Gender Recognition Act 2004 (c. 7)

(1) A person of either gender who is aged at least 18 may make an application for a gender recognition certificate on the basis of— (a) living in the other gender, or (b) having changed gender under the law of a country or territory outside the United Kingdom. (2) In this Act “ the acquired gender ”, in relation to a person by whom an application under subsection (1) is or has been made, means— (a) in the case of an application under paragraph (a) of that subsection, the gender in which the person is living, or (b) in the case of an application under paragraph (b) of that subsection, the gender to which the person has changed under the law of the country or territory concerned. (3) An application under subsection (1) is to be determined by a Gender Recognition Panel. (4) Schedule 1 (Gender Recognition Panels) has effect.

(1) In the case of an application under section 1(1)(a), the Panel must grant the application if satisfied that the applicant— (a) has or has had gender dysphoria, (b) has lived in the acquired gender throughout the period of two years ending with the date on which the application is made, (c) intends to continue to live in the acquired gender until death, and (d) complies with the requirements imposed by and under section 3. (2) In the case of an application under section 1(1)(b), the Panel must grant the application if satisfied— (a) that the country or territory under the law of which the applicant has changed gender is an approved country or territory, and (b) that the applicant complies with the requirements imposed by and under section 3. (3) The Panel must reject an application under section 1(1) if not required by subsection (1) or (2) to grant it. [ F1 (3A) This section does not apply to an application under section 1(1)(a) which states that it is an application for a certificate to be granted in accordance with section 3A. ] [ F2 (3B) This section does not apply to an application under section 1(1)(a) which states that it is an application for a certificate to be granted in accordance with section 3C. ] [ F3 (3C) This section does not apply to an application under section 1(1)(a) which states that it is an application for a certificate to be granted in accordance with section 3E. ] (4) In this Act “ approved country or territory ” means a country or territory prescribed by order made by the Secretary of State after consulting the Scottish Ministers and the Department of Finance and Personnel in Northern Ireland. Textual Amendments F1 S. 2(3A) inserted (E.W.S.) (10.12.2014) by Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 (c. 30) , s. 21(3) , Sch. 5 para. 16 ; S.I. 2014/3169 , art. 2 F2 S. 2(3B) inserted (S.) (16.12.2014) by Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014 (asp 5) , s. 36 , Sch. 2 para. 14 ; S.S.I. 2014/287 , art. 3 , Sch. F3 S. 2(3C) inserted (E.W.S.) (16.12.2014) by The Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014 and Civil Partnership Act 2004 (Consequential Provisions and Modifications) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/3229) , art. 1(2) , Sch. 5 para. 15(2) Modifications etc. (not altering text) C1 S. 2(3A) extended to Northern Ireland (N.I.) (13.1.2020) by The Marriage (Same-sex Couples) and Civil Partnership (Opposite-sex Couples) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/1514) , regs. 1(2) , 42(1) (with regs. 6-9 ) C2 S. 2(3C) extended to Northern Ireland (N.I.) (13.1.2020) by The Marriage (Same-sex Couples) and Civil Partnership (Opposite-sex Couples) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/1514) , regs. 1(2) , 43(1) (with regs. 6-9 )