legal guardian can apply on your behalf if they believe that changing your recorded sex/gender is in your best interests.
You also have to give your consent to the change, if you are aware of the meaning and implication of the change. If you are at least 14 years old, you are assumed to be aware of the meaning and implication of the change.
To apply, your parent(s) or guardian should complete the ‘Change of sex or gender of a child application‘ form. They need to provide the same supporting documents for you as listed above, and they will need to provide at least two identification documents for themselves too. They also need to pay the application fee.
What if your birth was registered outside the NT?
If your birth was registered somewhere else in Australia, you will need to apply to update your gender in the state or territory you were born in. The factsheet for the state or territory that issued your birth certificate will have the eligibility requirements for updating the gender on your birth certificate.
How to update the gender on your driver’s licence records
The steps to update the records associated with your driver’s licence depend on the state or territory that issued your licence.
What you need to do in the NT
There is no sex/gender marker on physical driver’s licence cards issued in the NT. However, the Motor Vehicle Registry 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 a Motor Vehicle Registry office with your updated birth certificate. You can choose from the following gender options:
- male;
- female; or
- unspecified.
How to update your gender on federal government documents, such as your passport, and Medicare or Centrelink records
You can update your gender on federal documents or records by applying to the agency that looks after the document or record that you want to change.
There are Australian Government Guidelines on recognising gender. This means that:
- Federal departments and agencies must take all reasonable steps to correct the gender information in their records to make sure it is accurate, up-to-date, and not misleading.
- You can apply to federal agencies directly, such as the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Services Australia, to update your gender on your personal record, or as shown on your passport.
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 update of gender.
You do not need to have had surgery and/or hormone therapy for the recognition of a change of gender in federal government records. This means that even though you may not have any related medical procedures, you can still apply to correct the gender information recorded on your personal record. See the Australian Government Guidelines.
| Document | Department | What you need to do |
|---|---|---|
| Your Medicare card | Services Australia | If your Medicare online account is linked to myGov, you can update your gender online by signing into myGov or the myGov app. If you don’t have a myGov account or Medicare online account, you can call the Medicare program line, visit a service centre or send a letter via post. You won’t need to provide any supporting documents when you make a request this way. The Medicare contact details are available here. If you update your gender on your Medicare card, this may change the reminders you receive for cancer screening under Medicare. |
| Your Centrelink file | Services Australia | If your Centrelink online account is linked to myGov, you can update your gender online by singing into myGov, or the myGov app. If you don’t have a myGov account, or a Centrelink online account, you’ll need to create these accounts or call Centrelink. You will only be required to provide supporting documents to update your gender if you are either: – updating your gender in your Child Support personal record; or – verifying your identity under an international agreement with Centrelink. If you are required to provide supporting documents, you can provide one of the documents outlined in the Australian Government Guidelines. |
| Your passport | Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) | For both a new passport and/or to update your gender on an existing passport, you need to start the application process online and then print it for lodgement. For this application, you must also provide one of the documents outlined in the Australian Government Guidelines. If you are providing a statement from a registered medical practitioner or registered psychologist, they must complete DFAT’s Form B-14. If you have changed your name as part of your transition, you must also provide a name change certificate issued by the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages. If you are in the process of affirming your gender, you can provide a statement from a registered medical practitioner or psychologist that you have had or are receiving appropriate clinical treatment for gender affirmation. This should be provided on DFAT’s ‘Declaration: sex/gender of passport applicant form’ (Form B14). |
What happens when there is inconsistent gender information in my supporting documents?
If you identify as intersex, or are in the process of affirming your gender, your supporting documents may not be the same and may refer to different genders or gender markers. If this is the case, departments may ask you for more information and supporting documents to confirm your gender identity.
Under the Australian Government Guidelines, departments will prioritise either your passport or the supporting document that is the most recent. The Australian Government recognises that there may be legitimate reasons for holding conflicting documents, for example people who identify as non-binary or intersex may want to hold a passport with a particular binary gender marker to ensure their safety while travelling overseas.
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
Where to get help and more information
Updating documents:
- The Australian Government Guidelines on the Recognition of Sex and Gender.
- The Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages provides guidance on updating your sex or gender on your birth certificate.
- For information on changing your name on your driver’s licence, visit the NT government’s website.
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.
This resource was last updated on 16 April 2026. This is legal information only and does not constitute legal advice. You should always contact a lawyer for advice specific to your situation. Please view our disclaimer for more information.
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