Important Travel and Passport Considerations
Please note that as of October 14, 2025, airlines are required to adjust how they submit passenger data to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). This may impact any traveler using a U.S. passport with an “X” gender marker.
What We Know:
CBP is now requiring airlines to submit passenger data that only includes “M” or “F” in the gender field. In compliance with President Trump’s January 20, 2025 Executive Order on gender, CBP is updating guidance for The Advance Passenger Information System (APIS) transmissions to CBP. This means the APIS system, which all airlines use, will no longer accept “X” as a gender marker.
If your valid passport has an “X” marker (rather than “M” or “F”), you should still be able to travel. See the Department of State’s sex markers in passports page for further guidance. Existing gender marker options (“M”, “F”, or “X”) remain in place and valid due to ongoing litigation and court orders currently blocking full enforcement of the federal policy.
While this change should not impede travel, we understand this may be upsetting for some and encourage you to contact your Program Manager or site staff if you have questions; you can also reach out to us at abroad@bu.edu.
What You Can Do When Traveling:
- Arrive early for flights and bear in mind potential delays, if presenting non-binary gender markers on passports.
- Ensure your name, birth date, and passport number match exactly.
- If you have an ID with an “X” marker, consider calling your airline in advance to understand how they are handling the designation, as this may vary by airline.
Gender and Gender Expression Abroad
Concepts of gender and gender roles can vary greatly from place to place across the U.S. – and certainly across the world. There are differing ideas about family, age, norms, and everyday customs that are rooted in history, religion, or politics. You may see these concepts at work in a classroom, homestay, or internship placement. It’s important to be prepared for this new experience by understanding the laws, norms, customs, and attitudes in your new surroundings.
Our office strives for inclusion and safety for all students at all locations, regardless of their gender or gender expression. We acknowledge the intersectional components of overlapping identities, and how they may affect an individual’s experiences in each place. We therefore invite every student to reflect on and research how their gender may be perceived in different locations and reach out to our office to discuss specific concerns.
The following reflection questions may be helpful to consider:
- What type of gender roles are present in my host country?
- How are women treated or viewed in my host country? How are men treated or viewed? How are people outside of the typical gender binary viewed?
- What gender-inclusive accommodations do I require or prefer? What social, legal, and medical services and resources are available to LGBTQ+ individuals in my host city?
- Gender roles can be apparent at your internship placement. What are the fashion norms of the area or location? Are there specific requirements for my internship placement?
- How can I be safe when I go out for fun? Am I comfortable traveling alone?
- What should I know about dating norms in the country where I’m going?
BU Resources & Community
Health
Planning ahead is important when it comes to your health. If you have health care providers at home, be sure to set a plan with them to make sure you can stay on top of your physical and mental health, including any prescriptions and medications you may take.
Read more about how to plan and utilize the resources available to you, including your health insurance while abroad, in our health and safety section.
Dating & Relationships
When talking about gender norms and roles around the world, these conversations also extend to dating norms, relationships between people, and local customs surrounding marriage, sex, and relationships. It should be noted that dating practices and attitudes towards premarital and casual sex can be vastly different from norms in the U.S. Every person abroad should take care when entering dating or sexual relationships, and even in everyday interactions. Students studying abroad should take care not to endanger or act inappropriately with others in their interactions. Dating apps should be used with caution. We encourage all students to do as much research as they can about local dating and sexual norms, as well as customs that govern relationships between unmarried people.
Sexual Health and Safety
Your health and safety are of utmost importance. You should have freedom from discrimination and violence when engaging in sexual activity, as well as the ability to access necessary resources. You should have the space to explore your sexuality without stigma, but keep in mind that you have less knowledge about the country’s sexual culture as a foreigner. Make sure to stay safe and vigilant.
Considerations for Women (Cis-gender, femme presenting, non femme presenting, androgynous, trans-women)
When visiting a different country for the first time, we encourage all students to keep an open mind toward the local culture and customs. Women travelers may notice differences in how they’re treated by locals in multiple contexts, from casual and passing interactions to closer working relationships.
You may find some differences between the U.S. and your new location in how people generally act and interact. Many of these are based in religious, cultural, and historically held notions of gender, modesty, and wellbeing. Some of these differences may feel oppressive or scary, and it’s ok to disagree with them. However, openly going against these norms could be seen as disrespectful of the local culture and the people who live there. Taking small steps to observe, recognize, and respect these norms will give you more opportunities to engage more directly with your new location.
Above all, being safe while abroad is the most important priority you should have.
Additional Resources
Considerations for Men (cis gender, masc presenting, non masc presenting, androgynous, or trans men)
Every student can benefit from studying abroad, and although trends show that more women study abroad than men, everyone has much to gain from studying abroad. It is important to understand that if you choose to study abroad, you may be vastly outnumbered by women on your program. Men studying abroad have every opportunity to join in the local culture and fully immerse in a new culture. It is important to understand how concepts of masculinity and men’s role in society vary from place to place. It can be helpful to research the interaction in your host country between men; you may find that it is common in some locations for heterosexual male friends to hold hands or greet each other with kisses.
It is possible that you may have to adjust how you spend time with female friends. Some locations may have more restrictive social rules when it comes to unmarried individuals spending time alone together. You may find that there are significant differences in concepts of masculinity, dress, and gender roles in other countries. We recommend that you research these aspects of daily life as you’re planning your time abroad, but we hope they will not be a barrier to an enjoyable study abroad experience.
Above all, being safe while abroad is the most important priority you should have.
Considerations for Non-Binary, Gender Non-Conforming and Gender Fluid Students
As a non-binary, gender nonconforming, or gender fluid student studying abroad, you may face new or different challenges that you haven’t faced before. Language barriers, housing, flying, and more can all affect your experience differently as a person who doesn’t identify with the gender binary.
Meeting new people and adapting to a new environment can present many challenges. Dealing with issues like misgendering and coming out can be exhausting but reading and talking to other students about their experiences can be a big help when it comes to navigating difficult conversations. Understanding gender and pronouns is something that varies depending on language. If you are studying in a country where the primary language is not English, it can be helpful to research what kind of language you would like others to use in reference to yourself. Understanding your gender in foreign languages can be a huge asset to feeling comfortable when meeting new people in a new country. In many languages, there are new strides being made in gender inclusivity, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that everyone will be aware of these new additions. Your site staff can be a great resource in understanding your gender and pronouns in the local language.
Internship programs offer students great opportunities. One aspect of the workplace environment worth considering is dress code. It can be helpful to do some research beforehand into the kind of dress that is appropriate for your field in the city in which you’ll be working. If you are concerned about being able to fit this standard while maintaining your authentic gender expression, your program manager can connect you with the internship staff to make sure you are as prepared as possible. Your site staff is there to help you while you are on-site, and the staff in Boston is always available to connect with you or to connect you with alumni who you can talk to as well.
Additional Resources:
Considerations for Transgender Students
As a transgender student studying abroad, you may face new or different challenges that you haven’t faced before. Flying, housing, interning, and more can be a different experience for you compared to cis-gender students.
There is an important distinction between laws of the land and prevailing attitudes of local people. While sexist or transphobic discrimination may be outlawed, or individuals may be protected under the law, that does not necessarily transfer to how the local people treat those individuals. Understanding prevailing attitudes can give insight into how your preferred gender expression may be perceived. It is important to recognize the entrenched cultural norms of your new location and try to predict how they may affect you.
An important facet of the study abroad experience is the housing situation. If you have questions about gender inclusive housing, our program managers are a great place to start. They are a terrific resource for learning more about housing and the support structures in place at each of our locations, so never hesitate to reach out.
Internship programs offer students a great opportunity to begin their professional careers. Dealing with issues like misgendering and coming out in the workplace can be exhausting, but we are here to help you in any way we can, both before you depart and while you’re abroad, including connecting you with program alumni to discuss their experiences.
Additional Resources:
- Transgender on the Job: first-hand account of being transgender in the workplace.
- Trans Unite: a comprehensive resource for people in the UK searching for support in the transgender community
Flight Tips for Non-cisgender Students
There are some important things to keep in mind for non-binary, gender non-conforming, gender fluid students and transgender students when it comes to flying. The first is your travel documents; airlines require your first and last name as well as your gender on your reservation to match your passport. Be sure to update your identification to reflect your current documentation. Please note also revised guidance above on this page regarding traveling with an “X” gender marker in your passport; this guidance is effective October 14, 2025.
When you’re at the airport in the U.S. you have the right to waive the Advanced Imaging security screen and can request a pat-down by an officer whose gender presentation most aligns with yours. You are also not required to remove any articles of clothing, including prosthetics, in airport security, but keep in mind that prosthetics and bound chests could be flagged by security for extra screenings.
Additional Resources:
Safety
All people have the right to live their lives free of harassment or assault based on their gender or gender expression. Those who do experience gender-based violence, including at a location abroad, have the right to seek confidential and compassionate resources and support. Exercising caution when in a new environment is crucial, especially in situations involving alcohol. Site staff at BU Study Abroad sites can orient all students to medical and safety protocols and respond, should help be necessary. The Survivor Advocacy, Response & Prevention Center (SARP) at BU provides free, confidential, and responsive support to any member of the BU community who has experienced trauma, and they are prepared to help those abroad.
