What changing your documents looks like for trans people in Serbia

After two or more years of psychiatric consultations and endocrinologist appointments, transgender people gain the possibility of changing their name, sex marker and personal identification number, bringing their documents in line with their gender identity. In other words — all trans people are forced through medical examinations and hormone therapy first, and the change of documents comes only afterwards. The process is long and exhausting, and it can drag on.

The first step is collecting the necessary medical documentation, which includes certificates from a psychiatrist and an endocrinologist (proof that the person has been on hormone therapy for at least a year). The documents are then sent to the municipality where the person was born, which approves the change of the sex marker. With that proof, the person goes to the police directorate in their place of residence, where the personal identification number is changed. The certificate of the new sex marker and identification number is then taken to the municipality of residence, where a request to change one's name is filed. All three certificates are required to apply for a new identity card and passport, a driving licence and other documents, such as school diplomas and the health-insurance booklet.

If an employee of an institution refuses to issue documents consistent with the changed data, that constitutes serious discrimination and should be met with an appropriate response. Those affected can invoke the Law on the Prohibition of Discrimination, which obliges institutions to issue documents consistent with changed personal data.

Every case of discrimination can be reported — for example to the association Da se zna, whose legal team can help resolve the problem.

Source: XXZ magazin. English adaptation: gay-serbia.com.