Mercer County Clerk Paula Sollami Covello advises that the U.S. Department of State has ceased issuing passports with the “X” gender marker, which prior to January 20, 2025, was available to non-binary individuals who do not identify as strictly male or female. As a result, applications submitted with an “X” gender marker have been placed on hold by the federal government.
On February 11, 2025, Secretary of State Marco Rubio further instructed state department staff to assign a male or female sex designation to transgender passport applicants already submitted. If sufficient evidence of biological sex at birth is not provided, applications will be suspended until appropriate documentation is submitted.
For individuals currently holding passports with an “X” gender marker, we recommend contacting the U.S. Department of State for guidance on obtaining a new passport with a male or female designation. For further information or assistance regarding the recent policy change, please contact the U.S. Department of State or visit their official website.
Mercer County Clerk Sollami Covello acknowledges the challenges this policy shift may present to our community members who have already applied through one of her office’s two locations for a passport.
“While our office does not have the authority to override these federally mandated changes, we stand in solidarity with those affected and regret any inconvenience caused,” she added. “This action, which began via a Presidential Executive Order, is beyond our jurisdiction.”
The Mercer County Clerk’s Office remains committed to assisting Mercer residents with their passport needs. We provide passport services in two locations on a regular basis, in Trenton and at the Mercer County Connection Office in Hamilton. In Hamilton, services are by appointment only due to a significant increase in demand for passports. The hours and locations are listed below
Mercer County Connection Passport Service Hours
957 Highway 33, Hamilton, NJ 08690
Open: 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (Monday, Wednesday and Friday)
10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Tuesday and Thursday)
10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (Saturday)
Trenton Office Hours
209 South Broad Street, Trenton, NJ 08608
Open: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday)
8 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. (Wednesday)
Please visit Mercer County Passport Appointments to schedule an appointment for Hamilton or call our main office in Trenton at (609) 989-6473. We encourage applicants to review the required documentation prior to their appointment to ensure a smooth process. Detailed information can be found on our website under Passports.
Additionally, we will hold two passport service events this spring. The County Clerk’s Office will be in Princeton on March 19th along with Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman and hosted by Mayor Mark Freda. Also, the County Clerk’s Office will visit East Windsor, hosted by Mayor Janice Mironov, on April 2nd.
Appointments may be made for these locations by contacting (609) 989-6473. Visit Mercer County’s website for further details at www.mercercounty.org.
