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Guidance

Change of name guidance for official documents

Home Office guidance on how applications are handled to change names on official documents.

Updates to this page

From:
Home Office
Published:
17 February 2015
Last updated:
31 October 2024
Show all updates

  1. Updated Use and change of names guidance in line with BRPs no longer being issued.

  2. Updated guidance document

  3. New use and change of names guidance.

  4. 'Change of name guidance' updated and 'Annex A: use of names in passports' added.

  5. First published.

Documents

Use and change of names guidance

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Use and change of names guidance

PDF, 182 KB, 10 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternativeformats@homeoffice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Annex A: use of names in passports

PDF, 200 KB, 10 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternativeformats@homeoffice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Details

This document contains guidance about how the Home Office handles applications to change names on official documents it issues, such as British passports, Home Office Travel Documents (HODT), biometric residence permits (BRP) and other forms of immigration documentation.

It sets out the Home Office requirement for individuals to use one name for all official purposes and explains the additional security requirements in place when considering the use of names in the British passport.

Annex A gives specific information on changing a name in a British passport.

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