Passport Name Change

If your name has changed and you now need to change it on your passport, it is very simple. However, the forms and processes you need will depend on a few things. You will need to know if your passport has been issued more than a year ago and if you have legal documentation showing your name change.

Name Change with Legal Documentation (Existing passport issued less than 12 months ago)

If your passport has been issued for less than a year and you have legal documentation proving the name change – the process is real simple. When you go through this process the State Department is simply going to add an amendment with your new name in the back of your current passport on the amendment pages. You will need the following:

• Your current, valid US Passport – Issued less than a year
• Completed DS-5504 form – Filled out online or hand written in black ink.
• An original or certified copy – of your marriage certificate or the government-issued document evidencing your legal name change under federal or state law.
• (1) Passport Photo

Reasons People Change Their Names
1. Name Change as a Result of Marriage
2. Dislike Current Name
3. Name Change With or After a Divorce
4. Husband Taking His New Wife’s Name
5. Changing a Child’s Last Name to Mother’s or Father’s
6. Couples Combining or Hyphenating Surnames to Form a New One
7. Desire for a Less or More “Ethnic” Name
8. Transgender Name Changes
9. Religious Reasons
10. Same-Sex Partners Sharing Surname
11. Making a Political Statement
There are no fees for this process unless you need to have the service expedited. You will mail this to the address listed on the DS-5504. You should mail your package using a traceable mailing service (e.g. UPS, Fedex, USPS with Tracking) so you can track the location of your personal documents while they are in transit.

Name Change with Documentation (existing passport issued more than 12 months ago)

If you have the legal documentation proving your name change but your passport has been issued more than a year – you will have to renew your passport. Although the process is still very easy you will have to pay for the renewed passport. You will need the following:

• Your current, valid US Passport
• Completed DS-82 – Fill out online or with black pen
• Renewal Fee – personal check or money order made out to the US Department of State. Do NOT abbreviate.
• An original or certified copy – of your marriage certificate or the government-issued document evidencing your legal name change under federal or state law.
• (1) Passport Photo

You will mail this to the address listed on the DS-82. You should mail your package using a traceable mailing service (e.g. UPS, Fedex, USPS with Tracking) so you can track the location of your personal documents while they are in transit.

Name change without legal documentation

If you are doing a name change but do NOT have the legal documentation showing the new name – you will have to apply as a new applicant regardless of when your existing passport was issued. You will follow the same process as applying for the first time. You will need all of the following to submit at the Acceptance Clerk:

• Your current, valid U.S. passport
• A completed Form DS-11 – Fill out online or with black pen
• Applicable “First Time” fees – personal check or money order made out to the US Department of State. Do NOT abbreviate.
• At least (3) public records – showing your date and place of birth that show exclusive use of your assumed name for at least 5 years
• (1) Passport Photo