Ottawa Warns That Canadians With Gender-Neutral Passports May Face Issues Entering US

A Canada Border Services officer hands passports back to a visitor entering Canada from Vermont at the Highway 55 Port of Entry in Stanstead, Que., on March 13, 2025. The Canadian Press/Christinne Muschi

Canada is advising citizens that those holding a Canadian passport with an “X” gender identifier may face issues crossing into the United States.

Global Affairs Canada (GAC) recently added the note to its travel advisory page for travel to the United States, noting that various countries either do not recognize an “X” gender identifier as valid or do not have systems able to recognize it. As a result, travelers may be asked to provide their gender as either male or female when crossing the border, if asked.