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Guidance

Names: aligning names on foreign documents: caseworker guidance

Tells HM Passport Office staff how to deal with passport applications where the name a customer applies in does not match the name on their foreign documents.

Updates to this page

From:
HM Passport Office
Published:
4 March 2021
Last updated:
3 June 2026
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  1. A full list of the changes is available under the heading "changes from last version of this guidance".

  2. Guidance updated as detailed in section 1.3.

  3. For a full list of changes, see 'changes from last version of this guidance'.

  4. Updated the Names: aligning names on foreign documents guidance to make minor formatting changes.

  5. This guidance has been updated to reflect the change in our sovereign from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to His Majesty King Charles III.

  6. Accessible version added.

  7. First published.

Documents

Names: aligning names on foreign documents (accessible)

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Names: aligning names on foreign documents

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Details

This guidance tells HM Passport Office staff:

  • what the customer must do (before we issue them with a passport)
  • when we will consider issuing a passport using the name on a passport application (even if it does not match the name on the customer’s foreign document)

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