How to change name on Passport after Marriage?

Do you want to change your name on your Passport after Marriage? No need to worry about it. We are here with this article to guide you through a step-by-step procedure to change your name on your passport in India.

As you all know Passport is the most important document as valid proof of identity and residence, and also crucial for international travel. So, if your name changes due to marriage, divorce, personal preference, religious conversion or legal declaration, it is important to update your name on your Passport to show your current identity.

Reasons You May Need to change Your Name on Passport

The Common reasons include: Post-marriage (taking spouse’s surname or hyphenating names), Post-divorce (restoring the maiden name), Spelling correction, Numerology-based name change, Adoption, Gender transition, Religious conversion, etc.
In any of the above case, the process remains mostly the same, though the documents required may differ.

Step 1: Name Change Gazette Notification

The first step is that before changing your name on your passport after marriage, you must publish the name change Gazette notification in Gazette of India. It is 3 steps easy to follow process.

Affidavit – A notarized affidavit stating your old name, new name, reason for change and declaration.
Newspaper Advertisement – Publish an Ad 1 newspaper announcing your name change.
Gazette Notification – After Ad publication, complete Gazette file making process like Request letter, 2 Witnesses proforma, 1 CD, CD Certificate and Govt fee receipt of Rs.1100.

In case of marriage, divorce, or minor spelling correction, your name change in gazette publication may not be mandatory. In such cases, a marriage certificate, a divorce decree, or an affidavit may suffice.

IMPORTANT! If you are just taking Surname of your husband then registered marriage certificate is enough to get your husband surname added with your name in your Passport.
In the absence of Marriage certificate, you can give notification in Gazette of India.

Step 2: Create an Account on Passport Seva Portal

The second step is to visit the official Passport Seva website and:

Log in if you already have an account or register to a new account.
Then choose the ‘Apply for Fresh Passport/Re-issue of Passport’ option.
And select ‘Re-issue’ and in reason section, select ‘Change in Existing Personal Particulars’.

Step 3: Fill and Submit the Application

In the third step you have 2 options:

Fill the form directly on the website by using Online Form Submission portal.
Download the form from e-Form Downloader, fill it offline and then upload it later.

In the form, clearly mention – Your old name (as per the current passport), Your new name and the Reason for the change (marriage, spelling correction, etc.)

Step 4: Pay the Fee and Book Appointment

In the fourth step once you submitted the form, pay the applicable fee online via debit card, credit card, UPI, or net banking.
After payment, book an appointment at your nearest Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) or Post Office Passport Seva Kendra (POPSK).

Step 5: Attend the PSK Appointment with Required Documents

After completing all the 4^th steps, visit the PSK/POPSK with the appointment confirmation and original documents.

General Documents Required:

Your Old Passport (original and photocopy of first two and last two pages, including ECR/Non-ECR page and observation page, if any)
Your Address Proof (Aadhaar, voter ID, electricity bill, etc.)
Your Identity Proof (if different from others)

Additional Documents Based on Reason for Name Change:

For Marriage – Marriage certificate, joint affidavit with spouse, or spouse’s passport copy
For Divorce – Divorce decree, affidavit stating reversion to maiden name
For Legal Name Change – Affidavit + Newspaper ads + Gazette notification
For Spelling Correction – Affidavit with correct spelling
For Gender Transition – Medical certificate and Gazette notification

The passport verification officer may verify the documents and then take your biometrics and photograph.

Step 6: Police Verification

In name change process in India, especially involving reissue, police verification is required.

Firstly, A police officer may visit your residential address to verify your details.
Secondly, the officer may ensure that your current address is up to date and consistent across documents.

Step 7: Receive the New Passport

Once the verification is cleared and completed you will get your passport with the updated name will be printed and dispatched via Speed Post to your address, and it usually takes 7 – 14 working days after successful verification.
You will receive SMS/email updates on the status of your passport application.

Key Points and Important Notes

No Need to Surrender Old Passport: Your old passport will be returned to you with a stamp marking it as “cancelled.”
Fee Structure: The passport reissue fee is typically Rs.1,500 – Rs.2,000 for a 36-page booklet (regular service).
Tatkal Service: In some name change cases it is available (but not if Gazette or police verification is pending).
There is no need for agent or middlemen, the process is user-friendly and in complex cases legal assistance may help.
In case of Minors (child’s) name change, the process is similar but requires consent and documents from both parents or legal guardians.

So, this was the whole step by step guide on “How to change your name in Passport”. I hope it might have helped you. If you face any problem in the Gazette file making process or any legal help or consultation, then you can consult us by contacting us.

Conclusion

Changing your name on a passport in India is a structured and legally governed process. Although, it seems complex task at first but following the right procedure from any expert of legal name change documentation will make your whole process easier.

What if your parents’ names are incorrect?

In such a case, you might need 2 newspaper Ad publications from your parents’ side declaring their name change, along with the original affidavit and POI ID of theirs.