Changing Name on Passport After Marriage or Divorce UK Renewal Guide
Our changing name on passport after marriage or divorce UK guide shows you what you need to do, how long you have & the documents for passport renewal
Our changing name on passport after marriage or divorce UK guide shows you what you need to do, how long you have & the documents for passport renewal
If you are changing your first, middle or surname or any combination of, high up on your to-do list is to update your British passport, especially if you’re planning to go abroad in your new name. In this guide, we will take you through everything you need to know about the passport name change UK process after marriage, divorce, or deed poll.
Your passport is often used as a formal piece of identification, so it needs to reflect your official name and it’s essential to keep this document up to date.
If you are wondering how to change your surname on your passport after marriage, divorce or deed poll, we are here to help. From which passport application form you need to the documentation to submit - we’ve got you covered!
You might be wondering, where do I begin? Or what documentation do I need? Or can I still use my passport without changing my name?
These are common questions that we will answer shortly, but before we dive in, here are two key pieces of information you need to know before you get started on your British passport change of name:
If you’re not a UK National or you hold dual nationality, check out our Name Change Guidance for Non-UK Nationals to help make things official with your native government.
If you hold a British passport, changing your name means you will need to do a “Passport Renewal.” The good news is that you can renew your passport either online or via the post. For a detailed guide on how to apply for a renewal, visit gov.uk website.
While some people start the name change process immediately after their big day, most people leave updating their passport until after they are married and will jet off on honeymoon using their original passport and name. This is perfectly fine! Upon your return, you’ll just need to complete a standard UK passport application renewal form (paper form or online version) and send your original marriage or civil partnership certificate to the HMS Passport Office.
We have great news! The UK Government has recently improved the online passport renewal process making things straight forward and relatively painless. Here is what you need to do:
You can access passport services and the passport renewal form via the official UK Government website.
You will need to upload new digital photos with your application. The guidelines are very specific, so have a look at what’s accepted and what’s not here. It’s a good idea to prepare this step before your submission to avoid the risk of your application timing out.
You’ll need to send off your current passport together with proof that you have the right to change your name. This could be your original marriage certificate, civil partnership registration, decree absolute, final order or deed poll.
Be aware, that decree absolute/final orders don’t always include a maiden name. If this affects your application, you’ll need to send your original marriage certificate or birth certificate too.
If you’ve used a deed poll to change your name, you’ll need to include another document in your new name like a bank statement, driving licence or utility bill that shows ‘proof of use’ in your new name. Check out our Deed Poll packages here.
At the end of your application, they’ll give you an application reference number and details of the passport office where you will send your old passport and supporting documents.
The first thing you’ll need to do is visit your nearest large Post Office to get a Passport Renewal form (smaller branches don’t typically stock them).
Once you’ve completed your form, you need to post it with your supporting documents, two photos, and your fee using the envelope supplied with the form.
Don’t forget to include enough postage as the envelopes aren’t pre-paid! It’s a good idea to include a self-addressed special delivery envelope (you can get these from the postal office) to make sure your original documents come back to you safely.
If you have purchased a NameSwitch toolkit to help you with your name change, we’ll include a passport renewal form in the Printed Packages that is securely dispatched to your home address (as well as detailed, step by step guidance to complete your application).
Fortunately, the passport application renewal steps are exactly the same as changing your name for marriage or for any other reason. See the steps above or check out the government website for more information. If you have more questions about how to change your name after divorce, check out our blog series.
So, just a quick recap the important documents you’ll need to have on-hand to complete the application process and update your British passport.
If you want to ensure application perfection and get it right the first time, the Check and Send service provided by the Postal Office can be extremely helpful and it puts you through a quicker process track. It ensures there are no faults on your paper application. If you send an application with an error you may need to provide a written statement explaining the error or in some cases may have to pay the full application fee to apply again.
Note there are limitations to what each legal document entitles you to change for example marriage/civil partnership/divorce represents the right to adopt a new surname/double barrelled surname. They do not entitle the changing of any first or middle names. Deed Polls can enable the change of a first/middle/surname, or any combination of. For more information please check out our helpful guide to determining when a deed poll is needed helping you to ensure you have the correct legal document to hand before you apply for a passport.
The most important takeaway is that your passport is a piece of formal identification and therefore it needs to reflect your official name.
The timing and sequence of the process to make your new name official, is something that should make sense to you personally and can be done right away or you can wait until the renewal date is approaching. However, we strongly recommend prioritising at least one formal piece of identification i.e., driver’s licence or passport.
It is possible to apply for a Post-Dated Passport (PD2) before marriage for those who are keen to jet off on honeymoon with their shiny new passport and name. To find out more and start using your new name right away please refer to our blog on Honeymooning in your Married Name to determine if a PD2 is right for you.
Absolutely! We are here to help make the name change process easier, more straightforward, and painless. The average name changer notifies approximately 24 different government bodies, local authorities, and companies. Figuring out who needs what can be daunting and takes 14 hours on average! Who has time for that?
Most name changers find this process tedious and overly complicated. If you want a helping hand and some expert advice, why not check out our award winning name change service to fast track to your new name, officially everywhere. So, if you need advice on how to change name after marriage, divorce or deed poll, get in touch - we are here to help!
You sure can! The process to change the name on your passport online due to marriage, divorce, or deed poll has been updated and is now very straightforward. You can visit The official UK Government website to get started or check out our how-to guide above.
There is no time-limit on updating your name on your UK passport however, we recommend you have at least one piece of formal identification reflecting your new name - either your passport or your driving licence. It’s perfectly legal to wait until your passport renewal date.
As long as the name on your passport matches the name on your travel documents, you’re good to go! It’s crucial to align the name on your passport (current or new) with any travel insurance or any vaccination records that would be needed for overseas travel. Same principle applies if you are planning on hiring a car.
Yes. The Passport Office will charge you the full price to change your name even if you have several years left on your passport (they do not carry any years over), so make sure you budget for this. The fee ranges between £88.50 and £100.00. For Premium or Fast Track services it costs between £166.50 and £207.50.
It costs £88.50 to renew or replace your passport online, or £100.00 via the paper form. You must pay another £9.50 to use the Post Office’s Passport Check and Send service, which can be done at larger post office branches and ensures there are no faults in your application.
If you suddenly find yourself in a situation where you urgently need a new passport the Online Premium service will cost £207.50 and the 1 week fast-track service will cost £166.50.
You can! Just make sure that if you plan to travel abroad, your name on your passport matches the name you are traveling under for border control purposes. Be mindful that you will likely encounter scenarios where you need to show 2 forms of ID. If your names don’t match you may be asked to show legal documentation to explain and support your situation for example a marriage or divorce certificate.
In short, yes. Because your passport is a means of formal identification, it should reflect your official name. So, if you have legally changed your first, middle or surname for any reason at all you will need to update your passport either before or by the time of your passport expiry date.
If you are a British citizen and find yourself needing to renew your passport urgently, don’t worry – you have two good options. Option number one is the the Online Premium service costing £207.50 and option number two is the 1 week fast-track service costing £166.50.
The Online Premium service means you’ll typically get your passport at your appointment, and appointments can last up to 30 minutes. You’ll need to book your appointment, submit your application and pay for your passport all online. You’ll then be given a face-to-face appointment to present your supporting documents and collect your new passport. Be sure to prepare all documents you need before your appointment including your original marriage certificate/decree absolute/final order/deed poll/gender reassignment certificate. The earliest you can get your new passport from your initial application is 2 days.
Alternatively, you could use the 1 week fast-track service which costs less than the Premium service but is faster than the standard process. Here’s how it works:
To find out more and book an appointment for either service please visit https://www.gov.uk/get-a-passport-urgently
There are seven Passport Customer Services Centres in the UK: Belfast, Durham, Glasgow, Liverpool, London, Newport and Peterborough.
NameSwitch top tip! Before you visit the passport office for your 1-week fast track appointment, go to your local post office with your completed passport renewal form. Request a passport check (part of the £9.50 Check and Send service). The eagle-eyed folks there can spot anomalies in seconds and will give you the peace of mind that your trip to the passport office (and most likely time off work) will not be in vain!
Changing to your married name in your personal life and keeping your maiden name in your professional life is a perfectly legal and valid option after marriage. But you should change at least one piece of formal ID - either your driving licence or your passport with your new name.
If you choose to change your passport to your married name, you can make an Observation Request in section 8 of your passport renewal application form to have it noted that you use your maiden/birth name professionally. Those applying online should include a brief cover letter making the request.
Be aware that you will not be able to travel in your ‘observed’ name as it is for identification and not border control purposes.
The same approach would apply for a divorcee or if you’ve undergone a gender reassignment - if you want it to, a statement and observation can also be made using the same method.
The average name changer notifies approximately 24 different government bodies, local authorities, and companies. Figuring out who needs what can be daunting and takes 14 hours on average! Most name changers find this process tedious and overly complicated.
NameSwitch has created a UK first and only award-winning namechange toolkit to help simplify this process. Change your name with speed and ease saving you so much time and with peace of mind that you’ll get it right first time.
In just 3 easy steps you can select who you need to notify from 700 government bodies, local authorities, and companies. You only need to enter your details once. You’ll have instant access to download your pre-populated name change letters, forms and personalised instructions ready for you to print and sign.
Need our expert advice? Why not check out our FAQs or Get in touch with our UK-based support team for a human response - we are here to help.
Dive into our practical Nameswitch guides.
Learn how to change your name on your drivers licence, on your Facebook account and how to handle updating your COVID pass along with your passport
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