Changing Documents
Singapore law allows you to legally change your name and sex based on certain conditions. At present, you will not be able to change your birth certificate.
Following a legal name or gender change, you will need to replace your National Registration Identity Card (NRIC) within 28 days to reflect the new information.
- Changing Legal Name
- Changing Legal Sex
- Alternatives
Changing Legal Name
Singaporean citizens will need a deed poll from a lawyer to effect a legal name change. Contact us if you’re looking for a trans-friendly lawyer.
Once you obtain the deed poll, you must apply at ICA within 28 days either online or in person to update your NRIC with your new name. Replacing your NRIC will cost $60. Your passport can be updated at the same time and will cost $70. Visit the ICA website for more details.
If you have not legally changed your gender, you will not be able to change ‘bin’ to ‘binte’ or ‘s/o’ to ‘d/o’, and vice versa. However, you can choose to drop those terms from your legal name. If you encounter any difficulties, contact us at contacttransgendersg@gmail.com and we’ll see how we can help.
After the name on your NRIC has been changed, the Singapore system will recognise that as your official legal name. You will have to update your other legal documents (such as your passport, driving license, will, etc) and records with organisations (banks, insurance, credit cards, school, phone, etc) as soon as possible to avoid potential conflict in future.
We recommend creating a checklist of documents and records that you will need to update after you have changed your name. This can take a while, as each institution has its own update application process. You might want to prepare ahead of time by looking up the process for each place and collecting any required forms so that you can fill them in once you receive your new NRIC.
If you are a PR or a foreigner, you will need to check the requirements for a legal name change in your country of citizenship. Unfortunately, if your home country does not allow you to legally change your name, you will not be able to update your NRIC or other official identity documents in Singapore. You may be able to obtain exceptions at some institutions if you explain the situation to them.
School Transcripts and Certificates
If you are currently enrolled in a university or polytechnic, they will allow you to change your name if you present them with a deed poll and your updated NRIC. This may be harder if you have already graduated, depending on the institution. We know of one case where a junior college student was able to update his name after a deed poll.
According to the Ministry of Education, the candidate’s name on an examination certificate (such as for the O and A levels) cannot be altered once it has been issued. However, you can present your deed poll and request for a letter that will indicate that the certificate holder now goes by a different name. This serves as verification that the certificate belongs to you.
Driving Licenses
Driving licenses do not include a gender marker, and are often accepted as proof of identity in place of NRIC. You’ll need to go in person to the traffic police to change the name on your driving license. Bring along your updated NRIC.
Your international driving license name has to match the name on your Singapore driving license. This is not automatically updated from your NRIC name change. You will need to separately update the Land Transport Authority (LTA), change your Singapore license, and then reapply for your international driving license.
Changing Legal Sex
In order to legally change your sex, you will need to get a Medical Examination Report form for change of sex from the ICA. This is not available online – note that there are several ICA forms named ‘Medical Examination Report’ for various purposes including HIV testing, PR application and certifying Aged Drivers, so please be discerning and don’t submit the wrong one. You can email us for a digital copy of the correct form.
The form must then be signed by a Singapore-licensed endocrinologist, gynaecologist, urologist or plastic surgeon confirming that they have examined you and found you to have “completely” changed your genitalia from male to female or vice versa.
You can contact us for more information at contacttransgendersg@gmail.com.
This form will need to be submitted to the ICA. Similar to a change of name, your IC will need to be replaced, and you will have to update your other documentation (passports, wills, etc) and your records with organisations to reflect your new legal sex.
Alternatives
If you have not or are unable to change your legal sex, it is still sometimes possible to select a gender-appropriate salutation in forms – for instance choosing both ‘Mr’ and ‘Female’. Where this is not allowed by the system, you may sometimes be able to select the ‘Other’ salutation option and then type ‘Mr’ or ‘Ms’. This can help avert awkward or hostile situations when dealing with that service or organisation, and prevent you from being outed at every interaction.
If you are non-binary, the ‘Other’ option also allows you to leave the salutation blank, or insert ‘Mx’ or any salutation you prefer.
However, this is not advisable when it comes to official government or financial and legal organisations (such as banks). You risk being charged with identity fraud or providing false information if your details do not match what is on your NRIC. You might also run into trouble if you need to prove your identity in situations such as claiming insurance, and give them a reason to deny paying out your claims.
Some airlines, including Singapore Airlines, are very strict about salutations matching your legal sex. If they do not match, you risk being denied boarding or needing to pay for a boarding pass replacement at the airport, which can be costly.
Lastly, if you have the time and inclination to do so, pursuing a doctorate or becoming a pastor will allow you to use ‘Dr’ or ‘Rev’ as a gender-neutral salutation.