Guidance

NamingChange childrenof andname, changename ofdiscrepancy nameand naming children letters

Letters explaining UKthat lawsBritish aboutembassies, naminghigh childrencommissions and changingconsulates yourcannot name.issue name or change of name certificates. Sometimes called information notes.

From:
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Published
25 July 2024
Last updated
1824 DecemberJanuary 20242025 — See all updates

British embassies, high commissions and consulates cannot issue certificates of name or change of name. Under UK law parents may give their child any forename or surname and you can change your surname or forename.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office provides these standard letters to explain UK laws and conventions to local authorities when you’re abroad.

Change of name

Under UK law you can change your surname or forename. If you’re asked to provide proof of UK law about changing your namename, download the relevant letter. You can get a signed and stamped version of a letter, which costs £50.

Albania: change of name

PDF, 97.5 KB, 3 pages

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Argentina: change of name

PDF, 387 KB, 6 pages

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Austria: change of name (English and German)

PDF, 575 KB, 4 pages

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Azerbaijan: change of name

PDF, 21.7 KB, 2 pages

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Bahrain: change of name

PDF, 156 KB, 3 pages

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Belarus: change of name

MS Word Document, 218 KB

Belgium: change of name

PDF, 238 KB, 6 pages

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Brazil: change of name

ODT, 19.7 KB

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Bulgaria: change of name

PDF, 559 KB, 3 pages

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Croatia: change of name

PDF, 364 KB, 3 pages

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Ecuador: change of name

ODT, 59.9 KB

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France: change of name

PDF, 821 KB, 5 pages

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Germany: change of name

ODT, 149 KB

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Greece: change of name

PDF, 181 KB, 3 pages

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Italy: change of name

PDF, 3.38 MB, 5 pages

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Kuwait: change of name

PDF, 9.17 MB, 4 pages

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Luxembourg: change of name

PDF, 316 KB, 4 pages

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Mexico: change of name

PDF, 532 KB, 1 page

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Montenegro: change of name

PDF, 113 KB, 2 pages

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North Macedonia: change of name

PDF, 548 KB, 3 pages

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Peru: change of name

PDF, 82.4 KB, 2 pages

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Portugal: change of name (English)

PDF, 101 KB, 2 pages

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Portugal: change of name (Portuguese)

PDF, 270 KB, 2 pages

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Qatar: change of name

PDF, 393 KB, 1 page

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Russia: change of name

PDF, 647 KB, 10 pages

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Spain: change of name

PDF, 139 KB, 3 pages

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Switzerland: change of name

PDF, 136 KB, 3 pages

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Turkey: change of name

ODT, 53.2 KB

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Uruguay: change of name

PDF, 172 KB, 4 pages

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United Arab Emirates (UAE): change of name

PDF, 969 KB, 2 pages

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Name discrepancies on British documents

British embassies, consulates and high commissions cannot verify that two or more documents with name discrepancies are for the same person. If you’re asked for proof of this, download the relevant letter. You can get a signed and stamped version of a letter, which costs £50.

Brazil: name discrepancies on British documents

ODT, 19.8 KB

This file is in an OpenDocument format

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Naming children

Under UK law parents may give their child any forename or surname. If you’re asked to provide proof of UK law about naming children download the relevant letter. You can get a signed and stamped version of a letter, which costs £50.

Hungary: naming children

PDF, 200 KB, 1 page

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Updates to this page

Published 25 July 2024
Last updated 1824 DecemberJanuary 2024 2025 + show all updates

  1. A letter added for use in Brazil explaining that the British Embassy cannot verify that name discrepancies in documents refer to the same person.

  2. Portugal change of name letters added.

  4. United Arab Emirates (UAE) change of name letter added.

  6. All countries and territories letter removed.

  8. Link to get a signed and stamped letter added. All countries and territories letter added.

  10. First published.

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