Spain lets trans foreigners update name and gender on ID

Spain will permit transgender foreigners to alter their name and gender on official police-issued documents starting July 14, 2026. The policy, approved by Police Director General Francisco Pardo and announced by Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska, covers a wide range of residency and registration paperwork.

Previously, trans migrants arriving from countries that did not legally recognise their gender transition were forced to carry Spanish documents bearing their "deadname", the name used prior to transitioning. This mismatch created bureaucratic friction and practical barriers to accessing housing, banking, and employment.

The new protocol establishes two clear pathways for resolving these discrepancies. If a migrant has already legally changed their name and gender in their home country, they only need to present a valid passport or travel document alongside the Spanish paperwork requiring an update.

If a legal change is impossible in their country of origin, Spain’s Immigration and Borders Brigade will step in. The brigade will request a certification from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirming the legal or practical impossibility of making the change abroad. Once confirmed, the Central Register of Foreigners will issue updated documents.

The affected documents include Foreigner Identity Cards, certificates for EU citizens, registration certificates for undocumented foreigners, and travel titles. By standardising these records, the government aims to streamline public administration. Grande-Marlaska noted the measure facilitates processing “both for the applicants and for the various administrative bodies involved.”

Aligning foreigner documentation with domestic standards removes a significant hurdle to daily economic and social participation. “This protocol restores dignity to a doubly vulnerable group: a document that reflects who you are is the key to a dignified daily life, from renting a home to obtaining a transport pass,” said Senator and Madrid MP Carla Antonelli.

The State Federation of LGBTI+ People estimates roughly 65,000 transgender people could benefit from the change. The measure implements Law 4/2023, Spain’s trans equality legislation passed in February 2023, which allowed Spanish citizens over 16 to change their registered gender through a simple declaration.

It also builds on a 2024 administrative update that introduced a non-binary "X" gender marker on Foreigner Identity Cards. That earlier change applied specifically to foreigners whose non-binary identity was already legally recognised in their home countries, further expanding Spain's approach to inclusive documentation across Europe.