Gender reassignment
What is it?
If you have changed your gender, you can have this updated in the National Population Register (BRP). You can have your gender changed from “male” to “female,” or vice versa.
Registering a change of gender is free of charge. However, please be aware that you will incur costs for renewing your passport, ID card, and/or driver’s license, as these documents will no longer be valid after you register your change of gender.
How does it work?
There are four steps:
- Arrange for a certificate of expertise
- Make an appointment the civil registry office in your place of birth (or in The Hague)
- applying for a newMap passport
- notifying other agencies
What should I do?
Make an appointment to report a change of gender on your birth certificate at the municipality where you were born. During this appointment, you will also specify the first name(s) you wish to use going forward. If you are 16 years of age or older, you can make this declaration without the consent of your parent(s) or guardian(s).
Not a Dutch citizen
If you are not a Dutch citizen, you may only submit the request if you have a valid residence permit and have lived in the Netherlands for at least one year. If your birth certificate is not registered in the civil registry in the Netherlands, you must file a report with the civil registrar of the municipality of The Hague.
What do I need?
- your valid ID
- a statement (not older than six months) from a designated expert from one of the following authorities:
- The Knowledge and Care Center for Gender Dysphoria at VU Medical Center in Amsterdam
- the Gender Team at the University Medical Center Groningen in Groningen
- the Gender Team at Curium Leiden University Medical Center in Leiden
How long does it take?
You will receive a printout of the changes right away.
Additional information
Notify other agencies
All agencies that have access to the Basic Register of Persons (BRP) are automatically notified of a change of gender and any changes to first names. Based on this information, they will update your records themselves. This applies to:
- health insurance provider
- pension fund
- Social Insurance Bank
- Internal Revenue Service
- National Road Traffic Authority
- UWV
For government agencies and companies that do not have access to the BRP, you will need to update your personal information yourself. Examples include:
- bank
- insurance company
- associations and foundations
- subscriptions
- family doctor
- dentist
- hospital
- payroll
Please note that some companies will ask for a copy of your new ID card or passport.
Foreign passport
A foreign birth certificate will not be updated if you change your personal information in the Netherlands under the Transgender Act. This means that your foreign passport cannot be updated here either. An exception applies to individuals with Spanish citizenship.
For information on how this is handled in other countries, please contact Transgender Europe at .
Being unable to change a foreign passport can cause many problems, such as difficulties with identification or entering into contracts.