Canada updates U.S. travel advisory, warning citizens with gender-neutral passports

The advisory warns those travellers with an ‘X’ gender identifier that plan enter through other countries, including the U.S., might not be able to.

The federal government has updated its travel advisory for the U.S. by adding a cautionary note concerning gender-neutral passports.

While Canada issues passports with the “X” marker for non-binary citizens, those who don’t identify as strictly male or female, the advisory warns that entry or transit through other countries — including the U.S. — cannot be guaranteed for travellers using that designation.

The advisory further notes that some international countries and travel companies may not recognize “X” as a gender identifier and travellers may still be required to supply a “male” or “female” identifier when travelling.

“Before you leave, verify this information with the closest foreign representative for your destination,” the advisory said.

This warning comes amid a growing uncertainty over how different jurisdictions treat non-binary or gender-neutral passport markers.

After U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order the day he took office, an immediate stop was put to gender-neutral markers on U.S. federal documents, including passports.

The U.S. State Department stopped issuing travel documents with the “X” gender marker preferred by many non-binary people. The department also stopped allowing people to change the gender listed on their passport or get new ones that reflect their preferred gender, rather than their sex assigned at birth.

In September, the Trump’s administration asked the U.S. Supreme Court to let it enforce a passport policy for transgender and non-binary people requiring male or female sex designations that conform with birth certificates.

Meanwhile, the expansion of gender-neutral options in Canada is encountering limits elsewhere. Earlier this year, Canada mandated Nexus card holders who identify as non-binary or transgender can no longer choose the “X” gender marker.

A spokesperson for the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) told CTVNews.ca in August that Nexus card holders who had their card issued before the executive order took effect will not be impacted and their membership will remain valid without any change.

“New applicants and existing members renewing their membership are able to apply using a passport with the ‘X’ gender identifier, however they will be required to select ‘male’ or ‘female’ for the purposes of their NEXUS membership,” their statement read.

Approximately 550 Nexus applications with an “X” gender identifier have been submitted to the CBSA between January 2022 and March 2025, CBSA confirmed.

With files from CTV News’ Aarjavee Raaj, The Canadian Press and The Associated Press