You can change the gender marker on your government IDs to match your gender identity. You can also change the marker to reflect an intersex condition. An Illinois driver’s license or state ID card, Passport, and Social Security records can all be updated with a self-attestation. This means you don't need a legal or medical record to change your gender marker on these forms of ID.

Changes to your birth certificate require a letter from your doctor. You may want to change your name along with updating your gender marker, but it is not necessary. These processes may be different for minors.

Changing Your Driver’s License or State ID Card

It is easy to update your gender on an Illinois driver’s license or state ID. You will only need to bring a few things to a Secretary of State facility and pay a small fee.

Illinois only provides “M” and “F” as gender signifiers. A recent law requires state forms to include a gender-neutral “X” option. This option will not be available until 2024.

In order to update your gender on your driver’s license, you must:

• Go to a Secretary of State facility*,
• Turn in your current driver’s license,
• If you are changing your name, you should bring a certified court order demonstrating your name change,
• Bring a completed Gender Designation Change form,
• Pay a fee.

For more information, visit the National Center for Transgender Equality.

*Appointments: Starting September 1, 2023, those seeking REAL ID, driver’s license and ID card services, and in-car driving tests, are required to make an appointment if they want to visit one of the 44 busiest DMVs in person. This includes all Chicago and suburban sites and some central and downstate locations. Visit ilsos.gov or call (844) 817- 4649 to schedule an appointment.

Visit the Secretary of State's Skip-the-Line program, to learn more about which services are offered online, when you are required to schedule an appointment, and the newly extended hours of all DMVs.

Changing Your Birth Certificate

You can update the gender on your birth certificate by mailing documents and a fee to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). If you were not born in Illinois, you will have to follow the procedure for your birth state. Learn more about updating non-Illinois birth certificates here.
    
To update your gender on your birth certificate, you must send IDPH:

• A completed Affidavit and Certificate of Correction Request. This document will need to be notarized.
• If you are also updating your name, a certified copy of your name change court order.
• A copy of a government photo ID. This ID must be up to date.
• A fee of $15 for one certified copy, and $2 for each additional copy.

The first page of the Affidavit and Certificate of Correction Request has specific instructions that must be followed. After following them, you should send your request to:

Illinois Department of Public Health
Division of Vital Records
925 E. Ridgely Avenue
Springfield, IL 62702-2737

For more information, visit the National Center for Transgender Equality.

Changing Your United States Passport

To update the gender marker on a U.S. passport, you must apply for a new passport. You can select which gender marker you would like on your new passport: "M," "F," or "X." To apply, you will need:

• An application.
• Proof of U.S. citizenship. This can be a previous U.S. passport, a birth certificate, a Certificate of Naturalization, or Report of Birth Abroad.
• Proof of identity. This should be a United States ID with your signature and a photograph. A previous U.S. passport or a driver's license will work. You must include the original and a photocopy.
• A recent photograph of yourself 2x2 inches in size.
• If you are also changing your name, a certified court order demonstrating your name change.
• A fee.

Bring these items to a Passport Acceptance Facility. For more information, visit the National Center for Transgender Equality.

Changing your Social Security records

You can update the gender on your Social Security records without medical or legal evidence of your sex designation. The sex identification, if shown on your evidence document, can be binary (male or female) or non-binary (such as X). The sex identification does not have to match the sex identification currently on your Social Security record, or the sex identification you request.

You will need to bring  standard identity documents and a completed Application for a Social Security Card to your local Social Security office.

All documents should be the originals. You cannot use photocopies of documents. See the Social Security Administration’s website for more information.

Updating your voter registration

You need to re-register to vote after you change your gender marker.

You need two forms of identification to re-register in person. One of the forms of identification must show that you reside within the voter jurisdiction. You can also re-register by mail.

See the Illinois Board of Elections' Information for Voters webpage for more information about voter registration.