Changing Your Gender Marker in Michigan

Please note: This web site is made available by Arbor Therapy Solutions, its owners, and its members for educational purposes, as well as to give you general information and a general understanding of the law, not to provide specific legal advice. By using this web site you understand that there is no legal relationship between you and the web site publishers. The web site should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a licensed professional attorney in Michigan or your state/province.

The Big Three

There are three primary legal documents that indicate your gender in the State of Michigan: your passport, your driver’s license/state ID, and your birth certificate. Each has its own procedure for changing the gender marker. In general, you will need to change your gender marker on these documents in the following order.

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Passport

  1. Your doctor must write a statement on their letterhead with the following informationª:

    • Their name, address, and phone number

    • Their medical license or certificate number

    • The issuing state or other jurisdiction of their medical license/certificate

    • Language stating that: 

      • He or she has treated you or has reviewed/evaluated your medical history

      • You have had appropriate clinical treatment for transition to male or female OR are in the process of transition to male or female

    • The statement must include, “I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States that the forgoing is true and correct.”

  2. These requirements are the same for minors and adults. 

  3. Your doctor does not need to provide descriptions of specific treatments. 

    • The certification they are providing is based on your physician’s clinical assessment of your treatment

    • The certification should meet the standards and recommendations of WPATH

  4. A template for your doctor to follow is provided by the US Department of State here. 

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Driver’s License/State ID

  1. Complete the Michigan Secretary of State Sex Designation Form

  2. Go to the Secretary of State to submit the form; you must do this in person. Bring your current license/state ID with you

  3. The fee is $9 to correct a license, $10 for a state ID.

  4. Your photo will be taken when you submit your form

  5. You should receive your new license/ID within 2-3 weeks.

Birth Certificate

As of December, 2024, you can change your birth certificate in Michigan by sending the following information to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). It takes them approximately six weeks to process requests; for an additional $25 they will process your application in 2-3 weeks. The address where you send your information varies depending on whether you want a standard application process or a rushed application. Both addresses are on the form linked below.

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  1. Application to Correct or Change a Michigan Birth Record

  2. State of Michigan Sex Designation Form

  3. A copy of your photo ID 
    - Passport
    - Driver’s License
    - State ID
    - Other accepted ID are listed on page two of the application

  4. $50 in the form of a check or money order, payable to “State of Michigan”

  5. *If you haven’t changed your name on your birth certificate yet, do that now too, and include a copy of your court order for name change. 

 

ª Language provided by US Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs