- 19 June 2013. Very fast a easy process I'd recommend to anyone who is in need of this service. I received documents the very next day brilliant.
Susan, Bewdley, Worcestershire.
How do you change your passport?
The name on your passport should always match your legal name. So, with the exception of adding a middle name, when you make any changes to your legal name, you will also need to change the name on your passport.
This applies whether you’ve changed your name by Deed Poll or undergone a change of name following marriage, separation, divorce or civil partnership.
Once you’ve officially changed your name you will need to apply for a new 10 year passport in your new name (or a 5 year passport for a child).
Although your current passport will be cancelled you can get up to nine months ‘credit’ added to the new passport. So if, for example, you still have nine months or more to run on the old passport, the new passport will expire in 10 years and nine months’ time.
Passport application packs are available at most post offices or, if you live in the UK, you can click here to apply for a new passport online using the UK Identity and Passport Service website.
Note: If your current passport contains an unexpired visa, this may become invalid when you apply for a passport in your new name. Therefore you’ll need to check with the issuing authority to see whether or not the visa in your cancelled passport can be used (you can ask for the cancelled passport to be returned to you). If not, you will need to reapply for a new visa.
If you want to change the name on your passport and you live overseas, you will need to apply for a new British passport from your nearest British mission. Section 7 below provides more information about how to apply for a passport whilst living overseas.
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Sections in this article
Click on the links below to view each section of this article.
1. Applying for a passport in a name that is different to the name on your birth certificate
2. Changing the name on your passport following your change of name by Deed Poll
3. Changing the name on your passport following your marriage or civil partnership
4. Changing the name on your passport following your separation
5. Changing the name on your passport upon divorce or dissolution of your civil partnership
6. Changing the name on your child's passport
7. Applying for a British passport whilst overseas
8. Contacting the UK Identity & Passport Service
9. How to apply for a Deed Poll to change your name
This page was last checked today by Hazel Walker, Senior Deed Poll Officer.