Change of Gender Designation on Birth Certificates

Change of Gender Designation on Birth Registration

Effective January 10, 2022, adults and minors 12 years and older who wish to change their gender designation on a BC birth registration no longer require a physician’s or psychologist’s confirmation. Minors under 12 years old require a physician or psychologist confirmation.

Applicants under 19 years old require consent of all parents having guardianship.

How to Change Your Gender Designation with the Vital Statistics Agency

Each applicant for a change of gender designation needs to submit different forms dependant on age.  For applicants 12 years and older, fill out an application ‘Adults and Minors Aged 12 years and Older’.  For applicants under 12 years, fill out an application ‘Minors Aged Under 12 Years’ and include a ‘Physician’s or Psychologist’s Confirmation of Change of Gender Designation’ form.

Note: The $27 amendment fee charged when you change the gender designation on your birth registration does not include a new birth certificate.

• Application for Change of Gender Designation (Adult and Minors Aged 12 Years and Over) (PDF, 154KB)
• Application for Change of Gender Designation (Minors Aged Under 12 Years) (PDF, 150KB)
• Physician's or Psychologist's Confirmation of Change of Gender Designation (Minors Under 12 Years) (PDF, 830KB)

Order a Birth Certificate without Sex Displayed

Anyone with a British Columbia birth registration has the option to request a birth certificate that does not display the sex designation. This option does not change the birth registration - it just means the sex designation will not appear on the birth certificate.

If you wish to change your gender on your birth registration and obtain a birth certificate that does not display the sex designation field, complete the Application for a Change of Gender Designation form and mail-in the application and payment, or alternatively, you can visit any Service BC counter (online ordering is not available at this time).

If you would like to order only a birth certificate that does not display the sex designation, complete the Application for Birth Certificate or Registration Photocopy / Extract (VSA 430B) form (PDF, 129KB) and choose the option to not display the sex. You can mail-in the application and payment or order in-person at any Service BC counter (online ordering is not available at this time).

Note: A birth certificate with no sex displayed is valid and recognized by the Government of British Columbia; however, the Government of British Columbia cannot guarantee that a British Columbia birth certificate with no sex displayed will be accepted by organizations in British Columbia or by other jurisdictions.