Canadian officials spent over two months addressing concerns from citizens following U.S. President Donald Trump’s executive order on gender identity. Issued on January 20, the order mandates that U.S. federal agencies recognize only two sexes—male and female—based on “immutable biological classification.” It also requires that identification documents, such as passports and visas, reflect birth-assigned sex, not self-identified gender.
The directive raised alarms among Canadian travelers, particularly trans and non-binary individuals. Internal emails obtained via a freedom of information request show Canadian authorities debating how to respond, while navigating a delicate diplomatic relationship with the U.S. Officials discussed whether to update the U.S. travel advisory and how to provide reassurance to concerned citizens.
A January 22 email revealed Canadian officials were communicating with their U.S. counterparts to clarify the executive order's impact on trans Canadians. By January 27, Global Affairs Canada staff raised concerns about potential entry issues and questioned how best to address the growing anxiety among travelers.
One major concern was the U.S. policy requiring visa applicants to list their sex assigned at birth, even if it differs from their passport. Canadian authorities also considered guidance for travelers using passports with an “X” gender marker. Although new advisory text was drafted, it was never published. The reason remains redacted under Canada's Access to Information Act.
While Canada did update its travel advisory in March to reflect new U.S. registration requirements for long stays, no mention of the gender policy was included. Global Affairs Canada said it continues to monitor the situation and has no reports of Canadians being denied entry due to “X” markers on passports.
Officials routinely prepare messaging in anticipation of potential policy impacts to ensure timely and accurate responses.