Trans Name Change Party · Vancouver BC · March 31st, 2025

← Back to home page · en français

UPDATE as of March 21, 2025: Fully subsidized slots are currently full. Unsubsidized slots have been added to the booking calendar: these require either being eligible for a fee waiver, or paying the name change fees yourself (we can pay fingerprinting costs). Drop-ins will be possible, though we won’t be able to pay any costs in that case.

With the help of funds from our Trans Legal Defense Fund, we are running a one-time, all-fees-paid-for Trans Name Change Party in Vancouver, BC. This special event, organized in collaboration with our friends at QMUNITY, Lawyers Against Transphobia and Comité FrancoQueer de l’Ouest, will be providing A-to-Z, wraparound support with name changes, including:

  • legal information and accompaniment with anything revolving around name changes or gender marker changes;
  • financial support for both the name change application and requisite fingerprinting under the B.C. Name Act;
  • notarization / commissioner for taking affidavits services;
  • support with form completion;
  • special accompaniment for folks born in either Québec or Nova Scotia (we can help with QC and NS applications gender marker change applications too!);
  • accompaniment in French.

We will be paying fees for the first 30 people who book an appointment with us, with potentially more depending on availability of funds. Financial support will be provided under the form of pre-signed cheques (up to $137) and/or a combination of either on-site fingerprinting (with the V.P.D.) or requisition forms for off-site fingerprinting (with the Commissionaires; normally a cost of $88). Folks who can comfortably afford paying these fees may be asked to contribute part or all fees requisite for the application. Drop-ins are accepted, but won’t include financial support unless funds remain available after all appointments.

Because of the special, one-time nature of this service, we will only be running on Monday, March 31st, 2025, between 3pm and 7pm (folks must arrive by 6:00 pm). All appointments will be taking place at 312 Main St., Vancouver BC.

What to bring?

  • For folks born in Canada: All of your original birth certificates, which MUST be surrendered upon applying.
    • If you are born in BC and do not have a birth certificate, it’s okay — though, in that case, a $27 search fee will be applicable (we can also pay that fee if need be).
    • If you don’t have any and are born in another Canadian province, you’ll need to order a new original birth certificate.
    • Exception: N.S. and Québec-born BC residents filling out the application from their province of birth won’t need to order a new birth certificate.
    • We can help with Alberta, Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Québec birth certificate applications.
  • For folks born outside of Canada: bring your permanent resident card, citizenship certificate, work permit, study permit, RPCD or similar document. We’ll make a certified copy on site.
  • Bring at least one (1) government-issued photo ID in addition to the above (driver’s license, BC Services Card or other provincial ID, or a passport). We will make a certified copy on site.
  • Bring any and all previous name change documents and, if married in B.C., any marriage certificates you have.
  • Folks earning ≤ $20,000 may apply for a fee waiver for the fees charged by Vital Statistics BC ($137 name change fee + $27 gender marker change fee). To invoke this waiver, do bring your recentmost CRA Notice of Assessment.
  • Folks under age 19 as of March 31st, 2025 must, except if applying under N.S. or Québec law (if born in said provinces, and above age 16 in N.S. or 14 in Québec), be accompanied by all of their parents, who must all sign consent to the application. Exceptions apply.
  • Folks under age 12, born in B.C. and whose parent(s) are applying to their gender marker must have a physician or psychologist complete a “Physician’s or psychologist’s confirmation of change of gender designation” form.
    • For folks born in N.S.: under 16. For folks born in Québec: under 18. For all other jurisdictions, we will provide you with legal information on site!

Plan to be on site for around 60 to 120 minutes!

Registration form