Program delivery update: Exception to the naming policy – November 10, 2017
This section contains policy, procedures and guidance used by IRCC staff. It is posted on the department’s website as a courtesy to stakeholders.
An exception to the naming policy has been established to cover permanent residents who are transgender and live in a province where they are not eligible to obtain a legal change of name under provincial law.
These program delivery instructions provide guidance on what evidence to accept for a client in this situation to obtain a change of their given name on their permanent resident card.
While these applicants may be able to meet the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada requirements to change their sex designation, they do not meet the IRCC regular requirements for a change of name because IRCC relies on a decision made by an authoritative source in the applicant’s province of residence, or if the change occurred outside Canada, a linking document, an amended travel document and a provincial supporting document in the new name.
Note: Currently, the Civil Code of Quebec permits only Canadian citizens to obtain a legal change of name.