Gender-marker change in Michigan
These are the steps most people follow for a gender-marker change in Michigan, in order. Each links to its official source and the date we last checked it. When you're ready, build a personalized checklist that covers every document at once.
This is general information, not legal advice. Requirements change, so always confirm with the official source linked on each step, and talk to a lawyer or legal-aid organization about your specific situation.
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Step 1: Update your Social Security record
Needs reverification, so we don't show it as current.
Check these official pages yourself
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Step 2: Update your driver's license or state ID
- Michigan lets you choose a nonbinary (X), female (F), or male (M) sex designation on your driver's license or state ID. You correct it in person at a Secretary of State office by completing a Sex Designation Form.
More detail
- Online, mail, and self-service options are not available for this change; you must visit an office, which usually takes about 20 minutes. Bring your current license or ID, and complete the Sex Designation Form before your visit or at the office. A Sex Designation Form only corrects your sex designation — it cannot also change your name. Staff take a new photo and issue a temporary paper credential, and your permanent card is mailed to you.
📝 Get the official form: Michigan Department of State — Sex Designation Form
Sources
- Michigan Department of State — License or ID Sex Designation Correction — We cannot check this source automatically for changes. Check it yourself before you file.
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Step 3: Update your U.S. passport
Needs reverification, so we don't show it as current.
Check these official pages yourself
- U.S. Department of State — Sex Markers in Passports — We cannot check this source automatically for changes. Check it yourself before you file.
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Where to get help
- Michigan Legal Help — Michigan's statewide self-help legal website, including step-by-step instructions and a Do-It-Yourself Name Change tool that can help low-income residents with legal name-change filings.
- Equality Michigan — Michigan's statewide LGBTQ advocacy organization. Contact them to find current local name-change and gender-marker clinics and legal referrals in your area.
- Advocates for Trans Equality (A4TE) — Michigan identity documents guide — Advocates for Trans Equality (A4TE) keeps a plain-language guide to changing your name and gender marker on Michigan documents. Their staff write and update it. Read it alongside this checklist.
- Advocates for Trans Equality (A4TE) — National advocacy organization (formerly the National Center for Transgender Equality) with plain-language guides to updating federal identity documents (Social Security, passport) after a name or gender-marker change.
- Lambda Legal Help Desk — National LGBTQ+ legal organization offering a free legal help desk for questions about discrimination and legal name/gender-marker changes.