Gender change

If you have changed your gender, you can have this changed in the Basic Registration of Persons (BRP). You can have your gender changed from 'male' to 'female', or vice versa.

Declaration of gender change is free of charge. However, please note the cost of renewing your passport, identity card and/or driver's license. After the declaration of gender change, these are no longer valid. 

Steps for arranging a sex change

To arrange your gender change, follow 4 steps:

Step 1 > Arrange for a declaration of competence

This is a statement (not older than 6 months) from a designated expert from one of the following agencies:

  • The Knowledge and Care Center for Gender Dysphoria at the VU Medical Center in Amsterdam
  • The Gender Team at the University Medical Center Groningen in Groningen, Netherlands
  • The Gender Team at Curium Leiden University Medical Center in Leiden, Netherlands

Step 2 > Make an appointment

With the civil registry in your hometown (or in The Hague).

During the appointment:

  • the gender on your birth certificate is changed
  • indicate which first name(s) you want to use from now on
  • From 16 years of age, the declaration may be made without the consent of the parent(s) or guardian(s)

Step 3 > Apply for your new identity card and/or passport.

Step 4 > Inform the various organizations

All organizations that have access to the Basic Registration of Persons (BRP) are automatically notified of a change in gender and any changed first names. Based on this, they will change your data themselves. This applies to:

  • health insurer
  • pension fund
  • Social Insurance Bank (SVB)
  • Tax Office
  • Rijksdienst voor het Wegverkeer (RDW).
  • UWV

For organizations and companies that do not have access to the BRP, you must change your data (or have it changed) yourself.

Not Dutch nationality?

Do you not have the Dutch nationality? Then you can only make 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 report to the registrar of births, marriages and deaths in the municipality of The Hague.

Foreign passport?

A foreign birth certificate does not change when you change your details in the Netherlands according to the Transgender Law. This means that the foreign passport cannot be changed here either. An exception applies to persons of Spanish nationality.

Information on how this is regulated in other countries can be obtained from Transgender Europe.

Making an appointment

At this time, you cannot make an online appointment for gender reassignment surgery. Please call 14 079. 

Change or delete appointment?

Once you have made an appointment you will receive a confirmation e-mail. This e-mail also contains a link that allows you to change or delete your appointment.

Do you no longer have the e-mail? Call 14 079. A staff member can change or delete the appointment for you.

Bring to the appointment

  • A valid identification document.
  • Statement (not older than 6 months) from a designated expert from one of the following:
    • The Knowledge and Care Center for Gender Dysphoria at the VU Medical Center in Amsterdam
    • The Gender Team at the University Medical Center Groningen in Groningen, Netherlands
    • The Gender Team at Curium Leiden University Medical Center in Leiden, Netherlands
How long will it take?

You will immediately be given proof of the change.

After the municipality where you were born updates the birth certificate, it is forwarded to the municipality where you live. After processing in the BRP, this municipality will send you a confirmation.