MEA outlines new passport reissuance provisions for trans persons post-surgery

The Delhi High Court was informed by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) about updated guidelines regarding passport re-issuance for transgender individuals who have undergone gender affirmation surgery abroad.

Transgender persons can now enter India with an affidavit of gender change along with a certificate from the hospital where their surgery took place, which removes the requirement for a certificate of identity as per the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019.

In urgent situations, an Emergency Certificate may be granted with a note regarding the gender transition.

This change comes in response to a petition that raised concerns about the challenges trans individuals encounter when trying to update their passport information after surgery.