Fri Jan 10 16:43:23 UTC 2025: ## Indian Court Clarifies Passport Process for Transgender Citizens After Gender Affirmation Surgery Abroad
**NEW DELHI, January 10, 2025** – The Union government has informed the Delhi High Court that transgender citizens who undergo gender affirmation surgery abroad can re-enter India by submitting a sworn affidavit of gender change and a hospital certificate. This follows concerns raised by the court about the difficulties faced by such individuals due to discrepancies between their old passports and their changed identities.
The Ministry of External Affairs has detailed the required documentation for passport gender changes, stating that individuals can submit either a Certificate of Identity for change of gender (Form 4) and identity card (Form 6) issued under the Transgender Person (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, or a sworn affidavit with a supporting surgical reconstruction certificate from the hospital. As an alternative, an Emergency Certificate can be issued pending the acquisition of the full documentation.
This clarification comes after the court highlighted multiple cases where individuals faced difficulties returning to India after gender affirmation surgery abroad. The court had previously observed the need for a streamlined process to allow these citizens to update their passports and re-enter the country without undue hardship. The government’s response directly addresses this need, providing a clear path for transgender citizens to update their documentation and return home. The court has further requested the passport manual be updated to reflect this new process.
First Piper 