Evidence to support your application for a Gender Recognition Certificate
Your application for a Gender Recognition Certificate rests upon two sets of criteria. A diagnosis of gender dysphoria by an accredited specialist along with evidence that you have taken major steps to modify your body and appearance to be consistent with your gender identity; genital surgery is not essential, although if undertaken details will have to be provided. However, there is no need to go to the expense of providing albums of graphic detail as a simple statement by the medical specialist describing the procedures carried out is all that is needed. The President's guidance gives a very good explanation of the level of medical information needed.
In addition to the medical evidence you have to demonstrate that you have lived permanently in your adopted gender for at least two years. This is not as straightforward a requirement as it might at first appear. Although, almost certainly, the specialists treating you will have insisted on a two year “Real Life Experience” before agreeing to surgical intervention, this doesn't necessarily lead to the accumulation of the document trail needed to satisfy the exacting requirements of the Gender Recognition Panel. They will make a critical assessment based upon the precise evidence presented in different categories and it falls to you to make sure that this is full and sufficient.
Change of name documentation, government issued ID such as Passport or Driving licence fall in this category. If you have these documents and they are dated at least two years prior to the date of the application there is a fair chance that your certificate will be issued without hitch. Note while the panel is familiar with documents issued by the United Kingdom government, do not assume they will understand the importance of those issued by other countries—if they are in a language other than English it might be wise to provide a translation. To make an application if you haven't formally changed your name in line with your adopted gender is pointless. There is no requirement for you to have either a driving licence or a passport, but if you don't have these explain why. Otherwise ensure they are issued in the correct name and gender before applying so your application will not be rejected outright.
Documents issued by your employer (badge, pay slips etc.) are in this class. However, unless these have a clear date of issue at least two years in the past (when the application was submitted) and the name on the document is identical to that on your application the panel will view them with circumspection. For instance badges with an expiry date, but no issue date, are unlikely to be accepted. Utility bills, letters from friends and family and bank statements also fall into this category. Affidavits of acquaintance and the like are only likely to be accepted if they have been properly sworn. Letters from employers confirming you have been working in your correct gender for at least two years would also be a candidate, particularly if sworn.
Falling into this grouping are credit cards, club and frequent flyer membership cards, unsworn affidavits, letters without a clear original date and so on. Credit reports, untainted with your birth name might also be considered.
If you are unable to provide category A documents of sufficient longevity, you must provide sufficient evidence to embrace all phases of your life from the other groupings, Despite the suggestion in the panel's guidance that two pieces of information are sufficient, feel free to supply as much evidence as you can lay your hands on covering every aspect of your life and supply additional explanatory material if the source and circumstances are not immediately clear. You can be assured the panel will fairly, if legalistically, consider everything you provide.
Search the site.