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Guidance

Names: evidence to change a name: caseworker guidance

Tells HM Passport Office staff about the evidence needed before changing an adult or child’s name on a passport.

Updates to this page

From:
HM Passport Office
Published:
4 March 2021
Last updated:
28 August 2026
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  1. This guidance has been updated in the section 'Evidence to show the customer has changed their name section', to merge the content from the 'Marriage: Islamic marriage certificates' section into the 'Evidence: marriage and civil partnership certificates' section; in the section 'Child change of name: parental consent', to explain examiners must only ask for consent from another person with parental responsibility if we do not already have this in the customer’s documents; and in the section 'Evidence we’ll accept to show customer uses their name', to explain we must ask the customer to send us name in use evidence showing the part of their name which has changed.

  2. Updated Names: evidence to change a name guidance. A full list of changes can be found within the guidance.

  3. A list of changes is in the 'changes from last version of this guidance' section.

  4. Updated to clarify we can accept evidence of a name change which does not provide the full name, as long as it shows the changed name, and to tell examiners, if the customer does not have the evidence which shows a link between their old and new names, including multiple changes, they must apply for a statutory declaration.

  5. Updated Names: evidence to change a name guidance to clarify customers must submit 2 pieces of evidence when changing their name, unless it meets our exceptions.

  6. Updated guidance published.

  7. First published.

Documents

Names: evidence to change a name (accessible)

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This guidance tells HM Passport Office staff about the evidence we need before we can issue a passport to an adult or child who has had a change of name.

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