Well at last I can achieve the dream of having my correct gender on a US official ID. Since the State Department has [finally made this possible](https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/need-passport/selecting-your-gender-marker.html) for American citizens.
But I’m expecting that if I get my X marker, I could have problems entering Japan for travel when it’s possible again. Regardless of recent progress for LGBTQI folks, seems to me that broad or official recognition of X-gender is many years down the line. So it could be a major barrier for a long time to come. Haven’t updated my passport yet.
I found one thread on this from a while ago in /r/japanlife. Any more thoughts?
11 comments
Don’t see why it would be an issue to travel with a government-issued photo ID made specifically for you to travel to foreign countries. We have people in Japan who don’t fit into traditional gender categories and they travel abroad without any issues (that I know of–I live in a pretty progressive bubble). They’re looking for terrorists and criminals and could care less about your gender/sexual identity.
The more important issue is when Japan will open to tourism…doesn’t sound like Kishida is planning on it anytime soon as of his announcement earlier this month.
I wouldn’t think it could get you rejected from entry. Will you face extra scrutiny because it’s not something the border officers normally see? Probably. Is there a chance a confused border officer will pull you off to a side room while he checks with his superiors on what to do? Yes.
You’re a tourist wanting to spend money, why would they block you from entering?
Well at the end of the day it’s the individual immigration officer that typically makes the decision on whether to let you through or not (although this can often be escalated to a supervisor and appealed). So just like with the rest of society it’s a toss up as to whether you’ll get someone who is accepting or at least indifferent.
To preface, as a cis person, I cannot completely understand how you feel but I want to be clear that I am not trying to dismiss your feelings in any way.
As you note, there has been a lot of progress for LGBTQI people in some countries, thankfully, but that progress is not the same everywhere as you very well know.
Your passport will be used for you to travel to all countries, whether progressive or not. Even if it is an official document that should be recognized by officials in all countries – and that may be true as you go through immigration – I’m not as certain that you wouldn’t run into trouble (even if it just means extra scrutiny or questioning) in some situations in some countries.
Therefore, while I would second the opinions of others that you likely would not have any trouble in Japan, I also want to point out that Japan might not be the only country you ever travel to. Also, if your passport is checked by small-town cops, for example, they may not have as much knowledge of updated passports and it could cause you trouble (even if the trouble is just a bit of wasted time as they call someone to verify the new passport gender).
So to me, practically speaking, I would not change the passport. But, I’m a very practical person and it’s easy for me to say that as a cis person so please don’t take it the wrong way, but I just want to offer a different perspective.
1. Note that disemberkation card requires you to choose either “Male” or “Female” since Japanese law does not recognized other choices. This would be pretty much non-negotiable. While immigration/border control officers will be fairly familiar with travel documents with “X”.
2. An “X” in your passport might be a significant issue with certain sort of accommodation like capsule hotels or hostels, which would be typically gender-segregated (not all hostels are). Registration cards will also require you to state your biological sex
3. If you are using gender-segregated facilities (such as onsen, baths, public restrooms) – you should use the facilities that match your biological sex.
Do note that “X” in a travel document does not denote “non-binary” or “transgender”, just “unspecified” sex.
i would expect some level of hassle anywhere but north america and western europe, but it’s up to you
If it was a legal document, I’m not sure they could reject you just because of your recognised gender? Obviously we don’t have any precedent set (as far as I’ve seen) to show otherwise so definitely would be interested to see if this isn’t the case.
I have a nonbinary passport, used it in Japan, Hong Kong, Philippines. None of them cared, off I went, had a great time.
Your nationality is all that matters (Visa-free Entry) not your gender. Trust me. If your documents are genuine l, it doesn’t matter what’s on it. It has to be VALID. Japanese immigration is bureaucratic in that sense.
Source: I’m a proud and out LGBTQ+ Traveller
I dont have an experience with an X on the passport but my friend did travel there with a gender that didnt match his anymore. When my group went in late 2018 my one friend had been on T for a long while and had top surgery so he had a bit of a beard growing in and a flat chest but his passport still said, female since he had not yet legally changed it over yet (paperwork was taking longer than expected). We had absolutely no problems getting into Japan and even in the Onsen Ryokan we stayed at there were no issues with him entering the male-only indoor bath. Can’t speak for accommodations though since we always did mixed or private rooms so all 4 of us could stay together. The only time we had issues was getting back into Canada when we tried to use the automated Canadian citizen customs kiosk and it got confused with his passport and face scan so we got flagged for a baggage check. Minor inconvenience at most.