Entry #1258: Right to change legal gender in North Macedonia

Current Version

Region	North Macedonia
Issue	Right to change legal gender
Status	Legal, but requires surgery
Start Date	Feb 15, 1995
End Date	(none)
Description	The Law on Civil Registry entered into force, providing the legal basis for gender recognition through Articles 22 and 23, which authorize the modification of registry entries based on administrative resolutions. This framework allows for the legal recognition of gender by treating surgical reassignment as a new material fact that the state is obliged to record to ensure the registry's accuracy. This interpretation was solidified by the European Court of Human Rights judgment in X v. The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia on January 17, 2019, which compels domestic courts and administrative bodies to apply the 1995 Law to grant legal recognition and rectify documents for applicants who have undergone medical transition.
Sources	https://rainbow-europe.org/#8646/0/0 http://www.ilga-europe.org/home/guide_europe/country_by_country/fyr_macedonia/legal https://balkaninsight.com/2022/03/23/north-macedonia-dismays-activists-by-withdrawing-gender-change-bill/ https://www.refworld.org/legal/legislation/natlegbod/1995/en/124335

Revision History (13)

3 weeks ago

edited by EqLawyer. supplementary information

Helpful?

	Old Value	New Value (Current)
Start Date	Jan 2019	Feb 15, 1995
Description	In January 2019, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled that North Macedonia's requirement that transgender people undergo sex reassignment surgery before their gender marker on ID documents can be changed is a violation of human rights. The judgment held that deficiencies in North Macedonia's laws concerning modifying gender on official identification documents infringed the private life of transgender Macedonians. This means that at the moment, there is no way to change one's legal gender in North Macedonia, even after surgery.	The Law on Civil Registry entered into force, providing the legal basis for gender recognition through Articles 22 and 23, which authorize the modification of registry entries based on administrative resolutions. This framework allows for the legal recognition of gender by treating surgical reassignment as a new material fact that the state is obliged to record to ensure the registry's accuracy. This interpretation was solidified by the European Court of Human Rights judgment in X v. The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia on January 17, 2019, which compels domestic courts and administrative bodies to apply the 1995 Law to grant legal recognition and rectify documents for applicants who have undergone medical transition.
Description	Show Difference In January 2019, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled that North Macedonia's requirement that transgender people undergo sex reassignment surgery before their gender marker on ID documents can be changed is a violation of human rights. The judgment held that deficiencies in North Macedonia's laws concerning modifying gender on official identification documents infringed the private life of transgender Macedonians. This means that at the moment, there is no way to change one's legal gender in North Macedonia, even after surgery. Law on Civil Registry entered into force, providing the legal basis for gender recognition through Articles 22 and 23, which authorize the modification of registry entries based on administrative resolutions. This framework allows for the legal recognition of gender by treating surgical reassignment as a new material fact that the state is obliged to record to ensure the registry's accuracy. This interpretation was solidified by the European Court of Human Rights judgment in X v. The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia on January 17, 2019, which compels domestic courts and administrative bodies to apply the 1995 Law to grant legal recognition and rectify documents for applicants who have undergone medical transition.
Sources	https://rainbow-europe.org/#8646/0/0 http://www.ilga-europe.org/home/guide_europe/country_by_country/fyr_macedonia/legal https://balkaninsight.com/2022/03/23/north-macedonia-dismays-activists-by-withdrawing-gender-change-bill/	https://rainbow-europe.org/#8646/0/0 http://www.ilga-europe.org/home/guide_europe/country_by_country/fyr_macedonia/legal https://balkaninsight.com/2022/03/23/north-macedonia-dismays-activists-by-withdrawing-gender-change-bill/ https://www.refworld.org/legal/legislation/natlegbod/1995/en/124335
Sources	Show Difference https://rainbow-europe.org/#8646/0/0 http://www.ilga-europe.org/home/guide_europe/country_by_country/fyr_macedonia/legal https://balkaninsight.com/2022/03/23/north-macedonia-dismays-activists-by-withdrawing-gender-change-bill/ https://rainbow-europe.org/#8646/0/0 http://www.ilga-europe.org/home/guide_europe/country_by_country/fyr_macedonia/legal https://balkaninsight.com/2022/03/23/north-macedonia-dismays-activists-by-withdrawing-gender-change-bill/ https://www.refworld.org/legal/legislation/natlegbod/1995/en/124335

Mar 24, 2024

edited by e_seurat. Fixing status

Helpful?

	Old Value	New Value
Value	Illegal	Legal, but requires surgery
Description	In January 2019, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled that North Macedonia's requirement that transgender people undergo sex reassignment surgery before their gender marker on ID documents can be changed is a violation of human rights. The judgment held that deficiencies in North Macedonia's laws concerning modifying gender on official identification documents infringed the private life of transgender Macedonians. This means that at the moment, there is no way to change one's legal gender in North Macedonia, even after surgery. It is however said that the law might be re-submitted at a later date.	In January 2019, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled that North Macedonia's requirement that transgender people undergo sex reassignment surgery before their gender marker on ID documents can be changed is a violation of human rights. The judgment held that deficiencies in North Macedonia's laws concerning modifying gender on official identification documents infringed the private life of transgender Macedonians. This means that at the moment, there is no way to change one's legal gender in North Macedonia, even after surgery.
Description	Show Difference In January 2019, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled that North Macedonia's requirement that transgender people undergo sex reassignment surgery before their gender marker on ID documents can be changed is a violation of human rights. The judgment held that deficiencies in North Macedonia's laws concerning modifying gender on official identification documents infringed the private life of transgender Macedonians. This means that at the moment, there is no way to change one's legal gender in North Macedonia, even after surgery. It is however said that the law might be re-submitted at a later date. surgery.

Mar 2, 2024

edited by Notdog1996. This status refers specifically to the legal gender marker, which is currently impossible to change in North Macedonia, and thus is illegal

Helpful?

	Old Value	New Value
Value	Legal, but requires surgery	Illegal
Description	In January 2019, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled that North Macedonia's requirement that transgender people undergo sex reassignment surgery before their gender marker on ID documents can be changed is a violation of human rights. The judgment held that deficiencies in North Macedonia's laws concerning modifying gender on official identification documents infringed the private life of transgender Macedonians.	In January 2019, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled that North Macedonia's requirement that transgender people undergo sex reassignment surgery before their gender marker on ID documents can be changed is a violation of human rights. The judgment held that deficiencies in North Macedonia's laws concerning modifying gender on official identification documents infringed the private life of transgender Macedonians. This means that at the moment, there is no way to change one's legal gender in North Macedonia, even after surgery. It is however said that the law might be re-submitted at a later date.
Description	Show Difference In January 2019, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled that North Macedonia's requirement that transgender people undergo sex reassignment surgery before their gender marker on ID documents can be changed is a violation of human rights. The judgment held that deficiencies in North Macedonia's laws concerning modifying gender on official identification documents infringed the private life of transgender Macedonians. Macedonians. This means that at the moment, there is no way to change one's legal gender in North Macedonia, even after surgery. It is however said that the law might be re-submitted at a later date.

Mar 2, 2024

edited by maya_kh. edit text

Helpful?

	Old Value	New Value
Description	In January 2019, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled that North Macedonia's requirement that transgender people undergo sex reassignment surgery before their gender marker on ID documents can be changed is a violation of human rights. The judgment held that deficiencies in North Macedonia's laws concerning modifying gender on official identification documents infringed the private life of transgender Macedonians. This means that at the moment, there is no way to change one's legal gender in North Macedonia, even after surgery. It is however said that the law might be re-submitted at a later date.	In January 2019, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled that North Macedonia's requirement that transgender people undergo sex reassignment surgery before their gender marker on ID documents can be changed is a violation of human rights. The judgment held that deficiencies in North Macedonia's laws concerning modifying gender on official identification documents infringed the private life of transgender Macedonians.
Description	Show Difference In January 2019, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled that North Macedonia's requirement that transgender people undergo sex reassignment surgery before their gender marker on ID documents can be changed is a violation of human rights. The judgment held that deficiencies in North Macedonia's laws concerning modifying gender on official identification documents infringed the private life of transgender Macedonians. This means that at the moment, there is no way to change one's legal gender in North Macedonia, even after surgery. It is however said that the law might be re-submitted at a later date. Macedonians.

Mar 2, 2024

edited by maya_kh. change because it's legal

Helpful?

	Old Value	New Value
Value	Illegal	Legal, but requires surgery
Start Date	(unknown)	Jan 2019
Description	While North Macedonia drafted a bill that would have allowed transgender people to legally change their gender in spring 2021, the draft was inexplicably revoked a year later in March 2022. This means that at the moment, there is no way to change one's legal gender in North Macedonia, even after surgery. It is however said that the law might be re-submitted at a later date.	In January 2019, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled that North Macedonia's requirement that transgender people undergo sex reassignment surgery before their gender marker on ID documents can be changed is a violation of human rights. The judgment held that deficiencies in North Macedonia's laws concerning modifying gender on official identification documents infringed the private life of transgender Macedonians. This means that at the moment, there is no way to change one's legal gender in North Macedonia, even after surgery. It is however said that the law might be re-submitted at a later date.
Description	Show Difference While North Macedonia drafted a bill that would have allowed transgender people to legally change their gender in spring 2021, the draft was inexplicably revoked a year later in March 2022. This means that at the moment, there is no way to change one's legal gender in North Macedonia, even after surgery. It is however said that the law might be re-submitted at a later date. In January 2019, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled that North Macedonia's requirement that transgender people undergo sex reassignment surgery before their gender marker on ID documents can be changed is a violation of human rights. The judgment held that deficiencies in North Macedonia's laws concerning modifying gender on official identification documents infringed the private life of transgender Macedonians. This means that at the moment, there is no way to change one's legal gender in North Macedonia, even after surgery. It is however said that the law might be re-submitted at a later date.

Feb 9, 2024

edited by Notdog1996. Entry was vandalized a few times. I'm reverting it back to a previous status

Helpful?

	Old Value	New Value
Description	Though individuals can change their name, they cannot change their gender. No existence of legal measures for trans north Macedonian individuals	While North Macedonia drafted a bill that would have allowed transgender people to legally change their gender in spring 2021, the draft was inexplicably revoked a year later in March 2022. This means that at the moment, there is no way to change one's legal gender in North Macedonia, even after surgery. It is however said that the law might be re-submitted at a later date.
Description	Show Difference Though individuals can change their name, they cannot change their gender. No existence of legal measures for trans north Macedonian individuals While North Macedonia drafted a bill that would have allowed transgender people to legally change their gender in spring 2021, the draft was inexplicably revoked a year later in March 2022. This means that at the moment, there is no way to change one's legal gender in North Macedonia, even after surgery. It is however said that the law might be re-submitted at a later date.
Sources	https://rainbow-europe.org/#8646/0/0	https://rainbow-europe.org/#8646/0/0 http://www.ilga-europe.org/home/guide_europe/country_by_country/fyr_macedonia/legal https://balkaninsight.com/2022/03/23/north-macedonia-dismays-activists-by-withdrawing-gender-change-bill/
Sources	Show Difference https://rainbow-europe.org/#8646/0/0 https://rainbow-europe.org/#8646/0/0 http://www.ilga-europe.org/home/guide_europe/country_by_country/fyr_macedonia/legal https://balkaninsight.com/2022/03/23/north-macedonia-dismays-activists-by-withdrawing-gender-change-bill/

Reports (1)
Newer law has been passed 
Feb 29, 2024

Oct 20, 2023

edited by Canadianstudent03. No existence of legal measures for trans north Macedonian individuals

Helpful?

	Old Value	New Value
Value	Legal, but requires surgery	Illegal
Description	In January 2019, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled that North Macedonia's requirement that transgender people undergo sex reassignment surgery before their gender marker on ID documents can be changed is a violation of human rights. The judgment held that deficiencies in North Macedonia's laws concerning modifying gender on official identification documents infringed the private life of transgender Macedonians.	Though individuals can change their name, they cannot change their gender. No existence of legal measures for trans north Macedonian individuals
Description	Show Difference In January 2019, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled that North Macedonia's requirement that transgender people undergo sex reassignment surgery before their gender marker on ID documents can be changed is a violation of human rights. The judgment held that deficiencies in North Macedonia's laws concerning modifying gender on official identification documents infringed the private life of transgender Macedonians. Though individuals can change their name, they cannot change their gender. No existence of legal measures for trans north Macedonian individuals
Sources	https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_North_Macedonia	https://rainbow-europe.org/#8646/0/0
Sources	Show Difference https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_North_Macedonia https://rainbow-europe.org/#8646/0/0

Reports (4)
Newer law has been passed "Legal"
Oct 20, 2023
Newer law has been passed "January 2019, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled that North Macedonia's requirement that transgender people undergo sex reassignment surgery before their gender marker on ID documents can be changed is a violation of human rights. The judgment held that deficiencies in North Macedonia's laws concerning modifying gender on official identification documents infringed the private life of transgender Macedonians."
Oct 20, 2023
Newer law has been passed "Legal but requires surgery "
Oct 20, 2023
Newer law has been passed "It's legal vandilased by Canadianstudent03 "
Oct 20, 2023

Aug 23, 2023

edited by Vito12. Making this change because it is not correct.

Helpful?

	Old Value	New Value
Value	Illegal	Legal, but requires surgery
Description	Gender change is illegal, though trans people have some discrimination protections (like in Bulgaria)	In January 2019, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled that North Macedonia's requirement that transgender people undergo sex reassignment surgery before their gender marker on ID documents can be changed is a violation of human rights. The judgment held that deficiencies in North Macedonia's laws concerning modifying gender on official identification documents infringed the private life of transgender Macedonians.
Description	Show Difference Gender change is illegal, though trans people have some discrimination protections (like in Bulgaria) In January 2019, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled that North Macedonia's requirement that transgender people undergo sex reassignment surgery before their gender marker on ID documents can be changed is a violation of human rights. The judgment held that deficiencies in North Macedonia's laws concerning modifying gender on official identification documents infringed the private life of transgender Macedonians.
Sources	http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/transgender-macedonians-hail-turning-point-european-court-ruling-01-30-2019	https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_North_Macedonia
Sources	Show Difference http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/transgender-macedonians-hail-turning-point-european-court-ruling-01-30-2019 https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_North_Macedonia

Aug 23, 2023

edited by Canadianstudent03. Gender change is illegal, though trans people have some discrimination protections (like in Bulgaria)

Helpful?

	Old Value	New Value
Value	Legal, but requires surgery	Illegal
Description	Transgender people are allowed to change legal gender.	Gender change is illegal, though trans people have some discrimination protections (like in Bulgaria)
Description	Show Difference Transgender people are allowed to change legal gender. Gender change is illegal, though trans people have some discrimination protections (like in Bulgaria)

Nov 12, 2022

edited by Pizzaslices412653

Helpful?

	Old Value	New Value
Value	Illegal	Legal, but requires surgery
Description	While North Macedonia drafted a bill that would have allowed transgender people to legally change their gender in spring 2021, the draft was inexplicably revoked a year later in March 2022. This means that at the moment, there is no way to change one's legal gender in North Macedonia, even after surgery. It is however said that the law might be re-submitted at a later date.	Transgender people are allowed to change legal gender.
Description	Show Difference While North Macedonia drafted a bill that would have allowed transgender people to legally change their gender in spring 2021, the draft was inexplicably revoked a year later in March 2022. This means that at the moment, there is no way to change one's legal gender in North Macedonia, even after surgery. It is however said that the law might be re-submitted at a later date. Transgender people are allowed to change legal gender.
Sources	http://www.ilga-europe.org/home/guide_europe/country_by_country/fyr_macedonia/legal https://balkaninsight.com/2022/03/23/north-macedonia-dismays-activists-by-withdrawing-gender-change-bill/	http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/transgender-macedonians-hail-turning-point-european-court-ruling-01-30-2019
Sources	Show Difference http://www.ilga-europe.org/home/guide_europe/country_by_country/fyr_macedonia/legal https://balkaninsight.com/2022/03/23/north-macedonia-dismays-activists-by-withdrawing-gender-change-bill/ http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/transgender-macedonians-hail-turning-point-european-court-ruling-01-30-2019

Nov 6, 2022

edited by Notdog1996

Helpful?

	Old Value	New Value
Value	Legal, no restrictions	Illegal
Start Date	Jul 22, 2021	(unknown)
Description	Gender change is legally recognized since 2021.	While North Macedonia drafted a bill that would have allowed transgender people to legally change their gender in spring 2021, the draft was inexplicably revoked a year later in March 2022. This means that at the moment, there is no way to change one's legal gender in North Macedonia, even after surgery. It is however said that the law might be re-submitted at a later date.
Description	Show Difference Gender change is legally recognized since 2021. While North Macedonia drafted a bill that would have allowed transgender people to legally change their gender in spring 2021, the draft was inexplicably revoked a year later in March 2022. This means that at the moment, there is no way to change one's legal gender in North Macedonia, even after surgery. It is however said that the law might be re-submitted at a later date.
Sources	http://www.ilga-europe.org/home/guide_europe/country_by_country/fyr_macedonia/legal	http://www.ilga-europe.org/home/guide_europe/country_by_country/fyr_macedonia/legal https://balkaninsight.com/2022/03/23/north-macedonia-dismays-activists-by-withdrawing-gender-change-bill/
Sources	Show Difference http://www.ilga-europe.org/home/guide_europe/country_by_country/fyr_macedonia/legal http://www.ilga-europe.org/home/guide_europe/country_by_country/fyr_macedonia/legal https://balkaninsight.com/2022/03/23/north-macedonia-dismays-activists-by-withdrawing-gender-change-bill/

Sep 30, 2022

edited by JordanB3047

Helpful?

-1

	Old Value (Original)	New Value
Value	Illegal	Legal, no restrictions
Start Date	(unknown)	Jul 22, 2021
Description		Gender change is legally recognized since 2021.

Apr 19, 2014

created by matkoglibota

Helpful?

	Original entry
Status	Illegal
Start Date	(unknown)
End Date	(none)
Description	(empty)
Sources	http://www.ilga-europe.org/home/guide_europe/country_by_country/fyr_macedonia/legal

Reports (1)
Status is not correct "It is legal to change gender there. "
Oct 17, 2016