Change of https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/change-of-name-passport-applications-caseworker-guidance

Change description : 2026-06-08 14:30:00: Updated the sections ‘Change of name following a marriage or civil partnership’, to clarify how a customer can take part of their partner’s surname; and ‘Customer reverts to birth name: no other name changes’, to remove the requirement for customers to tell us why they are reverting to their birth name. [Guidance and regulation]

Showing diff : ..2026-06-08 13:31:55.617387593 +00:00

Guidance

Change of name passport applications: caseworker guidance

Tells HM Passport Office staff how to deal with passport applications when the customer has a change of name.

Documents

Details

This guidance tells HM Passport Office staff how to deal with passport applications that have a change of name, including:

  • how customers apply to change their name
  • how to deal with:
    • adult and child name changes
    • name changes for someone who you suspect is an offender
    • name changes and name differences after the customer has registered or naturalised
    • a change of name as the customer has changed gender
    • a change of name after a passport was lost or stolen
    • name changes for British overseas citizens and British overseas territory citizens
    • name changes on joint citizenship applications
    • name changes for diplomats and officials
    • name changes and differences when the customer needs an interview
    • name changes on standard, heightened and substantial risk applications
  • additional checks that you need to do when the customer has changed their name
  • name changes that may be an indication of fraud
  • carrying out searches and file requests when the customer has changed their name

Updates to this page

Published 4 March 2021
Last updated 8 June 2026 + show all updates
  1. Updated the sections 'Change of name following a marriage or civil partnership', to clarify how a customer can take part of their partner’s surname; and 'Customer reverts to birth name: no other name changes', to remove the requirement for customers to tell us why they are reverting to their birth name.

  2. Updated guidance with multiple changes. Changes can be found in the 'Changes from last version of this guidance' within the document.

  3. This guidance has been updated to reflect updates in handling of names which may be subject to trademark or copyright.

  4. This guidance has been updated to reflect the change of name of the Queen’s Messenger Service to the King’s Messenger Service.

  5. Accessible version added.

  6. First published.

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Update history

2026-06-08 14:30
Updated the sections ‘Change of name following a marriage or civil partnership’, to clarify how a customer can take part of their partner’s surname; and ‘Customer reverts to birth name: no other name changes’, to remove the requirement for customers to tell us why they are reverting to their birth name.