WILLEMSTAD – As of January 20, the United States no longer accepts passports that use ‘X’ as a gender marker. The policy applies to all travelers with such passports, including residents of Curaçao holding a Dutch travel document. Several European countries have since updated their travel advisories in response to the change.
An increasing number of countries, including the Netherlands, allow citizens to choose a gender-neutral designation in their passports. Instead of ‘M’ for male or ‘V’ for female, these passports display an ‘X.’ However, the U.S. does not recognize this designation and requires official documents to explicitly indicate either ‘M’ or ‘F.’ As a result, passports marked with an ‘X’ are no longer accepted, even if the traveler holds a valid ESTA or visa.
For Curaçao residents, this means that traveling to the U.S. with an ‘X’ passport is now impossible. They, like other Dutch citizens, must have a passport with a traditional gender marker to enter the country. The policy primarily affects non-binary and transgender individuals who have chosen or are considering the ‘X’ option.
According to U.S. officials, the measure aims to standardize border control procedures. In response, European countries such as Germany, Finland, and the Netherlands have updated their travel guidelines. Travelers are advised to check their documents well in advance and contact their airline or the U.S. embassy if they have any concerns.