New passport requirements will impact UND Travelers with “X” markers

U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on November 6, 2025 allowed the State Department to remove the option to select ‘X’ as a gender marker on its passport application. Additionally, the U.S. Customs and Border Protections, through Executive Order 14168 is enforcing binary sex marker requirements in APIS, an airline traveler database. APIS data requires airlines to submit traveler information including a traveler’s sex, only “M” or “F” as part of the pre-departure transmission. Passports, tickets, and system entries with “X” will result in errors in the system, requiring a resubmission.

How this will affect travelers?

Applying for, renewing, or replacing a passport
New or updated U.S. passports must select either “M” or “F” to correspond to a traveler’s sex assigned at birth. You can no longer select “X.”

Traveling with an existing passport with an “X” gender marker
Passports with “X” markers remain valid until expiration. Travelers should be prepared for delays, questions at airline check-in or border crossings due to inconsistencies with system information. Only “M” and “F” markers are accepted in APIS.

Traveling internationally
International travelers who have “X” markers may encounter delays or questions due to discrepancy between travel documents and system data.