Denmark and Finland urge caution for U.S.A.-bound trans people

Denmark and Finland have recently revised their travel advisories for transgender individuals heading to the United States, joining a few other European countries in alerting travellers to potential issues at the American border.

Denmark now recommends that trans travellers contact the U.S.A. embassy in Copenhagen before their trip to ensure that their travel documents will not pose any problems, ‘The Guardian’ reports.

This update follows Donald Trump’s policy shift emphasising the recognition of only two genders in the U.S.A., which included executive orders aimed at excluding trans individuals from the military, limiting their participation in sports, and restricting gender-transition procedures for those under 19.

While the Danish foreign ministry didn’t specifically mention Trump, it noted that the U.S.A. Electronic System for Travel Authorization form allows only male or female gender options. In contrast, Danish law permits citizens to list their gender as X.

“If your passport has the gender designation X or you have changed gender, it is recommended to contact the US embassy prior to travel for guidance on how to proceed,” advises the updated Danish travel page.

Officials confirmed that no Danish nationals have been refused US entry or detained at the border since Trump’s tenure began. Instead, the advisory update was requested by the LGBTQ+ Danmark association.

“We are worried that people could be stopped at the airport and refused entry, or that something inappropriate and uncomfortable could happen at the airport,” explained Susanne Branner Jespersen to Danish broadcaster Radio IIII.

Earlier this month, Germany reportedly advised transgender travellers or those with an X gender marker on their passports to contact US diplomatic missions before departing.

Following this, Finland adjusted its advice in mid-March, stating, “If the applicant’s current sex on their passport is different from their sex confirmed at birth, the US authorities may refuse entry.”

Other European nations have started to clarify U.S.A. entry requirements. In Germany, after three nationals were reportedly detained at the border, the government updated its advisory to emphasise that a visa or entry waiver doesn't guarantee U.S.A. entry.

“The final decision on whether a person can enter the US lies with the US border authorities,” a spokesperson for the foreign ministry informed Reuters.

In the UK, officials have revised their U.S.A. travel advisory to warn that individuals breaking entry rules could face arrest or detention.

Reports emerged that a British tourist was detained in the U.S.A. for 10 days after mistakenly applying for a tourist visa instead of a working visa.

The Foreign Office, when contacted by Reuters, declined to comment on the reasons behind the advisory changes or specify when the changes were made.