Entry #2832: Right to change legal gender in Dominican Republic

Current Version

Region	Dominican Republic
Issue	Right to change legal gender
Status	Illegal
Start Date	(unknown)
End Date	(none)
Description	Legal gender change is currently illegal in the Dominican Republic. In spite of this, laws do exist in the realm of name change as far back as 1944. In January 2023, a process for name change was further strengthened through the Organic Law on Civil Status Acts. A attempt to regulate this institution failed in 2021.
Sources	https://www.justice.gov/eoir/page/file/1314476/download https://www.oas.org/dil/esp/Ley%20No.%20659,%20del%2017%20de%20julio%20de%201944,%20sobre%20Actos%20del%20Estado%20Civil%20Republica%20Dominicana.pdf https://observatoriojusticiaygenero.poderjudicial.gob.do/documentos/PDF/normativas/NOR_Estado_Civil_deroga_la_Ley_659..pdf https://www.amnesty.org/es/latest/news/2024/05/elegir-derechos-humanos-republica-dominicana/ https://www.state.gov/reports/2023-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/dominican-republic - section 6, paragraph 31

Revision History (15)

Feb 14, 2025

edited by jadeywadey. added source

Helpful?

	Old Value	New Value (Current)
Sources	https://www.justice.gov/eoir/page/file/1314476/download https://www.oas.org/dil/esp/Ley%20No.%20659,%20del%2017%20de%20julio%20de%201944,%20sobre%20Actos%20del%20Estado%20Civil%20Republica%20Dominicana.pdf https://observatoriojusticiaygenero.poderjudicial.gob.do/documentos/PDF/normativas/NOR_Estado_Civil_deroga_la_Ley_659..pdf https://www.amnesty.org/es/latest/news/2024/05/elegir-derechos-humanos-republica-dominicana/	https://www.justice.gov/eoir/page/file/1314476/download https://www.oas.org/dil/esp/Ley%20No.%20659,%20del%2017%20de%20julio%20de%201944,%20sobre%20Actos%20del%20Estado%20Civil%20Republica%20Dominicana.pdf https://observatoriojusticiaygenero.poderjudicial.gob.do/documentos/PDF/normativas/NOR_Estado_Civil_deroga_la_Ley_659..pdf https://www.amnesty.org/es/latest/news/2024/05/elegir-derechos-humanos-republica-dominicana/ https://www.state.gov/reports/2023-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/dominican-republic - section 6, paragraph 31
Sources	Show Difference https://www.justice.gov/eoir/page/file/1314476/download https://www.oas.org/dil/esp/Ley%20No.%20659,%20del%2017%20de%20julio%20de%201944,%20sobre%20Actos%20del%20Estado%20Civil%20Republica%20Dominicana.pdf https://observatoriojusticiaygenero.poderjudicial.gob.do/documentos/PDF/normativas/NOR_Estado_Civil_deroga_la_Ley_659..pdf https://www.amnesty.org/es/latest/news/2024/05/elegir-derechos-humanos-republica-dominicana/ https://www.justice.gov/eoir/page/file/1314476/download https://www.oas.org/dil/esp/Ley%20No.%20659,%20del%2017%20de%20julio%20de%201944,%20sobre%20Actos%20del%20Estado%20Civil%20Republica%20Dominicana.pdf https://observatoriojusticiaygenero.poderjudicial.gob.do/documentos/PDF/normativas/NOR_Estado_Civil_deroga_la_Ley_659..pdf https://www.amnesty.org/es/latest/news/2024/05/elegir-derechos-humanos-republica-dominicana/ https://www.state.gov/reports/2023-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/dominican-republic - section 6, paragraph 31

May 16, 2024

edited by PersianArchitecture. More information and better sources

Helpful?

	Old Value	New Value
Description	It is not possible to change legal gender in Dominican Republic	Legal gender change is currently illegal in the Dominican Republic. In spite of this, laws do exist in the realm of name change as far back as 1944. In January 2023, a process for name change was further strengthened through the Organic Law on Civil Status Acts. A attempt to regulate this institution failed in 2021.
Description	Show Difference It is not possible to change legal gender in Dominican Republic Legal gender change is currently illegal in the Dominican Republic. In spite of this, laws do exist in the realm of name change as far back as 1944. In January 2023, a process for name change was further strengthened through the Organic Law on Civil Status Acts. A attempt to regulate this institution failed in 2021.
Sources	https://www.justice.gov/eoir/page/file/1314476/download https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2017/01/gender-identity-map-where-you-can-change-your-gender-on-legal-documents/	https://www.justice.gov/eoir/page/file/1314476/download https://www.oas.org/dil/esp/Ley%20No.%20659,%20del%2017%20de%20julio%20de%201944,%20sobre%20Actos%20del%20Estado%20Civil%20Republica%20Dominicana.pdf https://observatoriojusticiaygenero.poderjudicial.gob.do/documentos/PDF/normativas/NOR_Estado_Civil_deroga_la_Ley_659..pdf https://www.amnesty.org/es/latest/news/2024/05/elegir-derechos-humanos-republica-dominicana/
Sources	Show Difference https://www.justice.gov/eoir/page/file/1314476/download https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2017/01/gender-identity-map-where-you-can-change-your-gender-on-legal-documents/ https://www.justice.gov/eoir/page/file/1314476/download https://www.oas.org/dil/esp/Ley%20No.%20659,%20del%2017%20de%20julio%20de%201944,%20sobre%20Actos%20del%20Estado%20Civil%20Republica%20Dominicana.pdf https://observatoriojusticiaygenero.poderjudicial.gob.do/documentos/PDF/normativas/NOR_Estado_Civil_deroga_la_Ley_659..pdf https://www.amnesty.org/es/latest/news/2024/05/elegir-derechos-humanos-republica-dominicana/

Jul 3, 2022

edited by beeurd

Helpful?

	Old Value	New Value
Value	(REMOVED)	Illegal
Special Status	Ambiguous	Illegal
Description	No laws in place. Missing non binary options on documents.	It is not possible to change legal gender in Dominican Republic
Description	Show Difference No laws in place. Missing non binary options on documents. It is not possible to change legal gender in Dominican Republic
Sources	https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2017/01/gender-identity-map-where-you-can-change-your-gender-on-legal-documents/	https://www.justice.gov/eoir/page/file/1314476/download https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2017/01/gender-identity-map-where-you-can-change-your-gender-on-legal-documents/
Sources	Show Difference https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2017/01/gender-identity-map-where-you-can-change-your-gender-on-legal-documents/ https://www.justice.gov/eoir/page/file/1314476/download https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2017/01/gender-identity-map-where-you-can-change-your-gender-on-legal-documents/

Reports (1)
Newer law has been passed "People can transition in DR it’s not illegal"
Nov 14, 2023

Sep 26, 2018

edited by Ausyk

Helpful?

	Old Value	New Value
Description	Required legalization. No laws in place.	No laws in place. Missing non binary options on documents.

Aug 20, 2018

edited by Ausyk

Helpful?

	Old Value	New Value
Value	Illegal	(REMOVED)
Special Status	Illegal	Ambiguous
Description	Required legalization.	Required legalization. No laws in place.

Jul 18, 2018

edited by Ausyk

Helpful?

	Old Value	New Value
Value	Legal, no restrictions	Illegal
Description	No	Required legalization.

Apr 23, 2018

edited by Ausyk

Helpful?

	Old Value	New Value
Value	Illegal	Legal, no restrictions
Description	Missing non binary options on documents.	No

Apr 4, 2018

edited by Ausyk

Helpful?

	Old Value	New Value
Value	(REMOVED)	Illegal
Special Status	Ambiguous	Illegal

Apr 2, 2018

edited by Ausyk

Helpful?

	Old Value	New Value
Value	Illegal	(REMOVED)
Special Status	Illegal	Ambiguous

Mar 18, 2018

edited by Ausyk

Helpful?

	Old Value	New Value
Value	Legal, no restrictions	Illegal

Mar 8, 2018

edited by Ausyk

Helpful?

	Old Value	New Value
Value	Illegal	Legal, no restrictions
Description	Full legalization required under 2018 AICHR Ruling.	Missing non binary options on documents.

Feb 26, 2018

edited by Ausyk

Helpful?

	Old Value	New Value
Sources	No	https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2017/01/gender-identity-map-where-you-can-change-your-gender-on-legal-documents/

Feb 21, 2018

edited by Ausyk

Helpful?

	Old Value	New Value
Value	Legal, no restrictions	Illegal
Description	No	Full legalization required under 2018 AICHR Ruling.

Sep 13, 2016

edited by Ausyk

Helpful?

	Old Value (Original)	New Value
Value	Illegal	Legal, no restrictions

Jul 30, 2016

created by Ausyk

Helpful?

	Original entry
Status	Illegal
Start Date	(unknown)
End Date	(none)
Description	No
Sources	No