Can I change my name in my US passport from outside the US?

Question: I have recently married a UK citizen and live in the UK on a work visa. I would like to change my US passport to my new name but do not have plans to be in the US any time soon. Can I send my passport in for a name change without being in the US?

Answer: You can send your application for a passport name change to the U.S. embassy in London.

If your passport was issued more than 12 months ago, you should follow the instructions for routine passport renewal.

Submit the following by Royal Mail Special Delivery or via the Embassy's appointed courier service:

* Your most recent United States passport;

* Original marriage certificate.

* Passport application form DS-82: Please ignore pages one and two of the printed instruction pages, as they do not apply when applying for your passport in the United Kingdom. Follow the instructions on this page. Form DS-82 must be printed on separate sheets of paper; do NOT print this form on front and back of the same sheet.

* One recent passport photograph

* Fees: The application fee is U.S. $110.00.

If your passport was issued within the last 12 months, you may follow the instructions below.

Submit the following by Royal Mail Special Delivery or via the Embassy's appointed courier service:

* Your current U.S. passport;

* Your original marriage certificate;

* Passport application form DS-5504: Please ignore pages one and two of the printed instruction pages, as they do not apply when applying for your passport in the United Kingdom. Follow the instructions on this page. Form DS-5504 must be printed on separate sheets of paper; do NOT print this form on front and back of the same sheet

* One recent passport photograph;

* Fees: There is no fee for this service.

Applying by Royal Mail Special Delivery

Please submit your passport application, along with all supporting documents and photos, only by using the Royal Mail "Special Delivery" service (available at any UK Post Office). Please do not use the regular mail service. Your envelope should be addressed to:

Passport-by-Mail Service
American Citizen Services
U.S. Embassy
5 Upper Grosvenor Street
London
W1A 2LQ

To ensure the safe return of your passports, you should also enclose a pre-paid Special Delivery self-addressed return envelope that shows postage paid up to 500 grams. Inquiries regarding Special Delivery Mail should be directed to your local Post Office. As the Embassy does not keep track of Special Delivery numbers, you are advised to keep a record of your Special Delivery tracking number so you can track your passport's return to you.

Applying via Secure Mail Services (SMS)

SMS will collect your documents, deliver them to the Embassy, and return them to you once processing has been completed. Detailed information on SMS services and booking is available by calling 0871-562-6666.

Processing Time

An application for a full-validity (ten years for adults) passport will be sent to the United States for printing with a secure, photo-digitized image of the bearer. You should allow 15 working days for your application to be processed.

If you are traveling within 15 working days and can provide evidence of this travel, you may be eligible for an emergency limited-validity passport.