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)
Effective June 3, 2025, individuals who are 18 years of age or older no longer require a health care professional's confirmation.
- Who is eligible?
- How do I apply and what supporting documentation is required?
- What is acceptable supporting documentation for proof of identity?
- What is acceptable supporting documentation for proof of residency?
- Who can witness my statutory declaration?
- How do I confirm photocopies of my supporting documents?
- Do I need a supporting letter from a health care professional?
- Which health care professionals can provide a supporting letter?
- What information is required in the supporting letter from a health care professional?
- What guidance is available to health care professionals?
- If I live outside Canada, can I provide a supporting letter from a health care professional in the jurisdiction where I live?
- Is a change of sex certificate from another jurisdiction acceptable to change my Manitoba birth record?
- Why can't I apply to change the sex designation on my birth certificate if I am not born in Manitoba?
- Will a change of sex designation automatically result in a change of name?
- What is the impact on other document issuers and service providers?
- Who can I contact if I need more information?
1. Who is eligible?
A person who was born in Manitoba may apply to change the sex designation on their birth registration.
A person who was born outside of Manitoba, is a Canadian citizen AND has been a resident of Manitoba for at least one continuous year before applying may apply for a change of sex designation certificate.
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2. How do I apply and what supporting documentation is required?
To apply, complete an Application for a Change of Sex Designation, and submit with the following supporting documentation:
- If you were born in Manitoba
- all previously issued Manitoba Birth Certificates
- proof of Identity.
- If you were born outside of Manitoba but within Canada
- Provincial Birth Certificate
- proof of identity
- proof of residency in Manitoba.
- If you were born outside of Canada
- Canadian Citizenship Certificate
- proof of identity
- proof of residency in Manitoba.
- originals, or copies confirmed by an eligible witness; and
- translated into English or French by a certified translator, if in a language other than English or French.
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3. What is acceptable supporting documentation for proof of identity?
Your identity document must:
- be valid and issued by a government body
- have a distinct identification number
- show your current full legal name
- have an expiry date
- include your photograph.
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4. What is acceptable supporting documentation for proof of residency?
Your residency document and must:
- be valid and issued by a government body
- show your current address
- include an issue date.
If you have the new plastic Manitoba Health card that does not have your address on it, it may be accepted with one of the following:
- Signed mortgage agreement
- Signed long term rental or lease agreement
- Utility bill - hydro, gas, water/sewer, waste
- Property tax bill
- Revenue Canada income tax assessment showing Manitoba as your residence
- Social assistance benefit confirmation
- Employment and income assistance statement of benefits.
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5. Who can witness my statutory declaration?
The application for a Change of Sex Designation includes a statutory declaration that you must sign before an eligible witness. Your statutory declaration is a truthful statement that you meet the criteria in The Vital Statistics Act for a change of sex designation, which you make in good faith and honestly believe to be true. Please note that the list of eligible witnesses is different if the declaration is signed in Manitoba or outside of Manitoba.
a) If the statutory declaration is signed in Manitoba, it must be witnessed by one of the following persons:
- a commissioner for oaths (available at the Vital Statistics Branch by 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
- an associate judge or the Registrar or a deputy registrar of the Court of King's Bench
- 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 in Manitoba or the deputy of any of them
- 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.
- 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 exercising their functions or having jurisdiction or authority as such in the place which the statutory declaration is sworn or affirmed.
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6. How do I confirm photocopies of my supporting documents?
The person who witnesses your signature may also confirm photocopies of the supporting documents you submit with your application (ie proof of identity, proof of residency).
To confirm photocopies of supporting documents:
- Present the original supporting documents and the photocopies to the person who will witness your signatures.
- Ask the witness to compare each original supporting document with the photocopy, and then write the following on each photocopy:
- "I (print witness name), confirm that I have compared the particulars on the original document to the applicant and confirm this is a true copy of the (document type and number) issued to (applicant's name as shown on document)."
- (witness signature)
- Ask the witness to sign every statement on each photocopy.
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7. Do I need a supporting letter from a health care professional?
If you are 18 years of age or older a supporting letter from a health care professional is not required.
A supporting letter from a health care professional is only required for a person that is 17 years of age or younger. Alternative supporting documentation such as a change of sex certificate from another jurisdiction may be accepted.
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8. Which health care professionals can provide a supporting letter?
If you are 17 years of age or younger, the health care professional who provides your supporting letter must have treated or evaluated you, and must be licensed, certified or registered to practice their health care profession in the jurisdiction in which they practice, and be in good standing with the regulatory authority for their health care profession in that jurisdication.
Eligible health care professionals are:
- Medical practitioners such as physicians, psychiatrists and surgeons
- Nurse practitioners
- Psychologists
- Psychological associates (independent practice)
If your birth is registered in Manitoba but you ordinarily reside outside Canada, see Question 11.
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9. What information is required in the supporting letter from a health care professional?
If you are 17 years of age of younger, a template for the health professional's supporting letter can be found in Section H 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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10. 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 direct contact with the person to determine whether the person's sex designation is consistent with the one in which they identify. 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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11. If I live outside Canada, can I provide a supporting letter from a health care professional in the jurisdiction where I live?
If you are 17 years of age or younger, 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 8 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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12. Is a change of sex certificate from another jurisdiction sufficient to change my Manitoba birth record?
No, you will need to complete the Manitoba Application for a Change of Sex Designation to change your Manitoba birth record.
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13. 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 were born outside of Manitoba, check with the vital statistics organization you were born in to determine your options for a change the sex designation on your birth certificate.
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14. 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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15. 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. 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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16. Who can I contact if I need more information?
| Phone: | 204-945-3701 |
| Toll Free: | 1-866-949-9296 |
| Email: | vsacsu@gov.mb.ca |
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