Gender-marker change in Washington
These are the steps most people follow for a gender-marker change in Washington, 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
- Washington offers three gender designations on a driver's license or ID: M (male), F (female), and X (not exclusively male or female). You can change yours in person or by mail; there is no online option.
More detail
- In person, you bring your current card to a driver licensing office and confirm your gender designation out loud. By mail, you complete a Change of Gender Designation request form and mail it to the address on the form. The page does not ask for any medical documentation.
Sources
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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
- Northwest Justice Project — Washington's statewide civil legal aid program, including the CLEAR hotline that can help low-income residents with legal name-change filings.
- Legal Voice — Pacific Northwest legal advocacy organization publishing self-help legal information relevant to gender-marker and name changes.
- Advocates for Trans Equality (A4TE) — Washington identity documents guide — Advocates for Trans Equality (A4TE) keeps a plain-language guide to changing your name and gender marker on Washington 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.