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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.
“While the Government of Canada issues passports with a ‘X’ gender identifier, it cannot guarantee your entry or transit through other countries. You might face entry restrictions in countries that do not recognize the ‘X’ gender identifier,” GAC noted. “You may still be asked to provide your sex/gender information as either male or female when travelling.”
GAC advised Canadians with an “X” gender identifier on their passport to check entry requirements with the nearest representative office of the country they intend to travel to.
The “X” gender identifier was introduced by GAC in June 2019 so that “gender identity, diversity and inclusivity of Canadian citizens and residents are respected.”
The Nexus program, which expedites border crossings between Canada and the United States, also no longer accepts the “X” gender marker on applications, requiring travelers to select either male or female when signing up for the service.
The change went into effect in February of this year following a Trump administration executive order recognizing only two sexes on official documents. The directive also required all U.S. federal documents to use the term “sex” instead of “gender.”
Trump’s executive order is currently being challenged in court, as his administration attempts to overturn a U.S. district court ruling that blocked the State Department from enforcing the policy restricting passports to only male or female designations.
While current Nexus cards listing “X” remain valid, new or renewing applicants must choose male or female, even if their Canadian passports list “X.”
Nexus is jointly managed by the Canada Border Services Agency and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol but is operated on a U.S. system. It has more than 2 million members.
