Non-UK Nationals & Dual Nationality Holders: How to Change Your Name
This guide details the name change process for overseas and dual nationals wishing to legally change their name in the UK and abroad
This guide details the name change process for overseas and dual nationals wishing to legally change their name in the UK and abroad
If you have relocated to the UK from another country, are not a British citizen or hold dual nationality and wish to change your name after marriage, divorce, gender reassignment or deed-poll, you may feel a bit overwhelmed about where to even begin! We have you covered – read on to learn more about the name change process for non-UK nationals.
NameSwitch is the UK’s leading name changing service and expert in helping people obtain a name change as smoothly and quickly as possible. Our name change service covers UK government bodies and organisations throughout the whole of the UK. Although we cannot offer legal or immigration advice, this guide will cover some fundamentals and key things to consider before embarking on a name change if you hold another passport. We recommend that you check with your consulate or embassy to understand any limitations or implications in your home/other country prior to initiating your name change here in the UK.
In most circumstances, dual nationals will need to change their name on their foreign (non-UK) passport or identity card prior to requesting a name change with HM Passport Office, even if the UK passport was issued first. Again, it is crucial to consult with your foreign consulate in advance, as each country has its own processes and laws for name changes.
Name change traditions look very different from place to place throughout the world. For example, in many Western cultures, after tying the knot, women traditionally adopt the husband’s family surname or double barrel surnames, while in Spanish and Latin American cultures, women may follow the tradition to preserve their maternal or maiden names. In some cultures, the government even has a say in the matter; Greece has the legal requirement for women to keep their maiden names for life, whereas in Japan it is a legal requirement for couples to use the same surname.
So, how do you determine whether to change your name or not? In most cases the choice is completely yours! Perhaps you wish to uphold cultural or familial traditions or maybe you’re more attracted to combining traditions to unite two cultures.
Let’s talk legalities. Under UK law, if you get married to a UK national in your home country, you don’t need to register your marriage in the UK. However, your home consulate will likely require your marriage to be registered with them, especially if you want to have your passport issued in your new name. Keep reading for more information regarding passport name changes and links to various consulates.
If you marry in the UK and wish to change your name, you will need to update key documents and we recommend starting with your passport or UK driving license as they are recognised as formal pieces of identification.
Generally, most consulates will accept a marriage/civil partnership certificate to initiate a surname change (to that of their spouse) or the double-barrelling of surnames.
Whether you are considering a name change after marriage, divorce, gender transition or for any other reason, you might need to obtain a deed poll depending on what new name you intend to take.
More and more, we are seeing an increase in creativity with name changes and new names. Couples are combining surnames to create a brand new name (also known as “meshing”), the double barrel continues to rise in popularity throughout the world, converting a maiden-name into one’s middle name and even creating an exciting new first name – we’ve seen it all and the choice is yours! For most of these scenarios (apart from the double barrel), you will need a deed poll to legally change your name.
If you decide to change your surname after marriage and wish to take your partner’s name with a gendered ending, as often seen in Latvia or Czech Republic (e.g., Pavelka or Pavelkova), you will be able to use your UK marriage certificate or civil partnership certificate as evidence with the embassy, but you will require a deed poll if you are also a UK passport holder. Certain applications will be reconsidered using a marriage certificate if they are accompanied by evidence of the gendered translation from the corresponding country although, there will be hurdles to overcome when notifying other UK government bodies and companies. It’s normally quicker and more practical to use a deed poll for the UK side of things. In the case of gender-transition, you will need a deed poll to adopt the new gendered spelling. The same applies to changing one’s first name from one gendered ending to another.
If you are an overseas national or dual citizen and wish to change your name due to gender transition, it is crucial that you check with your foreign office for their specific policies and or limitations before applying for a deed poll here in the UK. In the UK, once you obtain a Gender Reassignment Certificate or medical letter, you will be able to use a deed poll to change your name and gender marker.
It’s important to note, that whilst deed polls are completely acceptable here in the UK, there may be limitations and further requirements in your home country. For example, if you are an Australian national, the government will allow you to change your surname (taking spouse’s name or double barrel) however the process becomes much more convoluted if you wish to mesh names or change any other given names.
If you are an overseas national or hold dual citizenship, we recommend that you get in touch with your foreign embassy prior to initiating a name change, here in the UK.
If you have married a UK resident, are a foreign national, hold dual citizenship and are ready to change your name, updating your passport is a great place to start. Your passport is considered a formal piece of identification so it’s important that this document reflect your new name. For UK citizens the process for changing name on passport after marriage is relatively straightforward. For overseas nationals, we recommend that you reach out to your nearest consulate to ensure you follow the correct processes for your name change to be officially recognised in your native country.
If you hold dual citizenship, it is important that you update your non-UK passport beforeapplying for your UK passport in your new name. If your home country does not recognise or accept a UK deed poll, then that passport will remain in the original name and you may face a few challenges, most notably with travel. Ultimately, all official documents should align and be consistent with the same name so it really is crucial to look at the bigger picture before embarking on a name change.
If you are an Australian citizen and want to change your name on your passport after marriage or divorce, you will need to use the Application for an Australian Passport Overseas form, which must be lodged in person via appointment. You will need to bring the application form, original supporting documents and Australian standard passport photos. It’s important to note that Australia has separate processes to change your given names for reasons (e.g., changing your first or middle name, or gender) which need to be registered with the relevant government agencies. For full detail, please refer to the Australian High Commission’s website.
Brazilian citizens who wish to update their passport with a name change after marriage, will first need to register your marriage with the Brazilian Consulate and then apply for a change of name. Once this is complete, the consulate will advise on how to change/update your current passport with your new name. For any other name change reason, you need to have legally changed your name through the civil registry office or court order prior to applying for a new passport.
As a Canadian citizen, you will need to apply for a new passport on the Canadian Embassy website. The process is the same as when applying for a new adult passport, howev er you will need to supply additional documentation (marriage or civil partnership certificate, etc). Canadian passports can only be printed using the Roman alphabet and some accented letters. Most languages have alternative spellings of names, should your new name have characters falling outside of these parameters.
For French citizens wishing change their name, different processes apply depending upon where your marriage will take or took place (in France or abroad) – in some cases, a marriage must be registered with the French consulate prior to the event before a new French passport can be issued. For further information on the different procedures, please refer to the Consulat Général de France Londres à website. Good News! If you are changing your name due to marriage, France will update your passport free of charge and it can be used until the date it was originally due to expire!
Citizens of India who wish to update their passport with their new name will need to follow the processes outlined here on the High Commission of India website. For example, you will find that having your new name needs to be advertised in a daily newspaper in both the UK and the area of residence in India prior to applying for the new passport.
Although, Italian law requires a woman to retain her maiden name in her passport, she can request to have her married surname be added to her passport by applying to the Passport Office. Further guidance can be found here: Italian Embassy Website. Please note, applications must be completed in Italian or they will be returned. Changes to other given names are not common practice and may require special and lengthy (often costly) applications to be lodged, so it’s important to research this carefully before proceeding with a name change of this type.
Nigerian citizens wishing to change the name on their passport after marriage or divorce must do so in person. Women changing their name after marriage, will need to provide a marriage certificate, a consent letter signed by the husband, provide the data page of the husband’s passport, and their own passport. To change the name on a passport post-divorce, a divorce certificate and proof of maiden name will need to be provided. For further detail on passport name changes please refer to the Nigerian High Commission website.
It is important to understand the laws and procedures in Nigeria prior to initiating your name change here in the UK. You may need to swear an affidavit declaring the new name and the reason for the name change. Additionally, for official recognition of your new name, you may also be required to have your name change published in the Official Gazette of Nigeria and in a UK National newspaper. Once the name change has been accepted by the Nigerian court, your passport can be updated.
Portuguese citizens will need to book an appointment with the Portuguese Consulate in London. Appointments can be booked online here. For anyone holding a Digital Mobile Key (Chave Móvel Digital), you can book an appointment Autenticação GOV.PT section of the website.
The first thing you will need to do is to notify the Swiss Embassy of your marriage to be entered into the Swiss registers. Before applying for a new passport, we recommend that you carefully review the guidance on the consulate website as there may be different processes depending upon where you tied the knot.
U.S. citizens will need to apply for a new passport via the United States Embassy in the UK. This website will walk you through the relevant application forms and provide you with everything you need to get started. Please note, you’ll need to complete the relevant application in the name you want reflected in your passport
Like a passport, your driving licence is also considered a formal piece of identification. Under UK law, the name on your UK driver’s licence must match your new name. For all things related to changing your name with the DVLA, check out our super-helpful guide: DVLA name change online.
Please be aware that changing your name on your UK driving licence and other documents will require you to have a UK address and be based here for at least part of each calendar year. Companies are likely to have your accounts associated with a UK address and someone will need to be available to receive amended documents (driving licence, passport, bank cards etc.)
If you wish to perform a name change after getting married, divorced, gender change or deed poll there is no legal timeframe in which you must take action.
Some countries may require you to register your name with them first while others, such as Norway, will accept your name change with proof of your new name in your country of residence. At NameSwitch, we recommend you review the requirements of country of origin prior to starting the process.
Some people choose to start the name change process immediately upon a life-event, while others wait for a passport renewal date before acting. You should change your name in an order and sequence that makes sense to you personally, however we strongly recommend prioritising at least one formal piece of identification i.e., Driver’s Licence or Passport.
If you want to be well-prepared, you can start planning the name change process ahead of your wedding or divorce, even as a non-UK citizen. Our award-winning NameSwitch toolkit produces personalised documents that are not dated and can be sent off at your leisure.
*Please note you will need legal documents in hand before you are able to send NameSwitch notification letters.
Provided you are a non-UK national, living in the UK with an associated address and accounts, all you need to do is hit the switch and we’ll equip you with all you need to let everyone know!
Depending on your name change reason, you will need to use one of the following documents to support your name change requests:
It is your responsibility to notify any necessary government bodies and companies such as your bank, mortgage provider, credit card companies, and utility companies, and request that they amend their records to reflect your new name. Please note that you may be asked to provide either the original legal document or a copy of it as proof of your name change.
For the British passport holding partner of the non-UK national, or any British citizen, when taking on a new surname/name, you may be required to change your name by deed poll. We’ve created the UK’s only deed poll and name change package.
Our Deed Poll Premium Print Package comes with 4 high quality original deed polls and all the letters, forms, and personalised instructions you’ll need to inform a vast array of UK-based companies and government bodies of your name change. Everything is securely delivered to your home via Royal Mail tracked service. Find out more.
We also offer a stand-alone Adult Deed Poll package, which will supply you with 2 high quality original deed polls, a free name change checklist and a personalised name change request letter template. There are also number of optional add-ons.
Regrettably, we cannot offer any legal or immigration advice but, whether or not you hold British nationality, we would love to help you through the name changing maze. We offer a range of packages to suit all needs and budgets.
If you’re ready to say goodbye to your old name, in less than twenty minutes and in just three simple steps, we can help you identify which UK companies, local authorities, and government bodies you’ll need to advise about your name change.
Absolutely. Non-UK citizens can change their names in the UK using a recognised legal document (marriage certificate/civil partnership certificate/decree absolute/final order/gender recognition certificate/ medical letter/deed poll. However, you should check with your home country’s embassy to ensure they will accept the deed poll as a legal document as they may have their own specific requirements.
You can use a deed poll to update your records in the UK, such as your driving licence, tax records, etc, however, to update your documents in your country of origin you’ll need to follow your own country’s procedures, typically found on the embassy’s website.
Yes. In most cases, the UK government requires that your new name be aligned with your foreign documents, prior to requesting the name change in the UK. The rule and laws of the other country may differ from those in the UK, so it’s crucial to consult with your local consulate.
Each county has their own rules and practices when it comes to name-changes. Some countries have special requirements for a Deed Poll to be acceptable such as it being witnessed by a solicitor or requiring it to be legalised. Check with your local embassy before applying for a deed poll.
No, there is no deadline or legal obligation to change your name after marriage in the UK, even as a non-UK citizen. If you decide to change your name in the UK, make sure you’ve reviewed the requirements of your home country prior to making the switch.
The name on your passport should reflect your official name, as it’s a means of formal identification. If you have legally changed your name, you will need to update your passport either before or by the passport expiry date. Refer to your home country’s embassy for further detail.
The average name changer notifies approximately 24 different government bodies, local authorities, and companies. Figuring out who needs what can be daunting and takes 14 hours on average! Most name changers find this process tedious and overly complicated.
NameSwitch has created a UK first and only award-winning namechange toolkit to help simplify this process. Change your name with speed and ease saving you so much time and with peace of mind that you’ll get it right first time.
In just 3 easy steps you can select who you need to notify from 700 government bodies, local authorities, and companies. You only need to enter your details once. You’ll have instant access to download your pre-populated name change letters, forms and personalised instructions ready for you to print and sign.
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