Current Version
| Region | Greece |
| Issue | Right to change legal gender |
| Status | Legal, no restrictions |
| Start Date | Oct 13, 2017 |
| End Date | (none) |
| Description | Enacted on October 13th, 2017, Law 4491/2017 (Νομική αναγνώριση της ταυτότητας φύλου) fundamentally restructured legal gender recognition in Greece. The legislation formally abolished all mandatory prerequisites for gender marker and name changes, eliminating requirements for sex reassignment surgery, psychiatric evaluation or other medical treatments. Under the law, legal gender recognition is defined as an inherent expression of personal identity processed through a judicial hearing before a local Magistrate’s Court (Ειρηνοδικείο), where an applicant submits a formal declaration of their chosen name and self-identified gender. Forced divorce was also originally required if the person was married, before same-sex marriage became legal in 2024. Furthermore, the statute extended eligibility to 17-year-olds with parental consent as well as 15 and 16-year-olds provided they have a supporting declaration from an interdisciplinary medical council. Despite its progressive impact, the law faces several notable limitations. Primarily, the statute retains a judicial rather than an administrative process, requiring applicants to undergo court proceedings, hire legal representation and pay court fees rather than complete a low-barrier civil registry self-declaration. Moreover, the legislation strictly maintains a binary framework ("male" or "female"), completely excluding non-binary and intersex individuals from receiving matching gender markers. |
| Sources | https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/press-release/2017/10/greece-vote-on-legal-gender-recognition-is-an-historic-step-forward-for-transgender-rights/ https://nomikospalmos.wordpress.com/2024/10/16/%CE%BD%CE%BF%CE%BC%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%B7-%CE%B1%CE%BD%CE%B1%CE%B3%CE%BD%CF%89%CF%81%CE%B9%CF%83%CE%B7-%CF%84%CE%B7%CF%83-%CF%84%CE%B1%CF%85%CF%84%CE%BF%CF%84%CE%B7%CF%84%CE%B1%CF%83-%CF%86%CF%85/ https://www.lawspot.gr/nomika-nea/dimosieythike-o-nomos-4491-2017-gia-ti-nomiki-anagnorisi-tis-taytotitas-fyloy/ |
Revision History (13)
edited by Antotourou. Grammar correction
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| Description | Enacted on October 13th, 2017, Law 4491/2017 (Νομική αναγνώριση της ταυτότητας φύλου) fundamentally restructured legal gender recognition in Greece. The legislation formally abolished all mandatory prerequisites for gender marker and name changes, eliminating requirements for sex reassignment surgery, psychiatric evaluation or other medical treatments. Under the law, legal gender recognition is defined as an inherent expression of personal identity processed through a judicial hearing before a local Magistrate’s Court (Ειρηνοδικείο), where an applicant submits a formal declaration of their chosen name and self-identified gender. Forced divorce was also originally required if the person was married, before same-sex marriage became legal in 2024. Furthermore, the statute extended eligibility to 17-year-olds with parental consent as well as 15 and 16-year-olds provided they have a supporting declaration from an interdisciplinary medical council. Despite its progressive impact, the law faces several notable limitations. Primarily, the statute retains a judicial rather than an administrative process, requiring applicants to undergo court proceedings, hire legal representation and pay court fees rather than completing a low-barrier civil registry self-declaration. Moreover, the legislation strictly maintains a binary framework ("male" or "female"), completely excluding non-binary and intersex individuals from receiving matching gender markers. | Enacted on October 13th, 2017, Law 4491/2017 (Νομική αναγνώριση της ταυτότητας φύλου) fundamentally restructured legal gender recognition in Greece. The legislation formally abolished all mandatory prerequisites for gender marker and name changes, eliminating requirements for sex reassignment surgery, psychiatric evaluation or other medical treatments. Under the law, legal gender recognition is defined as an inherent expression of personal identity processed through a judicial hearing before a local Magistrate’s Court (Ειρηνοδικείο), where an applicant submits a formal declaration of their chosen name and self-identified gender. Forced divorce was also originally required if the person was married, before same-sex marriage became legal in 2024. Furthermore, the statute extended eligibility to 17-year-olds with parental consent as well as 15 and 16-year-olds provided they have a supporting declaration from an interdisciplinary medical council. Despite its progressive impact, the law faces several notable limitations. Primarily, the statute retains a judicial rather than an administrative process, requiring applicants to undergo court proceedings, hire legal representation and pay court fees rather than complete a low-barrier civil registry self-declaration. Moreover, the legislation strictly maintains a binary framework ("male" or "female"), completely excluding non-binary and intersex individuals from receiving matching gender markers. |
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edited by Antotourou. Spelling mistake fix
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0 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Description | Enacted on October 13th, 2017, Law 4491/2017 (Νομική αναγνώριση της ταυτότητας φύλου) fundamentally restructured legal gender recognition in Greece. The legislation formally abolished all mandatory prerequisites for gender marker and name changes, eliminating requirements for sex reassignment surgery, psychiatric evaluation or other medical treatments. Under the law, legal gender recognition is defined as an inherent expression of personal identity processed through a judicial hearing before a local Magistrate’s Court (Ειρηνοδικείο), where an applicant submits a formal declaration of their chosen name and self-identified gender. Forced divorce was also originally required if the person was married, before same-sex marriage became legal in 2024. Furthermore, the statute extended eligibility to 17-year-olds with parental consent as well as 15 and 16-year olds provided they have a supporting declaration from an interdisciplinary medical council. Despite its progressive impact, the law faces several notable limitations. Primarily, the statute retains a judicial rather than an administrative process, requiring applicants to undergo court proceedings, hire legal representation and pay court fees rather than completing a low-barrier civil registry self-declaration. Moreover, the legislation strictly maintains a binary framework ("male" or "female"), completely excluding non-binary and intersex individuals from receiving matching gender markers. | Enacted on October 13th, 2017, Law 4491/2017 (Νομική αναγνώριση της ταυτότητας φύλου) fundamentally restructured legal gender recognition in Greece. The legislation formally abolished all mandatory prerequisites for gender marker and name changes, eliminating requirements for sex reassignment surgery, psychiatric evaluation or other medical treatments. Under the law, legal gender recognition is defined as an inherent expression of personal identity processed through a judicial hearing before a local Magistrate’s Court (Ειρηνοδικείο), where an applicant submits a formal declaration of their chosen name and self-identified gender. Forced divorce was also originally required if the person was married, before same-sex marriage became legal in 2024. Furthermore, the statute extended eligibility to 17-year-olds with parental consent as well as 15 and 16-year-olds provided they have a supporting declaration from an interdisciplinary medical council. Despite its progressive impact, the law faces several notable limitations. Primarily, the statute retains a judicial rather than an administrative process, requiring applicants to undergo court proceedings, hire legal representation and pay court fees rather than completing a low-barrier civil registry self-declaration. Moreover, the legislation strictly maintains a binary framework ("male" or "female"), completely excluding non-binary and intersex individuals from receiving matching gender markers. |
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edited by Antotourou. More grammar fixes
Helpful?
0 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Description | Enacted on October 13, 2017, Law 4491/2017 (Νομική αναγνώριση της ταυτότητας φύλου) fundamentally restructured legal gender recognition in Greece. The legislation formally abolished all mandatory prerequisites for gender marker and name changes, eliminating requirements for sex reassignment surgery, psychiatric evaluation or medical treatments. Under the law, legal gender recognition is defined as an inherent expression of personal identity processed through a judicial hearing before a local Magistrate’s Court (Ειρηνοδικείο), where an applicant submits a formal declaration of their chosen name and self-identified gender. Forced divorce was also originally required if the person was married, before same-sex marriage became legal in 2024. Furthermore, the statute extended eligibility to 17-year-olds with parental consent as well as 15 and 16-year olds provided they have a supporting declaration from an interdisciplinary medical council. Despite its progressive impact, the law faces several notable limitations. Primarily, the statute retains a judicial rather than an administrative process, requiring applicants to undergo court proceedings, hire legal representation and pay court fees rather than completing a low-barrier civil registry self-declaration. Moreover, the legislation strictly maintains a binary framework ("male" or "female"), completely excluding non-binary and intersex individuals from receiving matching gender markers. | Enacted on October 13th, 2017, Law 4491/2017 (Νομική αναγνώριση της ταυτότητας φύλου) fundamentally restructured legal gender recognition in Greece. The legislation formally abolished all mandatory prerequisites for gender marker and name changes, eliminating requirements for sex reassignment surgery, psychiatric evaluation or other medical treatments. Under the law, legal gender recognition is defined as an inherent expression of personal identity processed through a judicial hearing before a local Magistrate’s Court (Ειρηνοδικείο), where an applicant submits a formal declaration of their chosen name and self-identified gender. Forced divorce was also originally required if the person was married, before same-sex marriage became legal in 2024. Furthermore, the statute extended eligibility to 17-year-olds with parental consent as well as 15 and 16-year olds provided they have a supporting declaration from an interdisciplinary medical council. Despite its progressive impact, the law faces several notable limitations. Primarily, the statute retains a judicial rather than an administrative process, requiring applicants to undergo court proceedings, hire legal representation and pay court fees rather than completing a low-barrier civil registry self-declaration. Moreover, the legislation strictly maintains a binary framework ("male" or "female"), completely excluding non-binary and intersex individuals from receiving matching gender markers. |
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edited by Antotourou. Fixed spelling mistake
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0 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Description | Enacted on October 13, 2017, Law 4491/2017 (LegL recognition of gender identity/Νομική αναγνώριση της ταυτότητας φύλου) fundamentally restructured legal gender recognition in Greece. The legislation formally abolished all mandatory prerequisites for gender marker and name changes, eliminating requirements for sex reassignment surgery, psychiatric evaluation or medical treatments. Under the law, legal gender recognition is defined as an inherent expression of personal identity processed through a judicial hearing before a local Magistrate’s Court (Ειρηνοδικείο), where an applicant submits a formal declaration of their chosen name and self-identified gender. Forced divorce was also originally required if the person was married, before same-sex marriage became legal in 2024. Furthermore, the statute extended eligibility to 17-year-olds with parental consent as well as 15 and 16-year olds provided they have a supporting declaration from an interdisciplinary medical council. Despite its progressive impact, the law faces several notable limitations. Primarily, the statute retains a judicial rather than an administrative process, requiring applicants to undergo court proceedings, hire legal representation and pay court fees rather than completing a low-barrier civil registry self-declaration. Moreover, the legislation strictly maintains a binary framework ("male" or "female"), completely excluding non-binary and intersex individuals from receiving matching gender markers. | Enacted on October 13, 2017, Law 4491/2017 (Νομική αναγνώριση της ταυτότητας φύλου) fundamentally restructured legal gender recognition in Greece. The legislation formally abolished all mandatory prerequisites for gender marker and name changes, eliminating requirements for sex reassignment surgery, psychiatric evaluation or medical treatments. Under the law, legal gender recognition is defined as an inherent expression of personal identity processed through a judicial hearing before a local Magistrate’s Court (Ειρηνοδικείο), where an applicant submits a formal declaration of their chosen name and self-identified gender. Forced divorce was also originally required if the person was married, before same-sex marriage became legal in 2024. Furthermore, the statute extended eligibility to 17-year-olds with parental consent as well as 15 and 16-year olds provided they have a supporting declaration from an interdisciplinary medical council. Despite its progressive impact, the law faces several notable limitations. Primarily, the statute retains a judicial rather than an administrative process, requiring applicants to undergo court proceedings, hire legal representation and pay court fees rather than completing a low-barrier civil registry self-declaration. Moreover, the legislation strictly maintains a binary framework ("male" or "female"), completely excluding non-binary and intersex individuals from receiving matching gender markers. |
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edited by Antotourou. Added even more info
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0 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Description | Enacted on October 13, 2017, Law 4491/2017 fundamentally restructured legal gender recognition in Greece. The legislation formally abolished all mandatory prerequisites for gender marker and name changes, eliminating requirements for sex reassignment surgery, psychiatric evaluation or medical treatments. Under the law, legal gender recognition is defined as an inherent expression of personal identity processed through a judicial hearing before a local Magistrate’s Court (Ειρηνοδικείο), where an applicant submits a formal declaration of their chosen name and self-identified gender. Forced divorce was also originally required if the person was married, before same-sex marriage became legal in 2024. Furthermore, the statute extended eligibility to 17-year-olds with parental consent as well as 15 and 16-year olds provided they have a supporting declaration from an interdisciplinary medical council. Despite its progressive impact, the law faces several notable limitations. Primarily, the statute retains a judicial rather than an administrative process, requiring applicants to undergo court proceedings, hire legal representation and pay court fees rather than completing a low-barrier civil registry self-declaration. Moreover, the legislation strictly maintains a binary framework ("male" or "female"), completely excluding non-binary and intersex individuals from receiving matching gender markers. | Enacted on October 13, 2017, Law 4491/2017 (LegL recognition of gender identity/Νομική αναγνώριση της ταυτότητας φύλου) fundamentally restructured legal gender recognition in Greece. The legislation formally abolished all mandatory prerequisites for gender marker and name changes, eliminating requirements for sex reassignment surgery, psychiatric evaluation or medical treatments. Under the law, legal gender recognition is defined as an inherent expression of personal identity processed through a judicial hearing before a local Magistrate’s Court (Ειρηνοδικείο), where an applicant submits a formal declaration of their chosen name and self-identified gender. Forced divorce was also originally required if the person was married, before same-sex marriage became legal in 2024. Furthermore, the statute extended eligibility to 17-year-olds with parental consent as well as 15 and 16-year olds provided they have a supporting declaration from an interdisciplinary medical council. Despite its progressive impact, the law faces several notable limitations. Primarily, the statute retains a judicial rather than an administrative process, requiring applicants to undergo court proceedings, hire legal representation and pay court fees rather than completing a low-barrier civil registry self-declaration. Moreover, the legislation strictly maintains a binary framework ("male" or "female"), completely excluding non-binary and intersex individuals from receiving matching gender markers. |
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edited by Antotourou. Added information
Helpful?
0 | Old Value | New Value | |
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| Description | To change one's legal gender in Greece, the legal requirement is only a court order. Non-binary people are to choose male or female. Forced divorce was also required if the person was married, before same-sex marriage was legal in Greece. | Enacted on October 13, 2017, Law 4491/2017 fundamentally restructured legal gender recognition in Greece. The legislation formally abolished all mandatory prerequisites for gender marker and name changes, eliminating requirements for sex reassignment surgery, psychiatric evaluation or medical treatments. Under the law, legal gender recognition is defined as an inherent expression of personal identity processed through a judicial hearing before a local Magistrate’s Court (Ειρηνοδικείο), where an applicant submits a formal declaration of their chosen name and self-identified gender. Forced divorce was also originally required if the person was married, before same-sex marriage became legal in 2024. Furthermore, the statute extended eligibility to 17-year-olds with parental consent as well as 15 and 16-year olds provided they have a supporting declaration from an interdisciplinary medical council. Despite its progressive impact, the law faces several notable limitations. Primarily, the statute retains a judicial rather than an administrative process, requiring applicants to undergo court proceedings, hire legal representation and pay court fees rather than completing a low-barrier civil registry self-declaration. Moreover, the legislation strictly maintains a binary framework ("male" or "female"), completely excluding non-binary and intersex individuals from receiving matching gender markers. |
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| Sources | https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/press-release/2017/10/greece-vote-on-legal-gender-recognition-is-an-historic-step-forward-for-transgender-rights/ | https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/press-release/2017/10/greece-vote-on-legal-gender-recognition-is-an-historic-step-forward-for-transgender-rights/ https://nomikospalmos.wordpress.com/2024/10/16/%CE%BD%CE%BF%CE%BC%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%B7-%CE%B1%CE%BD%CE%B1%CE%B3%CE%BD%CF%89%CF%81%CE%B9%CF%83%CE%B7-%CF%84%CE%B7%CF%83-%CF%84%CE%B1%CF%85%CF%84%CE%BF%CF%84%CE%B7%CF%84%CE%B1%CF%83-%CF%86%CF%85/ https://www.lawspot.gr/nomika-nea/dimosieythike-o-nomos-4491-2017-gia-ti-nomiki-anagnorisi-tis-taytotitas-fyloy/ |
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edited by Antotourou. Fixing the date
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0 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Start Date | Oct 10, 2017 | Oct 13, 2017 |
| Description | To change one's legal gender in Greece, the legal requirement is only a court order. Non-binary people are to choose male or female. Forced divorce was also required if the person was married, before same-sex marriage was legal in Greece. | To change one's legal gender in Greece, the legal requirement is only a court order. Non-binary people are to choose male or female. Forced divorce was also required if the person was married, before same-sex marriage was legal in Greece. |
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| Description | To change one's legal gender in Greece, the legal requirements are a forced divorce (if married, due to the inability of performing same-sex marriage) and a court order. Non-binary people are to choose male or female. | To change one's legal gender in Greece, the legal requirement is only a court order. Non-binary people are to choose male or female. Forced divorce was also required if the person was married, before same-sex marriage was legal in Greece. |
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| Old Value | New Value | |
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| Description | Since October 2017, to change one's legal gender in Greece, the legal requirements are a forced divorce (if married, due to the inability of performing same-sex marriage) and a court order. Non-binary people are to choose male or female. | To change one's legal gender in Greece, the legal requirements are a forced divorce (if married, due to the inability of performing same-sex marriage) and a court order. Non-binary people are to choose male or female. |
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Reports (1)
- Status is not correct "There has been a court decision allowing the removal of gender from legal documents. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.news247.gr/ellada/tzeison-antigoni-anoigei-to-zitima-nomikis-anagnorisis-ton-trans-mi-diikon-atomon-stin-ellada/%3famp"
| Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Description | No requirements since 2017. Missing non binary options on drivers licenses. | Since October 2017, to change one's legal gender in Greece, the legal requirements are a forced divorce (if married, due to the inability of performing same-sex marriage) and a court order. Non-binary people are to choose male or female. |
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| Sources | https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/press-release/2017/10/greece-vote-on-legal-gender-recognition-is-an-historic-step-forward-for-transgender-rights/ | |
| Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Description | No requirements since 2017. | No requirements since 2017. Missing non binary options on drivers licenses. |
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| Sources | No | |
| Old Value (Original) | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Start Date | Jan 1, 2016 | Oct 10, 2017 |
| Description | Since 2016 | No requirements since 2017. |