39 Comments
Just married? Newly divorced? Whatever the story behind your new name, you need to make sure that the change is reflected on your passport. To avoid travel disruptions, the name on your ticket and passport should match. If your name has changed, here are the steps on how to change the name on a passport.
If Your Passport is Less Than a Year Old
If your passport is less than one year old, you can get your name changed free of charge. Simply complete passport application Form DS-5504 and mail it in to the address listed on the form, along with the following documents:
- Your current, valid US passport.
- Legal evidence to back up your name change request, such as a copy of your marriage certificate or a court order referencing the change. Send either the original document or a certified copy, not a photocopy.
- One new passport photo.
- The Department of State will correct passports less than one-year old for free. However, if you need your updated passport in the next six weeks, it’s a good idea to go ahead and pay the $60 expedite fee. This will reduce the processing time to approximately 5 to 7 weeks.
If Your Passport Was Issued More Than a Year Ago
If your passport was issued more than one year ago, you’ll need to go ahead and renew your passport in order to get your name changed. To start, fill out passport renewal Form DS-82. Send it to the address listed on the form, along with the following documents:
- Your current, undamaged US passport.
- One new passport photo.
- Legal documentation, such as a marriage certificate or court order, that supports your request for a name change.
- A check or money order to pay the fees. A passport book alone is $130, a passport card (valid only for land and sea travel to Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean) is $30, and both together are $160.
Routine processing for passport renewals through the Department of State currently averages 8 to 11 weeks, though you can pay an additional $60 expedite fee to cut that time down to 5 to 7 weeks. If you need the name on your passport changed more quickly than that, you have a choice of either making an appointment at one of the State Department’s 24 regional passport agency offices, or using a private company like RushMyPassport.
We take your paperwork and deliver it directly to the State Department for priority processing, as quickly as one week. There’s no need to make an appointment, wait in line, or travel out of town to a passport agency. Additionally, we walk you through the process, step-by-step, reducing the chance of errors that commonly cause delays.
For a quick passport name change with a minimum amount of hassle, contact us today!
I received my daughter’s passport 2 months back. I have removed the middle name from my daughter’s birth certificate after the passport I received. She is less than 5 months. Do I have to fill out DS-5504 or DS-11 for a name change in her passport? Do I need to send the original Birth Certificate again?
Yes, you will use the DS5504 for the data correction. You will need to provide proof of the name change or data correction.
I am looking and renewing and name change. I recently got married. My marriage license does not show my married name, as per Texas. I have already changed my name through the military, social security, and driver’s license. Is a certified copy of my license all I need to send in. Also, do I count the date of name change as my marriage date? Thank you!
Yes, that sounds right. The Dept of State will notify you if additional documentation is needed.
My marriage license includes a middle name on my new name. But when i officially changed my name with the Social security, I took that middle name out. Will that be a problem since my legal name doesn’t match that new name on the marriage license?
Any discrepancy with your name change documentation will be resolved through the application process with the Department of State passport agency. They will contact you if documentation or an explanation is needed.
I have a rather strange situation. I have changed my name and applied for a passport in that changed name. I have regretted doing that, never bothered changing any of my other documents (license, ss#, etc). My passport is now expired, can I renew it with my old name?
Yes but you may be required to provide documentation of the legal name.
Thank you but I have another question. I got married recently but my husband is outside of the country. I had to get a visa to visit him initially. Does changing the name on my passport now affect the current approved Visa in the passport that is good for two years or do I have to get that process done over again too?
Generally the name that you will have on the passport and/or visa will need to match your proof of identification. If you have immediate travel and a valid visa, you may want to travel on these current documents until you can return with ample time to get updated travel documents.
I need to submit a name change, but also I lost my passport. What steps do I take to get a new passport?
If are a filing for a lost passport, that will take precedence in the filing. However, when you complete the application for the new passport, you will include the new name. There is a requirement that youy must show official and original name change in a government issued document such as marriage certificate, divorce decree or official name change.
I just got married and am in the process of changing my name. I read that I need to update my license within 30 days of my name change, however the DOL is booked out for 2 months! Would updating my passport be an acceptable alternative?
Hello, Lyss.
If you wish to change your last name to that of your spouse, you’ll need several copies of vital records including your old IDs, your certified marriage certificate, and likely a copy of your original certified birth certificate or Passport.
The first step to changing your name after marriage is to acquire your marriage certificate.
From there, you can use your marriage certificate to apply for and change your name. Importantly, it is not necessary to change the name on your birth certificate.
Your social security card is one of your most important legal documents, and therefore the first item you should update after you get married.
Well, you will need your social security to be able to change your name on your license and in your passport.
You can change your passport while you get an appointment to renew your license, however you should always carry your social security and passport with you and if necessary a proof of the appointment to change your license.
I’m getting married in a couple months and I’m applying for a UK visa just days after. I would like to take my fiancé’s last name right away to avoid having to update the visa and brp documents later for a fee. But my passport would need to match my new name at the time of applying. The problem with this is that I will have been away from my fiancé for about a month and if I apply for a new passport after we get married, there will be a delay and he will have to go back to the uk without me and we will have to be separated longer, plus he will have to fly back here to attend our visa appointment as if this whole process isn’t expensive enough and it is. Is it possible to apply for a new passport with my future name before we’re married? We aren’t married yet but we have a marriage license already (we must use it within 3 months, which is the plan). Is this possible – to apply with my new name before it’s been changed?
I don’t think so. You will need to submit proof of name change which is usually the marriage license. If you have that already issues and in your new name, then you should be fine to use that.
Hello, I need to renew my passport with my married last name. When I send in my documents, should I just send in my marriage certificate or do I need to get anything notarized or certified first? I have already changed my name with social security and my drivers licenses is updated. Thanks for the help!
Send in your marriage license. It will be returned with your new passport. If you’re traveling soon, please call us and we can help you expedite the renewal so you’re not waiting 6-8 weeks for your passport.
I just married and in the middle of changing all documents with my new name. Can I change my passport with new name before changing name on my certificate of naturalization?
Yes, you can provide the proof of name change when you apply for a passport renewal. If you’re traveling soon, please call us and we can help you expedite the renewal so you’re not waiting 6-8 weeks for your passport.
Will a new social security card showing the new “legal name” suffice, or do you still have to send in the marriage certificate as well?
You should send in the marriage certificate. It will be returned with the new passport.
I’m renewing my passport. Do I put my new married name on the application, or should it match the old one? Of course I’ll include the marriage certificate, just wondering what to put on the form itself.
Put your current legal name and there will be a place right after the name that asks for other names you previously used.
I have my drivers license and my ssn, would that be enough to show that my last name has changed or does it HAVE to be a marriage licence?
It needs to be a legal document like a court order or marriage license.
Very interesting. I changed my name to my husbands name several years after we were married. Does a certified copy of the marriage license still apply to me or do I need to go another route?
Correct. You will need to submit proof of the name change (marriage license) along with your passport application and documents.
I just got married. I know you need a certified copy of my marriage license. Will my marriage license be mailed back to me or will the passport office keep it?
Yes, all original documents will be returned with your new passport.
I sent my passport off for marriage name change, and now I’m thinkikng I’d like to move my maiden name to be my middle name. Will I be able to resubmit my passport again??
You can reapply for your passport to update your name, but proof of name change (or legal name) will be necessary to get your passport amended or updated.
I am changing my name back to my maiden name. Can I just send a copy of my name change or does it have to be the certified copy?
Hi MK, it needs to be certified.
I have been divorced for 9 years. I need to change my passport to my maiden name. I have changed my Social Security and Drivers License to my maiden name. Do I still have to have a legal copy of divorce decree?
Hi Tammie,
Yes, I’m afraid so. Good luck!
I have a passport in my maiden name and was married in June of 2015 . I kept my maiden and hyped my married name. Will I still have to change my passport? It is older than a year but I think I might still have 5 more years on it. Thank you,
Dawn
Hi Dawn,
You should go ahead and renew if you plan to leave the country. The name on your passport needs to match the name on the ticket. Hope that helps!
I had no idea you could change the name on your passport! Thanks for the great information!