Sri Lanka
USA
Canada
India
UK
UAE
Canada is warning its citizens who hold passports with an “X” gender marker that they may face difficulties entering certain countries, including the United States.
Global Affairs Canada updated its official US travel advisory this week, cautioning that while Canada offers the non-binary “X” option on passports, entry cannot be guaranteed abroad. Some border officials may still require travellers to declare themselves as either male or female.
The update follows US President Donald Trump’s executive order earlier this year mandating federal agencies to recognize only “male” and “female” in government documents. The order also replaced the term “gender” with “sex.” Although a federal judge temporarily blocked enforcement, the administration is appealing the decision.
Canada first introduced the “X” gender marker in 2019, and by January 2025, around 3,600 Canadians had chosen it. According to Global Affairs spokesperson Alexandre Fournier, the new advisory was added to all Canadian travel pages on September 23, with the US-specific page updated on September 29 to highlight risks for 2SLGBTQi+ travellers.
This latest warning comes amid growing concern for Canadians travelling to the US, particularly following a wave of state-level laws targeting LGBTQ+ rights. Ottawa had previously cautioned travellers about legislation criminalizing same-sex activity or discriminating on the basis of gender identity.
The federal government stresses that while Canada recognizes and issues non-binary passports, travellers should be prepared for additional scrutiny or entry challenges in countries that do not.
