How new passport requirements will impact U-M travelers with "X" markers

A hand, holding a passport, reaches from outside the frame toward a packed travel bag

November 13, 2025

The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on November 6, 2025, allows the Trump administration to enforce its previously-announced policy requiring new U.S. passports to display sex assigned at birth—a change that will impact U-M staff, faculty, and students with “X” markers traveling internationally. 
 

What has changed?

The underlying case is still working its way through lower courts, which means this remains a rapidly evolving issue at the time of publication. For now, the State Department has removed the option to select “X” as a gender marker on its passport application.

Additionally, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), through Executive Order 14168, is enforcing binary sex marker requirements in APIS, a key airline passenger database. Airlines must now report sex markers in international flight manifests using only “M” or “F.” Passports, tickets, and system entries reflecting “X” will result in errors and require resubmission.
 

How will this affect travelers?

The University of Michigan community is globally engaged, with thousands of students, faculty, and staff traveling internationally each year for university-related programs and initiatives.

  • Applying for, renewing, or replacing a passport:
    Those applying for, renewing, or replacing a U.S. passport must select either “M” or “F”—whichever corresponds to a traveler’s sex assigned at birth. You can no longer select “X.” 
  • Traveling with an existing “X” passport:
    Current passports with “X” markers remain valid until expiration; however, travelers should be prepared for delays or questions at airline check-in or border crossings due to system mismatches. Only “M” or “F” markers are accepted in APIS.
  • Traveling abroad:
    Travelers whose passports reflect the “X” sex designation may encounter delays or questions due to the discrepancy between travel documents with APIS/CBP data.
     

Support from Spectrum Center

If you have questions or need to talk, please take advantage of our upcoming opportunities and virtual office hours, explore our trans guide to U-M, send us an email, or stop by the center.

Get your questions answered at our passport info session

All travelers, including those who may be impacted, are invited to attend our annual Trans and Nonbinary Passport Info Session and Clinic on Friday, November 21 from noon to 3:00 pm. Our legal expert will open the event with a virtual information session on the rights of and considerations for trans and nonbinary travelers and those seeking new passports. Following the session, we’re hosting an in-person passport clinic where the Washtenaw County Clerk's office will assist individuals in applying for, renewing, or making changes to their passports, including name changes or updated gender markers. Registration is required, and the event is open to the community.

Meet with us during virtual office hours

Want to talk 1:1? Book time with a Spectrum Center staff member to chat virtually from wherever you are.

Connect with your peers

Through our peer-led Q’mmunity Q’nnections, you can support and empower yourself and others while building community and collective resources. These social drop-in spaces—Ace/aro, QTBIPOC, Trans and nonbinary, and graduate students—are open to U-M students of all sexualities and genders.
 

Additional U-M resources

 

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