Trans Resource Navigator

Northern Mariana Islands

ID documents
Mixed
Care
Mixed
Shield lawA state law that protects patients and providers of gender-affirming care from investigations, subpoenas, or extradition attempts by states that ban that care.
No

Since August 2026, a new CNMI law lets any resident petition the Superior Court for a name change.

More about Northern Mariana Islands

The court must grant it unless there is substantial evidence of fraud, and the judge can waive newspaper publication for good cause. Changing the sex marker is harder. A CNMI birth certificate can be amended only with a Superior Court order finding that your sex was changed by surgical procedure. The Bureau of Motor Vehicles has reportedly required a court order too. No law bans gender-affirming care, but local access is very limited.

This state’s pages are drafts written from official sources and not yet checked by a person. What this means

Your documents, in order

Most people go in this order, because each office checks the one before it. On every document, updating your name and changing your gender marker are separate questions with separate answers.

  1. Legal name changeState court
    Name
    YesNewspaper notice sometimes, court hearing required
  2. Social SecurityFederal, same in every state
    Name
    YesAfter your legal name change
    Gender marker
    NoCannot be changed right now
  3. Driver's license / state IDNorthern Mariana Islands DMV
    Name
    YesAfter your legal name change
    Gender marker
    UnclearNo written policy; see details
  4. US passportFederal, same in every state
    Name
    YesAfter your legal name change
    Gender marker
    NoCannot be changed right now
  5. Birth certificateOnly if born in Northern Mariana Islands
    Name
    YesAfter your legal name change
    Gender marker
    LimitedM or F with proof of surgery

Born somewhere other than Northern Mariana Islands? Your birth certificate follows the state where you were born. Choose your birth state

Gender-affirming care

Adults
Allowed
Under 18
Allowed
Gender-affirming care is legal in the Northern Mariana Islands for adults and minors, and no CNMI law bans it.Find clinics, health centers, telehealth, and ways to pay

Statewide organizations

  • CNMI Superior Court, Clerk of Court[4]

    Hears name change petitions under Public Law 24-38 and petitions for birth certificate sex marker orders. Offices on Saipan (Guma' Hustisia) and at the Rota Judicial Center.

    • Cost varies

  • Trans Lifeline[5]

    Peer support hotline run by and for trans people, plus microgrants for name and gender marker changes.

    • Free
    877-565-8860
Sources for this page (5)

Sources

5 sources. Numbers in the text, like [1], point here.

  1. Public Law 24-38, To establish a change of name legal procedure in the CNMI (signed August 27, 2026)CNMI Law Revision Commission, Law. accessed
    “The court shall grant the change of name petition if no substantial evidence exists that the name change is sought for any fraudulent or unlawful purpose.”
  2. 1 CMC § 26018, Amendment of Vital RecordsCNMI Law Revision Commission, Law. accessed
  3. Northern Mariana Islands equality profileMovement Advancement Project, Organization. accessed
  4. FormsCNMI Judiciary, Court. accessed
  5. Trans LifelineTrans Lifeline, Organization. accessed