Featured image: Of 195 countries in the world, only two don’t accept the “X” gender identifier. / Photo: by Image-Source via Envato

Challenges in LGBTQ+ travel

by Kathy Buckworth

What’s so great about having a Canadian passport? Many, many things, according to a Henley and Partners report on world passports, quoted by CIC News, in July 2024. Canada ranks as the seventh best passport to hold in the world, ahead of our neighbours to the south, mostly due to our ability to travel visa-free to 187 countries, and our acceptance of dual citizenship. (Click here for more information on travel visas).

Canada is tied with Czechia, Hungary and Malta. The number one spot goes to Singapore, with France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Spain tied for second. The American passport is ranked eighth, last amongst the G7 countries. Afghanistan is ranked last of 195 countries, with the ability to visit only 26 countries without a visa.

Canadian passports have three gender identifiers

While the ranking is largely based on the number of countries the passport holders can travel to without a visa, Canadians also have the advantage of being able to select from three gender identifiers on their passport: M, F and since 2019, “X”, which indicates non-binary and intersex individuals.

As of today (August 2024), there are only 18 countries in the world that allow this, including the United States, which passed a regulation on it in 2022. (Note that Idaho and West Virginia still do not recognize it for their state identification issuances, so travelling there with an “X” gender passport as your only ID might be difficult.)

Australia was the first country to widely accept this gender identifier in 2011, after it had a single issuance of the “X” gender in 2003. Germany is set to approve the “X” identifier in November of 2024. You can check which countries accept “X” on Equaldex here.

Not all countries accept the “X’ gender identifier

Out of 195 countries across the world, only two do not accept the “X” gender identifier when traveling into their jurisdictions: Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Passport holders with the “X” gender identifier will not be allowed to enter these countries.

Changing the gender identifier to “X” from “M” or “F” does not require proof of surgery or an alteration of a birth certificate in Canada. It’s simply a change on your application. But what if you want to change from “M” to “F” or “F” to “M”?  In Canada, and in most countries that allow the “X” designation, it’s also simply an application to change the gender identifier, as applicants are permitted to self-identify their gender.

Previously in many countries, there were medical certifications required for a gender transfer. This has changed, but it’s not always easy. Those who have changed their gender identifier on their passport may still be asked to show proof of their birth gender in order to enter a country.

The Canadian government has this warning on their website: “We can’t guarantee that other countries you visit or travel through will accept the sex or gender identifier on your passport or travel document. Check with our local Canadian embassy, high commission or consulate in the countries you plan to visit or travel through to make sure you understand their entry requirements.

You should also be aware that current systems used by some countries and travel companies may not recognize the X gender identifier. You may still be asked to provide your sex/gender information as either male or female when travelling.”

Find more information on travelling abroad as a 2SLGBTQI+ Canadian.

To learn about what challenges still face the LGBTQ+ community when travelling internationally on an “X” gendered passport, you can read a personal story I wrote about travelling with a non-binary family member, here.

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