Change of Sex Designation


As of April 27, 2020 individuals can select the following options when applying for a change of sex designation under The Vital Statistics Act:

  • Male (M)
  • Female (F)
  • (X)

  1. Who is eligible?
  2. What's the application process?
  3. What forms of identification can be used as proof of identity?
  4. Who can witness my statutory declaration?
  5. Which health care professionals can provide a supporting letter?
  6. What information is required in the supporting letter from a health care professional?
  7. What guidance is available to health care professionals?
  8. Is evidence of surgery still acceptable?
  9. If I live outside Canada, can I provide a supporting letter from a health care professional in the jurisdiction where I live?
  10. Is a change of sex certificate from another jurisdiction acceptable without a supporting letter?
  11. Why can't I apply to change the sex designation on my birth certificate if I am not born in Manitoba?
  12. Will a change of sex designation automatically result in a change of name?
  13. What is the impact on other document issuers and service providers?
  14. Who can I contact if I need more information?


1. Who is eligible?

To be eligible for a change of sex designation resulting in a new Manitoba birth certificate, your birth must be registered in Manitoba.

Individuals born outside Manitoba can apply for a Change of Sex Designation Certificate.

Individuals married in Manitoba can apply to change the sex designation registered on their marriage registration, and a revised marriage certificate.


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2. What's the new application process?

To change the sex designation on your Manitoba birth registration and obtain a new birth certificate:

  • To apply, complete an Application for a Change of Sex Designation under The Vital Statistics Act.

  • Provide proof of identity. This can be done using government-issued photo identification such as a driver's licence, provincial identity card or passport. If you do not have one of these standard forms of identification, see Question 3 for a complete list of acceptable identity documents. If you deliver your application to Vital Statistics Branch, bring your identification. If you send your application by registered mail, the person who witnesses your statutory declaration must also examine your original identity document and confirm or notarize it. If your birth is registered in Manitoba but you live outside Manitoba, you may be asked to provide evidence of your residence outside Manitoba.

  • Sign your Statutory Declaration before an eligible witness. See Question 4 for a complete list of eligible witnesses.

  • Return all previously issued birth certificates and/or marriage certificates.

  • Pay the prescribed fees:
    • Change of sex designation on Manitoba birth registration: $60.00 ea


      This includes:

      • Change of sex designation on Manitoba birth registration ($30)
      • Birth certificate showing changed sex designation ($30)
      Remember to also submit a separate Application for a Manitoba Birth Document with your Application for a Change of Sex Designation under The Vital Statistics Act.

    • Change of sex designation certificate: $30.00 ea
    • Change of sex designation on Manitoba marriage registration: $30.00 ea
    • Marriage certificate showing changed sex designation: $30.00 ea

    • Remember to submit a separate application for a Manitoba Marriage Document with your Application for a Change of Sex Designation under The Vital Statistics Act.
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3. What forms of identification can be used as proof of identity?

The following documents may be used to prove your identity:
  • Driver's licence or permit with a photo and signature

  • Canadian passport

  • Foreign passport (if not in English or French, include a certified translation)

  • U.S. Passport Card

  • Identification card with a photo and signature issued by Manitoba Public Insurance or by another province, territory or state

  • Certificate of Indian Status or Secure Certificate of Indian Status issued by the Government of Canada

  • Ontario or Quebec Health card with a photo and signature

If you do not have any government-issued photo identification, please call Vital Statistics Branch (204-945-3701 or 1-866-949-9296). Ask for Confidential Services to discuss other options.


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4. Who can witness my statutory declaration?

Your statutory declaration is a sincere statement that you meet the criteria for a change of sex designation, which you make in good faith and honestly believe to be true. The Application for a Change in Sex Designation includes a statutory declaration that you must sign before an eligible witness, which may be different if the declaration is signed in Manitoba or outside Manitoba.

a) If the statutory declaration is signed in Manitoba, it must be witnessed by one of the following persons:
  • a commissioner for oaths (If you deliver your application to Vital Statistics Branch, some staff are commissioners for oaths who can witness your statutory declaration and confirm your identity. Please call ahead to make an appointment.)

  • the Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba

  • the Clerk of the Executive Council of Manitoba

  • a justice of the peace in Manitoba

  • the judge of any court in Manitoba

  • the master, referee, Registrar or deputy registrar of the Court of Queen's Bench, or the deputy of any of them

  • a district registrar, deputy district registrar, or a deputy of a district registrar, of any land titles office in Manitoba, or the Registrar-General under The Real Property Act

  • a barrister or attorney admitted and entitled to practise law in Manitoba

  • a notary public appointed for Manitoba

  • the mayor, reeve, or clerk of any municipality, the resident administrator of any local government district, or the secretary-treasurer of any school district or school division, established under The Public Schools Act

  • the postmaster of any post office in Manitoba who is appointed under the Canada Post Corporation Act (Canada)

  • the chief sheriff or any sheriff or deputy in Manitoba

  • a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Force

  • a surveyor authorized to practise under The Land Surveyors Act

  • a person who holds a commission as an officer in the Canadian Forces and is on full-time service

b) If the statutory declaration is signed outside Manitoba, it must be witnessed by one of the following persons:
  • a judge

  • a justice of the peace

  • an officer of a court of justice

  • a commissioner for taking affidavits, or other competent authority of a similar nature

  • a notary public

  • the head of a city, town, village, township, or other municipality

  • an officer of any of Her Majesty's diplomatic or consular services, including an ambassador, envoy, minister, charge d'affaires, counsellor, secretary, attache, consul-general, consul, vice-consul, pro-consul, consular agent, acting consul-general, acting consul, acting vice-consul and acting consular agent

  • an officer of the Canadian diplomatic, consular, or representative services, including, a high commissioner, permanent delegate, acting high commissioner, acting permanent delegate, counsellor, and secretary

  • a Canadian Government Trade Commissioner or an Assistant Canadian Government Trade Commissioner

  • a commissioner authorized by the laws of Manitoba to take affidavits outside Manitoba

  • a person who holds a commission as an officer in the Canadian Forces and is on full-time service

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5. Which health care professionals can provide a supporting letter?

The health care professional who provides your supporting letter must have treated or evaluated you and must be licensed, certified or registered to practice and in good standing with the regulatory authority for their health care profession.

Eligible health care professionals are:
  • Medical practitioners such as physicians, psychiatrists and surgeons

  • Nurse practitioners

  • Psychologists

  • Psychological associates (independent practice)

If you live in Canada, the health care professional must practice in a jurisdiction within Canada.

If your birth is registered in Manitoba but you ordinarily reside outside Canada, see Question 9.

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6. What information is required in the supporting letter from a health care professional?

A template for the health professional's supporting letter can be found in Section G of the Application for a Change of Sex Designation. Bring the form to your health care professional to complete and sign. Alternatively, some health care professionals may prepare the supporting letter on their letterhead.

Submit an original letter signed by the health care professional with your application.


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7. What guidance is available to health care professionals?

Vital Statistics Branch relies on the professional judgment, experience and expertise of health care professionals, as well as their contact with the person to determine whether the person's sex designation should be changed. Standards of care guidelines have been established by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health and are available online at www.wpath.org.


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8. Is evidence of surgery still acceptable?

There is no requirement for a person to have transsexual surgery to change the sex designation on their birth registration. Vital Statistics Branch will nonetheless continue to accept evidence of surgery from Canadian medical practitioners. Applicants can choose whether to provide this evidence or a supporting letter from a health care professional.


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9. If I live outside Canada, can I provide a supporting letter from a health care professional in the jurisdiction where I live?

If your birth is registered in Manitoba and you can provide satisfactory evidence that you ordinarily reside outside Canada, you may provide a supporting letter from a health care professional who treated or evaluated you outside Canada. The health care professional must meet the same criteria outlined in Question 5 and must provide proof of their qualification to practice in the jurisdiction outside Canada. If your supporting letter is not in English or French, you must submit the original and a certified translation.


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10. Is a change of sex certificate from another jurisdiction acceptable without a supporting letter?

If you live(d) outside Manitoba, you may be able to submit evidence that your change of sex designation was officially recognized in another jurisdiction . The document must be issued by an official body that has the legal authority to change sex designation under criteria comparable to Manitoba. Examples of such documents include a "certificate of change in designation of sex" issued by the Registrar of Civil Status in Québec or a gender recognition certificate issued in the United Kingdom and some Australian states. Submit certified copies of the certificate along with your application form.

Along with the certificate, you will also need to provide evidence of your residence in the jurisdiction that issued the certificate.


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11. Why can't I apply to change the sex designation on my birth certificate if I am not born in Manitoba?

Births are registered in the jurisdiction where an individual was born. Manitoba Vital Statistics Branch can only issue birth certificates for births registered in Manitoba. If you weren't born in Manitoba, you need to check with the vital statistics organization of the province or jurisdiction in which you were born for the procedure to change the sex designation on your birth certificate.


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12. Will a change of sex designation automatically result in a change of name?

No. The process to legally change your name is described here. Only individuals who have resided in Manitoba for at least three continuous months are eligible to apply for a legal change of name in Manitoba. If you live outside Manitoba, check with your local vital statistics organization to determine your options for a legal change of name.


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13. What is the impact on other document issuers and service providers?

Birth certificates are generally accepted as foundation identity documents. If you wish to change information on other identity documents, contact the organization that issued the document to determine their requirements.

If you are applying for a change of sex designation to (X), please be advised that the Government of Manitoba cannot guarantee that a birth certificate with a sex designation of (X) will be accepted by organizations in Manitoba or by other jurisdictions.

Other programs and services independently determine their eligibility requirements. Other organizations' eligibility criteria may be different. Eligibility for a change of sex designation under The Vital Statistics Act does not correspond to eligibility for other benefits and services.


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14. Who can I contact if I need more information?

Phone (ask for Confidential Services): 204-945-3701
Toll Free: 1-866-949-9296
Email: vsacsu@gov.mb.ca

To protect your personal information and personal health information, do not attempt to submit your application to Vital Statistics Branch by email.

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