You can apply if you meet all of the following requirements:

• you’re aged 18 or over
• you’ve been diagnosed with gender dysphoria in the UK
• you’ve been living in your affirmed gender for at least 2 years
• you intend to live in this gender for the rest of your life

You can apply even if you have not had any gender affirming surgery or treatments, or you do not plan to have any.

If you’ve got a Gender Recognition Certificate or something similar from an approved country or territory, you only need to meet the following requirements:

• you’re aged 18 or over
• you have a document showing your affirmed gender is legally recognised in that country or territory

If you do not have a gender dysphoria diagnosis

You might still be able to apply, but only if you meet all of the following requirements:

• you currently live in England, Wales or Scotland
• you were in a marriage or a civil partnership on 10 December 2014 and living in England or Wales, or on 15 December 2014 and living in Scotland
• you had been living in your affirmed gender for at least 6 years before those dates, and you have evidence of that
• you have had gender affirmation surgery

If this applies to you, contact the Gender Recognition Panel admin team to find out how to apply. It’s a different process to the one described in the rest of this guidance.

You can still apply through this route even if you do have a gender dysphoria diagnosis, so long as you meet all the requirements. However, you do not need to have had any gender affirmation surgery.

Gender Recognition Panel
GRPenquiries@justice.gov.uk
Telephone: 0300 123 4503
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
Find out about call charges

Use the online service to apply. You can:

• provide your personal and contact details
• pay the £6 application fee using a debit or credit card
• submit any required documents, apart from your birth or adoption certificate which you need to send by post after you apply

Any documents you submit must be less than 10MB. You can include photocopies or clear photographs.

You can save and return to your application at any time.

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After you submit your application

You’ll need to send an original or certified copy of your full birth or adoption certificate by post. Do that as soon as possible.

Send the certificate to:

Gender Recognition Panel
PO Box 11230
Leicester
LE1 8FQ

Include your name and return address. Your certificate will be sent back when it’s been processed.

You’ll be told if you need to send in any other documents.

The panel will usually look at your application within 22 weeks of applying. They may ask you for more information before they can make a decision.

If your application is unsuccessful, you’ll be told how you can appeal or apply again.

If you cannot use the online service

Contact the Gender Recognition Panel admin team, who will send you an application pack. You can then send in your application by post.

Gender Recognition Panel
GRPenquiries@justice.gov.uk
Telephone: 0300 123 4503
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
Find out about call charges

If you want to apply or get help in Welsh

Contact the Welsh Language Helpline to apply in Welsh or get support with your application.

Welsh Language Helpline
ymholiadaucymraeg@justice.gov.uk
Telephone: 0800 212 368
Monday to Thursday, 9am to 5pm
Friday, 9am to 4:30pm
Find out about call charges

If you lose or damage your certificate

You cannot get a replacement certificate.

Contact the Gender Recognition Panel admin team to get a photocopy or screenshot of your original certificate.