Canada issued a warning on Wednesday regarding possible “entry restrictions” for travelers who present passports with an “X” gender marker when entering the United States.
The Canadian government updated its travel advisory this week, indicating that individuals with an “X” designation in their passports might experience difficulties traveling to the U.S. “While Canada issues passports with a gender identifier of ‘X’, we cannot assure entry or transit through other countries,” the advisory noted. “There may be immigration restrictions in countries that don’t acknowledge the ‘X’ gender identifier. It’s advisable to verify this information with the nearest foreign representative before embarking on your trip.”
Further details will be included in the “US Travel Advice” section of the advisory, which was refreshed on October 1st.
Interestingly, some Canadians reported canceling their travel plans to the U.S., possibly influenced by previous comments from the Trump administration.
Global Affairs Canada shared that it has begun revising its gender-neutral passport policy for all destinations to ensure travelers are informed. “The Canadian Government is providing Travel Advice and Assistance on international safety and security conditions to help Canadians make informed travel choices,” a spokesperson mentioned.
It’s important to highlight that several countries’ systems, as well as some travel agencies, might not recognize the “X” gender identifier. Travelers may still be asked to specify their gender as either male or female.
The Biden administration had reintroduced the “X” gender designation in U.S. passports in 2022. However, it’s worth noting that according to the U.S. Department of State, passports with the “X” marker remain valid until their expiration date and can be used for entry into the United States.
In 2020, Donald Trump signed an executive order mandating that transgender and non-binary applicants must declare their gender as per their birth certificate when applying for a passport. A federal judge later ruled that the State Department must issue passports to transgender and non-binary individuals based on their gender identity.
Recently, the Justice Department has sought to allow the enforcement of Trump’s executive order while the associated lawsuit is under appeal. Fox News Digital has also reached out to the State Department for comments on this issue.
In a prior warning issued in 2023, Canada had advised 2SLGBTQI+ travelers to be cautious when visiting the United States, noting the potential for barriers and risks that could infringe on their human rights.
