The Czech Republic will remove mandatory medical treatments from the legal gender-change process starting this July.

Trans individuals will no longer be required to undergo hormone therapy or gender-affirming surgery to change their registered gender.

This shift follows a landmark ruling last year by the Constitutional Court (Ústavní soud), which invalidated sections of the Civil Code and allowed a trans man to legally change his gender from female to male without surgery. In response, the Ministry of Health has updated its guidelines accordingly.

Key Changes in the New Procedure

Diagnosis by a Sexologist

A formal diagnosis of gender dysphoria by a qualified sexologist remains mandatory. Once this is provided—and the individual has signed informed consent—the sexologist issues a certificate enabling the registry office to process the gender change. The diagnostic process typically takes 6–12 months, and other medical specialists may contribute.

Gender Change Not Tied to Treatment

The new rules explicitly state that legal gender recognition does not depend on continuing treatment. This means individuals can obtain official gender recognition before, during, or instead of undergoing any medical interventions.

Name and Surname Adjustments

After the legal change, individuals may update their first and last names accordingly. If no name change is requested, the registry office will automatically adjust the surname to align with the new gender, and if there’s a mismatch, the matter will proceed through court notification.

Eliminating Surgery Requirement

Previously, gender change required approval from a Ministry of Health commission and completion of sex reassignment surgery. This additional hurdle has been officially removed.

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