First gender-neutral passport from the Netherlands
Published at: 29/11/2018 05:17 pm
The Dutch authorities issued the first gender-neutral passport for the 57 years old Leonne Zeegers. In the passport, the gender designation contains an "x", instead of "V" for a woman or "M" for man. Zeegers became a woman following a surgery in 2001 but now identifies as an intersex person.
Finally, a judge decided the question issuing of gender-neutral passports, Zeegers won a lawsuit, because not letting him register as gender-neutral amounted to "violation of private life, self-determination and personal autonomy". According to the BBC, around four per cent of the Dutch people identify neither female or male. However, they will still need the judge's decision in each case, and the right to obtain the gender-neutral passport is not automatic.
Gender-neutral passports are available in the following countries:
Argentina, Australia, Canada, Denmark, India, Malta, Nepal, New Zealand and Pakistan.
Meanwhile, in the UK a campaigner lost a High Court challenge, the bid for the "X" category was rejected.
Malta released the first such travel document in September 2018, two years after the Parliament's approval of the Gender Identity Act. Practically, the Identity Malta upgraded its online application software so that the users can select the new "X" marker for their gender. However, the applicant must take an oath in the presence of a notary, and a copy of it must be attached to the standard application.
Applicants can become citizens of Malta through investment independently from their sexual orientation. The Maltese Individual Investor Program offers neutralisation for foreign nationals. The applicants must reside one year in Malta to qualify during the due diligence process. The necessary amount of investment to obtain the passport of Malta:
- Donation of 650,000 EUR
- Invest in stocks or bonds 150,000 EUR
- Purchase a real estate for 350,000 EUR or rent annually for at least 16,000 EUR.
- Global health insurance
- Freedom of movement for the whole family
- No taxation on income source outside of Malta
- A secure country, excellent health care and education
- No requirement to live in Malta.