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Passport Name Change FAQ

Front cover of United States passport with epassport symbol. The passport name change FAQ below includes answers to frequently asked questions about how to get and/or use a passport if you have multiple versions of your name. Many deal with very specific questions about the process of changing the name in a passport based on marriage, divorce, adoption or legal name change.

If you arrived on this page of our website, you may want to first read through the passport name change instructions where you will find details of the process, including which forms to fill out for different situations. Specific questions about fees, documents, name used, et. al. are answered below and on other FAQ pages.

If you have further questions after reading the step-by-step instructions, you can return to this page and search for answers to questions similar to your own.

For each of the questions in the FAQ below, click the link to access the complete answers.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Passport Name Changes

Marriage Certificate and Passport Name Change 
Question: If I mail in my original marriage license to get the name on my passport changed, will I get the marriage license returned to me? Answer:...

Fastest Way to Get a Passport Name Change 
Question: What's my quickest course to getting a valid passport? Mail? In-person, and if so, where? Answer:...

Passport Name Change Due to Marriage 
Question: I have my old passport that is still valid for several more years, but I got married recently and am going to travel to the British Virgin…

renew my passport but not legally divorced yet 
Question: I want to renew my passport but I am not legally divorced yet even though I have been living separately from my husband for 4 months now .…

How do I change back to maiden name on passport? 
Question: I divorced 14 years ago and I want to change my name back to my maiden name. I do not have a court order. What do I need to do to change…

Name Change with Unusual Circumstances 
Question: My birth certificate has my name as Raymond Lastname, Jr. Years later, after talking with my parents, I found out I was actually the third…

Name Change on Passport not due to Marriage 
Question: The name on my current passport is the same as the name on my birth certificate. I was born outside of the United States and immigrated to…

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…

Can I have two middle names on my passport? 
Question: I have a couple of very complicated questions/situations. First off, I legally changed my FULL birth name many years ago. I obtained a passport…

Can I transfer visa stamps after a passport name change? 
Question I am getting married in October this year and I am considering changing my last name. However, I recently purchased a passport in September…

I am not getting divorced but want to revert to my maiden name. 
Question: After I was married, I began the process of changing my name to my married name. I decided to continue to use my maiden name professionally.…

Is it possible to do a second name change on the same passport? 
Question: My passport was issued under my previous married name, then I got divorced and had my passport amended back to my "maiden name". I have now…

Why can't I renew my US passport because I have a UK settlement visa?
I am currently in Northern Ireland, UK. I have plans to have my wedding ceremony in HK at the end of March to April. Is it really a big problem if I change back my last name before my wedding date?

Can I continue to use my passport in my maiden name? 
Question: I got married last year in the US and legally changed my name. My husband and I are currently living in Guatemala and my residency visa is…

Can I change my full name in my US passport from outside the US? 
Question: I have a dual Nationality USA/Pakistan. I have recently gotten married in Pakistan and after my marriage I have changed my full name in the…

Will I get my marriage license back if I send it for a name change? 
Question: I got married in Antigua and only have one certified marriage certificate. I need to change my last name and don't want to send my only…

Will my maiden name appear as my middle name on my new passport? 
Question: I need to renew my passport for an upcoming trip, but I'm concerned with how my name will appear to book the tickets. When I got married, I…

How long will it take to get my name changed passport? 
Question: I realize that there are expediters for name changes on passports. 1)I have recently been legally married and have changed my name. 2)My…

Adoptive Child's Name Change on Passport 
Question: As a foster parent, we applied for our little girl's passport last year under her legal name at the time and as foster parents.We just…

Will a passport name change reset the validity of the new one? 
Question: I was recently married and need to change my name on my passport. However, my current passport expires in March of next year. When I change…

How do I replace a lost passport and change name to my married name? 
Question: I lost my passport in a recent move from one home to another. In the meantime, I have married and now need to change my name to my married…

Recently divorced and changed back to maiden name 
Question: I still have my old driver's license and old bank debit card with my married name and my new license and bank debit card with changed name.…

Can I submit a copy of my marriage license for a passport name change? 
Question: I was given a copy of the marriage license by the reverend that married us that is on the official paper, is this considered a certified copy?…

What if names on passport and driver's license do not match name on Social Security card? 
Question: I changed my maiden name to my married name on my social security card. My license and my passport still have my maiden name & I will be purchasing my travel tickets with my maiden name…

Divorced but passport was orginally maiden name 
Question: I received my passport before I was married, then once I got married, I sent it in for the stamp that shows my married name. I am now divorced…

Passport Name Change 
Question: I need to change my last name on my passport from my married name back to my maiden name. Once my divorce was final, I took the proper paperwork…

Can I travel with my passport even though it has my maiden name? 
Question: When booking my vacation I didn't think about the fact my passport has my maiden name on it. My flight ticket is booked in my married name.…

Does you passport number change when you change names?  
Question: I am getting married on July 31 and am traveling to Europe on September 3rd and again on November 20th. I would like to change my name after…

What proof do I need to change the name on my 15yo son's passport? 
Question: Your Passport name change page says that "If you cannot legally document your name change (through court order or marriage) or you are applying…

How do I make sure I get my old passport and marriage license back? 
Question: I read that to help reduce the risk of my old passport and marriage certificate getting lost or misplaced I should "choose a two-way overnight…

Do I need a new passport if my new married surname is hyphenated? 
Question: I am recently married and my new surname is hyphenated. I want to change my driver's license to my new hyphenated surname, do I need to do…

Passport Name Change 
Question: Hello, I was just recently married and changed my name. My current passport expires in a few years. When I apply for a new passport, will…

Passport Name Change Addendum Sheet 
Question: I was advised by a travel agent that if my name has changed due to a marriage and I need to change the name on my passport I need to obtain…

Where do I submit the application for a passport name change? 
Question: My passport was issued less than 1 year ago and I want to change name. After I complete the form, where can I submit it along with the necessary…

I need a passport name change and am traveling in less than 4 weeks 
Question: Please assist me in the best way to expedite this service to ensure I get my updated passport back in time for my travel for work.Is there…

Can I keep the visa pages from my current passport? 
Question: I have visa stamps from really cool countries, and I would hate to lose them when I have to mail in my old passport. I need a new passport…

Cost to Change Name on Passport after Marriage 
Question: I have a valid passport that was issued a few years ago. It has my maiden name on it. I have filled out the DS-82 form, gotten 2 passport…

Name change after purchasing tickets 
Question: My wife is changing her name because of a new job. However, we purchased tickets to Italy 6 weeks ago. If she legally changes her name through…

Name change on a Dominican Republic passport after marriage 
Question: I have a passport from the Dominican Republic. I got married 7 months ago and I got my husband's last name. My passport is not expired yet…

Is name change in passport after marriage required or suggested? 
Question: After I get married and change my name, is a new passport "required" or just suggested? Also, if an updated passport is required to go to another…

Can I drive there and have my name changed on my passport? 
Question: A group of us are leaving for Mexico in 4 weeks. Three of the girls have passports in their maiden names. Can we drive down there and have…

Is it ok to sign passport without middle name? 
Question: Teen daughter didn't sign her name as it is typed (first middle last) on the passport. She omitted the middle name. Is this a problem?

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