Applying to the Gender Recognition Panel
Do you want your affirmed/acquired gender to be legally recognised in the UK?
If you answered yes and require digital support, we can help you complete your application.
Benefits of a Gender Recognition Certificate:
By having a Gender Recognition Certificate, your affirmed gender will be legally recognised in the UK.
This means that you will be able to:
- Update your birth or adoption certificate, if it was registered in the UK
- Get married or form a civil partnership in your affirmed gender
- Update your marriage or civil partnership certificate, if it was registered in the UK
- Have your affirmed gender on your death certificate when you die.
When you have this certificate, it will not change your legal status as a father or mother of a child.
Useful Information
1. What should I know before applying?
It is worth knowing that your entitlement to some benefits and pensions may change based on your affirmed gender.
If you are married or in a civil partnership, your partner’s entitlement to your pension if you die may also change.
For more information on these changes, speak to:
If you are married or in a civil partnership, your partner’s entitlement to your pension if you die may also change.
For more information on these changes, speak to:
- The office that manages your benefits, if you claim any benefits.
- Any Private pension providers you have
- The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Gender Recognition Team, for questions about your state pension.
2. Are there fees?
Yes. There is a £6 charge to apply for a Gender Recognition Certificate. You might be able to get help paying this fee if you receive benefits or are on a low income.
If your application is unsuccessful, you cannot get a refund. You will usually need to pay additional costs when preparing your application, depending on what documents you need to provide.
Please note there is also an additional charge for a new birth certificate if your application is successful.
If your application is unsuccessful, you cannot get a refund. You will usually need to pay additional costs when preparing your application, depending on what documents you need to provide.
Please note there is also an additional charge for a new birth certificate if your application is successful.
3. When should I appeal?
You are able to submit an appeal form within:
- 2 months of the date on the local authority’s decision letter
- 1 month of the date of the mediation certificate (this is if you have one)
4. What happens if you apply?
Once you have applied, the Gender Recognition Panel will look at your application. This panel is made up of people with legal or medical qualifications and they will decide whether the application meets all the legal requirements.
The panel will usually look at your application within 22 weeks of applying. During this time, they may ask for more information before making a decision on your application.
The panel will usually look at your application within 22 weeks of applying. During this time, they may ask for more information before making a decision on your application.
5. What if I am currently married, or in a civil partnership?
When applying for a certificate, if you want to stay married or in a civil partnership, your partner will need to sign a document to agree to this. You can still apply even if your partner refuses to sign the document, or if you want to end your marriage or civil partnership.
If your application is successful:
If your application is successful:
- You will get what is called an ‘interim certificate’ which you can only use to end your marriage or civil partnership.
- Once you have received this, you will have 6 months to apply for an annulment, divorce or dissolution.
- You can get a full certificate once you’re no longer married or in a civil partnership. You can also get a divorce or end your civil partnership before you apply.
6. When do I not need to have a Gender Recognition Certificate?
You do not need to have a Gender Recognition Certificate to update:
What if I am intersex or have a variation in sexual characteristics?
In the instance you are intersex or have a variation in sexual characteristics, you may not need a Gender Recognition Certificate to correct your birth certificate.
More details can be found here.
- Your driving license
- Your passport
- Your medical records, employment records or your bank account.
What if I am intersex or have a variation in sexual characteristics?
In the instance you are intersex or have a variation in sexual characteristics, you may not need a Gender Recognition Certificate to correct your birth certificate.
More details can be found here.
You are unable to change your name once your certificate has been issued. In the instance you want to change your name on your certificate, you will need to change your name before you apply for the certificate.
If you change your name after applying for your certificate, it will still be valid.
Contact us to receive free support:
If you do not have access to the internet or do not feel confident using it, contact us:
Call us 03300 160 051
Text “FORM” to 64073
Email us support@wearegroup.com
Please be aware this service does not provide legal advice or technical support for issues encountered when filling in an online form (such as error messages and frozen pages).
