The bill has been prepared by the country’s Equality Ministry, led by the left-wing Podemos party, and would permit people 16 and over to change their name and gender with a sworn statement.

Children aged 14 and above would be able to do the same with parental support.

“We are making history with a law that takes a giant step forward for the rights of trans and LGBTI people,” said Irene Montero, the equality minister. She also said the law would place Spain “at the forefront of Europe in a context where some countries are profoundly questioning the rights of LGBTI people”.

If the bill is passed, Spain will become one of 16 countries that allow gender self-determination without a diagnosis of gender dysphoria.

An original draft permitted 16-year-olds to make decisions about receiving hormone treatments and allowed 12-year-olds to change their name and gender if supported by their parents.

Feminist members of the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez have criticised the right to gender self-identification. One leaked document, signed by the deputy prime minister, Carmen Calvo, said the concept of gender was “being used by certain movements to substitute the very concept of sex”.