Change in the mention of sex in the civil status

Verified 04 mai 2026 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

Your situation

  • Change of sex in civil status records
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Step-by-step approach

You must demonstrate by a sufficient meeting of facts that the mention of your sex in the civil status records doesn't match the one you're in and known for.

You must provide evidence of several facts in support of your application.

Examples of facts:

  • You publicly present yourself as belonging to the claimed sex.
  • You are known to your relatives and colleagues by the claimed sex.
  • You have obtained the change of your first name to match the claimed sex.

FYI  

It is not necessary to undergo medical treatment or have undergone surgery or sterilization to request a change in the civil registration of sex. Your request cannot be refused in the absence of these elements.

You must be of legal age or emancipated minor to apply for a change in the civil registration of sex.

The procedure for changing the civil status of sex before the court of law is subject to a contribution for legal aid from €50 unless you are a beneficiary legal aid.

In practice, you must buy an electronic tax stamp and attach it to your query.

The request must be made by query written on free paper.

You can call on a lawyer but it's not mandatory.

Free and informed consent

You must indicate your free and informed consent to your change of sex in the civil status.

You can indicate in your application: “I give my free and informed consent to the modification of the mention of sex on my marital status”.

Presentation of facts

You must present the facts which demonstrate that the reference to your sex in the civil status records doesn't match the one you're running in and are known to.

Supporting documents

You must attach to your application all the evidence which justify your request for a change of sex in the civil status.

Proof can be provided by any means : written certificate, SMS, email, screenshot, photograph…

Example :

Testimony of a relative, attestation of a public or associative structure, administrative document showing the requested civility, transport card, membership card of a sports or cultural association indicating the civility corresponding to the requested sex.

If you find it useful, you can attach medical elements to your application. However, these medical elements are not required.

First Name Change

Your request must specify whether you also wish to changing one or more of your first names.

If you are married and/or have children, specify whether you want the first name(s) to be updated on the civil status records which concern them. Their consent may be obtained in writing. You can therefore attach to your request the written agreement of your spouse, of each adult child, and of the other legal representative for a minor child. In the absence of writing, the court may obtain their agreement at the hearing, by council chamber.

FYI  

If you are pastHowever, updating your partner's birth certificate by your new first name does not require their consent. Thus, his birth certificate will be updated by the indication of your new first name(s) in the mention of the CIVIL PARTNERSHIPS affixed in the margin.

Be heard by the judge

The judge may decide not to summon you if he considers that your file is complete and that he allows him to make his decision without having to gather additional information.

Also, if you wish to be heard by the judge, you must specify this in your application. In that case, you will be called to a hearing.

In all cases, applications for changes to the registration of sex shall be examined and debated in council chamber.

Electronic tax stamp

You must attach to your request a tax stamp of 50 € unless you are a beneficiary legal aid.

The court competent to consider your application is different depending on your situation.

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You were born in France

You must deliver or mail your query at graft of the judicial tribunal of your place of residence or your place of birth.

You are French born abroad

You must deliver or mail your query at graft of Court of Justice of Nantes or your place of residence in France.

Who shall I contact

You are a refugee (Ofpra), stateless person or beneficiary of subsidiary protection

If you are a refugee (Ofpra: titleContent), stateless person or beneficiary of subsidiary protection, you must deliver or send by mail your query at graft of Paris Court of Justice. You cannot apply to the court of your place of residence.

Who shall I contact

If your application for a change of sex in the civil status is rejected, you can challenge the decision by appealing.

The time limits and remedies are set out in the notification of the decision.

The lawyer is mandatory to appeal. He is responsible for the process.

The decision ordering the modification of the mention of sex in the civil status, and the change of first name if you requested it, is mentioned on the sidelines of your birth certificate. The amendment shall be made, at the request of public prosecutor, within 15 days following the date on which the decision has become final.

You don't have to do it yourself.

In the event of a change of first name, and provided that the court has obtained their agreement, the civil status records that concern your spouse and children are also updated. You can thus request a new family booklet.

The request to update the civil status documents concerning your spouse and/or children may be made after the decision to change your gender and first name in the civil status.

You, your spouse, your adult child, or the other legal representative of your minor child, can make the request.

The request should be addressed to public prosecutor of the court which issued the decision on the change of sex in the civil status and the change of first name.

The application must be accompanied by the following documents:

  • Decision to amend the reference to sex in the civil register
  • Proof of finality the decision to amend the entry of sex in the civil register
  • Written consents of the spouse for the marriage certificate, children of full age for their birth certificate, legal representatives for the birth certificate of minor children.

According to the act to be updated, the following documents must also be attached to the application:

  • Full copy of the marriage certificate
  • Full copy of the spouse's birth certificate
  • Full copy of the birth certificate of the child(ren).

Once the acts concerned by your change of sex in the civil status are updated, you can request the renewal of your identity card and/or your passport.

You can also inform the administrations and organizations concerned by your change of sex in the civil status: employer, health insurance, mutual...

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