Ireland has issued a warning for trans citizens wishing to travel to the US. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade updated its guidance on Monday, March 24, in light of recent political developments under the Trump administration.

Since his inauguration in January, President Donald Trump has taken aim at transgender rights through a series of measures. On his first day back in the White House, he signed almost 100 executive orders, one of which declared that the government would only recognise two genders, male and female, and that they must reflect a person’s sex assigned at birth.

This had an immediate impact, as seen through the experience of actor Hunter Schafer. After applying for a new passport, the Euphoria star received her document with her gender marked as ‘M’, although she has been legally identified as a woman since she was a teenager.

“I don’t give a f*ck that they put an M on my passport. It doesn’t change anything about me or my transness. However, it does make life a little harder,” she said. Schafer noted that she will now have to “out” herself at airport security in order to be allowed through.

@csbvkjbvjkbkjjvkfsjkposted/deleted this last night because i wanted to make a more concise/well spoken thing but it’s out in the world! so putting it back heree

♬ original sound – Hunter Schafer

The situation is also likely to affect Irish travellers as, since 2015, trans citizens have been able to apply to have their gender legally recognised by the State. However, it should be noted that there are still no provisions for non-binary people who may want to have an alternative to the male and female options.

With this in mind, Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade issued the following guidance for trans travellers: “ESTA and visa application forms to the US require travellers to declare their sex. The US authorities have indicated that this should reflect the traveller’s biological sex at birth.

“Travellers who have an ‘X’ marker on their passport or whose sex on their passport differs from sex assigned at birth should contact the Embassy of the United States of America in Dublin for further details on specific entry requirements.”