Applying to change one's gender status and first name(s) in the civil register

Last update

Demande de changement de nom/prénom(s) ou Demande de modification de la mention du sexe et du/des prénom(s) à l’état civil
Go to online services and forms

Any Luxembourg or foreign national, be they an adult or a minor, may apply to have their gender status changed in Luxembourg's civil register.

At the same time, they may also apply to have one or several of their first names changed.

Applicants who wish to have only their first name(s) changed without having their gender status changed must file an application with the Ministry of Justice.

These applications must be filed with the Ministry of Justice.

Who is concerned

The option to change one's gender status is open to all adults and minors, provided they satisfy certain conditions. Specifically, this option is open to:

  • Luxembourg nationals; or
  • foreign nationals, provided that their usual place of residence is in Luxembourg and that they lawfully reside there; or
  • persons who have refugee, subsidiary protection or stateless status.

Prerequisites

The following persons must have had their usual place of residence and have been lawfully residing in Luxembourg for at least 12 consecutive months immediately prior to their application:

  • any adult who is a foreign national and has refugee, or subsidiary protection or stateless status;
  • non-Luxembourg nationals who have parental authority over or are the legal guardians of any minor who is a foreign national and who has refugee, or subsidiary protection or stateless status.

The fact that the applicant has not undergone medical treatment, surgery or sterilisation is not a valid reason for denying the application.

Costs

The procedure to have one's gender status or first name(s) changed is free of charge.

How to proceed

Submitting the application

The request can be made:

  • in writing to the Minister of Justice, either in person or through a lawyer; or
  • online through the MyGuichet.lu assistant, using their LuxTrust product or electronic identity card (eID).

How to create a private eSpace on MyGuichet.lu

A tutorial is available to help you set up a private eSpace on MyGuichet.lu if you do not already have one.

Anyone with a private eSpace on MyGuichet.lu that is linked to the mobile app can also submit their application using the mobile app.

The forms and links to the online procedure are available in the 'Online services and forms' section.

Adults

Applications to have one's gender status and first name(s) changed must be filed with:

  • the Minister of Justice, if the applicant has reached the age of majority and is legally capable, be they Luxembourg or foreign nationals;
  • the competent district court, if the applicant has reached the age of majority and has been placed under guardianship or curatorship.

Adults who have already obtained a change in gender status and change in one or several of their first names may file a new application for a change in gender status and also to have one or more of their first names changed to conform with the change in gender status (e.g. John > Jane). In that case, the application must be filed with the competent district court.

Minors

Applications for minors, be they Luxembourg or foreign nationals, must be filed with:

  • the Ministry of Justice, if the minor is at least 5 years of age;
  • the competent district court, if the minor is under the age of 5.

The application must indicate that the persons with parental authority over the minor, or the minor's legal representative, have given their consent to the change.

In the event of disagreement between the minor and the persons with parental authority over them, or between the minor and their legal representative, the first parent to take action may file an application with the competent district court, which will rule in the child's best interest.

The minor, along with the persons with parental authority over them, or the minor's legal representative, must go in together in person with their national identity card or passport. If the child is at least 12 years of age, the child must also give their consent to the requested change in gender status and first name(s) at the time of presentation at the Ministry of Justice.

For minors who are at least 5 years of age, sufficient evidence must be presented to show that the gender status currently recorded in the civil register does not reflect their gender identity.

Such evidence may include:

  • the fact that the minor's gender expression matches the gender being applied for;
  • the fact that the minor is identified by their family, friends and acquaintances as the gender being applied for;
  • the fact that the minor has previously obtained a change in first name to match the gender being applied for.

Supporting documents

If it is materially impossible for the applicant to produce the required documents, the Minister of Justice may, at the applicant's request, exempt the applicant from having to produce one or several of the documents. If such an exemption is granted, the applicant may provide any evidence demonstrating that the legal conditions have been fulfilled.

Documents which are not in Luxembourgish, German or French must be accompanied by a translation produced by a sworn translator accredited by the Luxembourg Supreme Court of Justice (Cour supérieure de justice du Luxembourg) or by a foreign public authority.

Adults

Free and informed consent

The applicant must submit an application stating that they have given their free and informed consent, along with all of the required particulars (Form A may be used for this purpose – see 'Online services and forms').

The following wording must be reproduced in the application: 'la personne concernée déclare consentir librement et être consciente des modifications enregistrées à l’état civil au cas où la demande est avisée positivement par le ministre de la Justice' (the person concerned declares that they freely consent to and are aware of the changes that will be recorded in the civil register if the application is approved by the Minister of Justice). 'Ces modifications concernent donc le changement du sexe et du/des prénom(s) sur tous les documents à l’état civil et les documents publics' (Said changes pertain to the gender status and first name(s) that will appear in all civil-register and public documents).

Evidence in support of the application

The applicant must demonstrate, by producing sufficient evidence, that the gender status currently recorded in the civil register does not reflect their gender identity.

Such evidence may include:

  • the fact that the person's gender expression matches the gender being applied for;
  • the fact that the person is identified by their family, friends and professional or other personal entourage as the gender being applied for;
  • the fact that the person has previously obtained a change in first name to match the gender being applied for.

Documents that may be submitted as evidence include, for example:

  • written statements by persons who may or may not be related to the applicant, or by the applicant's employer(s) (Form F may be used for this purpose – see 'Online services and forms'). These include written statements by a public body, a voluntary support organisation, or close relatives or friends, asserting that the person concerned identifies and is identified as the gender being applied for.
    A copy of the ID card or passport of each person providing such a supporting statement must be submitted to the Ministry of Justice.
  • any other document or certificate.
Extract from the criminal record

If the applicant is a Luxembourg national, they must provide an extract from the Luxembourg criminal record (record no. 3) issued fewer than 30 days before the application is submitted.

If the applicant is not a national of a EU Member State, they must provide:

  • an extract from the Luxembourg criminal record (record no. 3) issued fewer than 30 days before the application is submitted; and
  • the extracts from the foreign criminal records (or similar documents) issued by the relevant authorities of the foreign country or countries in which they are or were a citizen and the foreign country or countries where they have resided since the age of 18 over the course of the 15 years immediately preceding the submission of the application.

EU nationals must provide an extract from the national criminal record issued fewer than 30 days before the application is submitted.

Other supporting documents

Applicants must also submit:

  • a full copy of their birth certificate (rather than merely an extract) issued within the last 3 months;
  • a copy of their valid passport or a copy of their valid national identity card;
  • a certificate issued by the competent authority proving that the applicant is not under guardianship or curatorship (the competent authority is the Civil Register (Service du répertoire civil) for orders issued in Luxembourg);
    To obtain that certificate, the following documents must be sent to the Civil Register by email or post:
    • a residence certificate;
    • a copy of the national identification number (matricule);
    • a copy of the applicant's national identity card or passport, if the applicant resides in the European Union.

If the person concerned is married or in a civil partnership, they must inform their spouse or partner of their intention to request a change of gender. This information must be served in advance by a bailiff.

Minors

The persons who have parental authority over the minor, or the minor's legal representative, must submit the required documents to the Minister of Justice. In addition, they have to present a signed application that:

  • states their approval, accompanied by any evidence in support the application;
  • specifically states the first name(s) requested.
Evidence in support of the application

Sufficient evidence must be presented to show that the gender status currently recorded in the civil register does not reflect the person's gender identity.

Such evidence may include:

  • the fact that the person's gender expression matches the gender being applied for;
  • the fact that the person is identified by their family, friends and professional or other personal entourage as the gender being applied for;
  • the fact that the person has previously obtained a change in first name to match the gender being applied for.

Documents that the persons with parental authority over the minor, or the minor's legal representative, must provide as evidence may include the following:

  • written statements by persons who may or may not be related to the applicant, or by the applicant's employer(s) (Form F may be used for this purpose – see 'Online services and forms' below). These include written statements by a public body, a voluntary support organisation, or close relatives or friends, asserting that the person concerned identifies and is identified as the gender being applied for.
    A copy of the ID card or passport of each person providing such a supporting statement must be submitted to the Ministry of Justice;
  • any other document or certificate.
Extract from the criminal record

If the persons with parental authority over the minor, or the minor's legal representative, are Luxembourg nationals, they must provide an extract from their Luxembourg criminal record, issued fewer than 30 days before the application is submitted.

If the persons with parental authority over the minor, or the minor's legal representative, are EU nationals, they must provide an extract from their national criminal record issued fewer than 30 days before the application is submitted.

If the persons with parental authority over the minor, or the minor's legal representative, are nationals of a non-EU Member State, they must provide:

  • an extract from the Luxembourg criminal record issued fewer than 30 days before the application is submitted; or
  • the foreign criminal records, or a similar document, issued by the relevant authorities or from the foreign country or countries in which the applicant is or was a citizen and the foreign country or countries where they have resided since the age of 18 over the course of the 15 years immediately preceding the submission of the application.
Other supporting documents

The person submitting the application must also provide:

  • a full copy of the minor's birth certificate (rather than merely an extract) issued within the last 3 months;
  • a copy of the minor's valid passport and of those of the persons with parental authority over the minor, or that of the minor's legal representative, or copies of those persons' valid national identity cards.

Follow-up on the application

If the applicant is an adult: they will be invited by the Minister of Justice to come in to have their identity checked. The applicant must go in to the Ministry of Justice in person, with their ID card or passport.

If the applicant is a minor: they must go in person, accompanied by the persons with parental authority over them, or by their legal representative, all presenting their national ID card or passport. If the child is at least 12 years of age, they must also give their consent to the requested change in gender status and first name(s).

If the applicant is a Luxembourg national but does not reside in Luxembourg, they may file a reasoned request to have their identity checked at the nearest Luxembourg consulate, or the consular section of the Luxembourg embassy with jurisdiction for their place of residence. The request must be accompanied by proof of residence abroad.

Application approved

Applications for a change in gender status and first name(s) are approved or denied by ministerial decree.

If the application to change gender status and first name(s) is approved, the applicant must, on their own initiative and as soon as possible, update all public documents issued in Luxembourg, such as their passport, ID card, driving licence, social security card, etc.

To do so, they will need to provide:

  • the new extract of their birth certificate, showing their new gender status and first names(s) as they now appear in the updated civil register;
  • the ministerial decree that was sent to them, which can be used as a legal instrument.

If there is any doubt as to the fulfilment of the conditions of the law on changing one's gender status or first name(s) (loi relative à la modification de la mention du sexe et du ou des prénom(s)), the Minister of Justice will consult the State Public Prosecutor (Procureur général d’État), who will then issue an opinion.

The Minister of Justice may cancel the change in gender status and first name(s) by ministerial decree if the applicant is found to have made false statements, concealed important facts or acted fraudulently. However, before a decision is taken, the applicant will be invited to provide a written explanation.

Application denied

If the application to change gender status and first name(s) is denied, the applicant will be sent a copy of the ministerial decree, and may then file:

  • a non-contentious appeal with the Minister of Justice; or
  • a judicial appeal before the administrative tribunal, within 3 months of receiving notification of the ministerial decree. In that case, an appeal against the decision of the administrative tribunal may be filed with the administrative court (Cour administrative) within 40 days of notification of the judgment by the clerk of the administrative tribunal.

The appeal before the administrative tribunal and the appeal before the administrative court must be filed with the assistance of a lawyer.

Effects of changing gender status and first name(s)

The ministerial decree or judgement establishing the change in gender status and first name(s) will be referenced in the margin of the birth certificate of the person concerned only.

If a Luxembourg applicant's birth certificate was drawn up abroad, it will be transcribed in the civil register in:

  • the commune where the applicant has their usual place of residence; or
  • the City of Luxembourg, if the applicant's usual place of residence is not Luxembourg.

The ministerial decree will be referenced in the transcribed birth certificate.

Concerning the descendants of a person who has had their gender status and first name(s) changed:

  • if the person conceives or gives birth to a child after the change in gender status, their filiation with the child will be established on the basis of their biological sex;
  • the change in a parent's gender status and first name(s) has no effect whatsoever on their filiation with their children, and the rights and responsibilities arising therefrom;
  • the change in a parent's gender status is not mentioned in their descendants' birth certificates.

A change in gender status in the civil register has no effect on obligations arising out of agreements with third parties.

Online services and forms

Online services

Demande de changement de nom/prénom(s) ou Demande de modification de la mention du sexe et du/des prénom(s) à l’état civil

Downloadable forms

Note: view tips for using PDF forms.

Demande de modification de la mention du sexe et du/des prénoms à l’état civil (Formulaire A)

Last update 18.10.2023

PDF121 Kb

Attestation dans le cadre d’une demande de modification de la mention du sexe et du/des prénoms à l’état civil (Formulaire F)

Last update 18.10.2023

PDF136 Kb

Who to contact

2 of 9 bodies shown

  • Public Prosecutor's office Civil Register

    Address:
    35, rue de Bonnevoie L-1260 Luxembourg Luxembourg
    Cité judiciaire - Plateau du Saint-Esprit - L-2080 Luxembourg
    Phone:
    (+352) 24 73 23 41
    Open Closes at 16.00
    Thursday:
    9.00 to 12.00 , 13.00 to 16.00
    Friday:
    9.00 to 12.00 , 13.00 to 16.00
    Saturday:
    Closed
    Sunday:
    Closed
    Monday:
    9.00 to 12.00 , 13.00 to 16.00
    Tuesday:
    9.00 to 12.00 , 13.00 to 16.00
    Wednesday:
    9.00 to 12.00 , 13.00 to 16.00

2 of 5 bodies shown

Related procedures and links

Procedures

Links

Further information

Listes des experts, traducteurs et interprètes assermentés

sur le site du ministère de la Justice

Legal references

Loi du 10 août 2018

relative à la modification de la mention du sexe et du ou des prénoms à l’état civil et portant modification du Code civil.

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