European Nations Issue Travel Warnings for Transgender Individuals Heading to U.S.
Several European countries have updated their travel advisories, warning transgender individuals about potential difficulties when traveling to the United States under President Donald Trump’s recent executive order.
In response to President Donald Trump’s executive order titled ‘Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government,’ nations including Finland, Denmark, the United Kingdom, and Germany have issued travel advisories for transgender individuals planning to visit the U.S. The order, which insists on a binary understanding of sex defined by biological characteristics, has prompted these countries to caution their citizens about possible complications in obtaining travel authorization or visas to the U.S.
The Danish advisory specifically mentions the challenges faced by those with a gender designation of ‘X’ on their passports or those who have changed their gender, recommending they contact the U.S. Embassy before travel. Similarly, Finland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned that a mismatch between the gender on an applicant’s passport and their gender at birth could result in a denied travel permit or visa.
While Germany’s advisory does not name the U.S. explicitly, it warns transgender travelers of potential difficulties entering certain countries with passports that no longer match their gender identity. This comes as the U.S. State Department aligns its policies with Trump’s executive order, limiting gender options on American passports to ‘male’ or ‘female.’
The advisories follow legal challenges against the Trump administration’s policy, with the American Civil Liberties Union filing a lawsuit on behalf of seven transgender Americans in February. The policy has also faced judicial scrutiny amid Trump’s broader immigration crackdown, which includes mass deportation efforts.
These developments underscore the ongoing tension between U.S. policies under Trump and international perceptions of inclusivity and rights for transgender individuals.