Tracking US allies that have tweaked advisories for trans travelers
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Trans and nonbinary citizens of at least eight European countries are being warned that they must designate one "sex" on their travel forms in the U.S. — and it has to reflect the gender they were assigned at birth.
The big picture: The Trump administration's sweeping rollbacks on transgender rights included a day-one executive order that declared the government recognizes two sexes, male and female, that are "not changeable."
Driving the news: At least eight U.S. allies in Europe have adjusted their travel advisories for trans and nonbinary citizens seeking to cross the pond, with several directly citing the Trump administration's two-sex policy.
- The White House has targeted trans people in several executive orders, threatening to limit access to gender affirming care, sports, military careers and more.
- Within Trump's executive order seeking to bar trans women from women's sports is another potential hurdle to travel for trans people.
- It directs officials to prevent trans women "seeking to participate in women's sports" from entering the U.S.
Context: Following President Trump's order, the State Department suspended X gender markers on passports and now requires applicants to use the sex listed on their birth certificate.
- That reversed a 2022 change that allowed Americans to select "X" as their gender on U.S. passport applications as part of broader efforts to improve the travel experience for the trans community.
The Trump administrations' dramatic changes have triggered confusion and concern for trans and nonbinary Americans, and the impacts to travelers extend beyond U.S. borders.
These countries have updated travel advisories:
Portugal
Portugal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs webpage on U.S. travel, last updated March 25, states that "[f]or citizens who identify with a non-binary gender," US authorities advise that "they must complete forms and provide declarations upon arrival with the gender with which they were identified at birth."
- For additional questions, the page on the Portuguese Community Portal advises travelers to contact the US Embassy in Lisbon.
Germany
The German Foreign Office's page, last changed March 21, stresses that "[t]ravelers to the USA must state either 'male' or 'female' on ESTA [Electronic System for Travel Authorization] or visa applications."
- That gender, the page notes, is the one given at the time of birth.
Zoom out: Germany also highlights strict entry requirements to the U.S. in new language that an archived version of the website from before Trump's inauguration did not include.
- "Criminal records in the United States, false information about the purpose of their stay, or even a slight overstay of their visa upon entry or exit can lead to arrest, detention, and deportation," a translation of the page notes.
- Several Germans have been detained by U.S. customs and immigration authorities, one of whom incorrectly answered a question due to a language barrier and another who was carrying tattoo equipment.
Denmark
"When applying for an ESTA or visa to the United States, there are two gender designations to choose from: male or female," Denmark's Ministry of Foreign Affairs' advisory states.
- For those with the gender designation "X" or who have changed their gender, the office recommends contacting the U.S. embassy.
Finland
The Finnish travel advisory for the U.S. notes Trump's executive order and subsequent guidance, stating that "applicants for an ESTA or visa to the United States must in future indicate their gender as either 'male' or 'female'" and their gender at birth.
- The page, last updated March 25, stresses that "[i]f the applicant's current gender as recorded in their passport differs from the gender they were assigned at birth, US authorities may deny entry" but notes that Finnish passports do not have the marking X.
Ireland
Ireland's advisory, updated Wednesday, states under its guidance for transgender Irish citizens that US authorities have indicated that ESTA and visa applications "should reflect, what they term, the traveller's biological sex at birth."
France
The French travel advisory for the U.S., last updated March 31, warns that for "new visa or ESTA applications, it should be noted that a section has been added that requires, pursuant to the presidential decree of January 20, 2025, the indication of 'sex at birth.'"
Norway
"When applying for an ESTA or visa to the United States, there are two gender designations to choose from: Male or Female," the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs' page on U.S. travel, last updated March 24, states.
- "The United States only recognizes the applicant's gender at birth," it stresses.
Netherlands
The Netherlands' travel advice page, updated March 25, cautions that the "US authorities only accept a M or F ... as a gender indication," per the Jan. 20 order.
- An updated note at the top of the page, not featured in archived snapshots before Trump's inauguration, states that "The US government has tightened entry controls for foreign visitors."
Go deeper: U.K. issues new travel advice for citizens going to the U.S.
