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In 2023, 633 people had their gender registration changed on the civil status certificates and in the population register. The FPS Justice reported this on Sunday based on data from the civil registry database.
The procedure is aimed at people who feel that the gender stated on their birth certificate does not correspond to their internally experienced gender identity. The declaration is made to the civil registrar of the municipality where the applicant is registered in the population register or aliens register.
More changes were made to the gender registration in 2023 than in 2022 (569 changes) and 2021 (513 changes). The majority of the changes (423 changes) were made to people between the ages of 18 and 29. 52 changes have been made to the gender registration for people under the age of 18. Minors can also file a report if they are at least 16 years old, are assisted by their parents or legal representative and have a statement from a child and youth psychiatrist.
Since January 2018, a trans person no longer has to meet certain medical conditions to have their gender registration and first name changed on civil status certificates and in the population register. Since the last change by the law of July 20, 2023, trans people can have their gender registration and first name changed several times according to the same procedure. Previously, anyone who wanted to change this for the second time had to go to the family court, where a cumbersome procedure awaited.
1,153 people changed their surname in 2023, 5,762 people had their first name changed
Figures from the FPS Justice also show that 1,152 people in Belgium will change their surname in 2023. In addition, 5,762 people changed their first names last year.
A surname is subject to the principle of name stability and is of public order. Changing the family name is therefore not a right, but a favor granted by Royal Decree, the FPS Justice explains. A surname change is reserved for Belgians, recognized refugees and stateless persons, and is exceptionally permitted if there are serious reasons for it. For example, a surname change is possible for people who have multiple nationalities and different surnames in the different countries of which they are nationals, and who want to equate those names, and for women who took over their husband’s name and changed to their maiden name again after divorce. want to use.
In 2023, the FPS Justice received 1,476 requests for a surname change: 929 Dutch-language and 547 French-language requests. These are slightly more requests than in 2022 (1,400 requests), but slightly less than in 2021 (1,524 requests). Ultimately, 1,152 people were able to change their surname last year, accounting for 899 royal decrees. That is slightly more than in 2022 (1,120 changes) and 2021 (975 changes). The FPS Justice notes that certain royal decrees signed in 2023 may still be in transit between the Palace and the FPS: the number of surname changes in 2023 may therefore increase slightly.
Since August 2018, changing first names has been a matter for the local government. This procedure is also reserved for Belgians, recognized refugees and stateless persons. Figures from the civil registry database show that 5,762 people had their first names changed in 2023. That is more than in 2022 (5,102) and 2021 (4,844).