French authorities have up to date journey recommendation for the US following new American guidelines requiring gender at delivery on visa and ESTA varieties
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France has up to date its official steering for travellers heading to the USA, following a change in US coverage that impacts how gender is recorded on visa and ESTA purposes.
US visa and ESTA purposes now require birth-assigned gender
In keeping with the French Overseas Ministry, all new US visa or ESTA candidates should now point out their intercourse assigned at delivery. This requirement stems from a Presidential Decree issued on 20 January 2025, beneath President Donald Trump, which mandates that solely ‘male’ or ‘feminine’ be accepted on official US journey paperwork.
This new rule might trigger points for transgender travellers, particularly these whose passports checklist an ‘X’ beneath gender—a class not recognised beneath the up to date US system. Whereas no particular journey warning has been issued, French authorities advocate that travellers test the US Embassy in Paris web site for the newest updates earlier than planning.
France joins different nations issuing steering for LGBTQ+ travellers
France shouldn’t be alone in flagging the change. The UK, Germany, and Canada have additionally issued updates to warn residents of potential entry problems beneath the brand new guidelines. Denmark has gone a step additional, warning transgender travellers that they could be refused entry to the US altogether.
Finland has echoed these considerations, advising that travellers with paperwork reflecting a gender completely different from their birth-assigned intercourse might face denial on the border.
The ESTA (Digital System for Journey Authorization) is a visa waiver utilized by short-term guests (beneath 90 days) from eligible international locations. It’s much like the UK’s ETA and the EU’s upcoming Etias system.
As insurance policies evolve, French travellers—particularly these from the LGBTQ+ group—are urged to remain knowledgeable and test for updates earlier than heading to the US.
Keep tuned with Euro weekly information for extra information from France