How to change name on passport in India?

If there is any change in your name, it is best to change it on your passport as well. It is not advisable to travel on a passport with incorrect name.

To change your name on your passport, you have to apply for a re-reissue of passport. You need to apply under the change in personal particulars category.

For re-issue, register on the Passport Seva website, fill the application form, pay the fees, and book your appointment. To read about the process in detail, please click here.

Documents required to change name on passport –

The documents required to change name on passport will depend upon the reason for the change. However, the following documents are mandatory in every case –

Old passport – original
Self-attested copy of first 2 and last 2 pages of old passport
Self-attested copy of ECR – Non-ECR page
And self-attested copy of page of observation (if any, made by the Passport Issuing Authority)
For short validity passports, self-attested copy of validity extension page (if any)

Name change after marriage –

If a woman wants to change her name on her passport post marriage she can submit the following additional (optional) document –

Self-attested copy of her husband’s passport.

Name change after divorce –

If a woman wants to change her name after divorce, she has to additionally submit –

A court-certified copy of the divorce decree or a self-attested copy of the divorce certificate.

Name change after remarriage –

If a woman wants to change her name on her passport after remarriage she can submit the following additional (optional) document –

Self-attested copy of her husband’s passport.

Name change for any other reason –

In case of name change for any other reason, it can be a major change or a minor change.

If it is a major change, in addition to the mandatory documents listed above, you need to submit –

At least 2 public/school documents issued in the desired/applied changed name to ascertain that you have actually changed your name.
Clippings of 2 local newspapers or the gazette notification of the concerned State Government.

If it is a minor change, you have to only submit the mandatory documents listed above.

Name change of Government/PSU/Statutory Body employees –

Government/PSU/Statutory Body employees have to submit the following documents in addition to the mandatory documents stated above –

A fresh ID certificate in changed name.
A gazette notification changing name in applicant’s department.

What to do if there is a mistake in the spelling of your name on your passport?

If there is any spelling error in your passport as compared to the application form filled by you, please return the passport for rectification. Depending on the case, the Assistant Passport Officer will decide whether or not any additional fees will be charged.

What to do if the surname field is blank on your passport?

If there is any mistake in your passport as compared to the application form filled by you, please return the passport for rectification. The Assistant Passport Officer will decide whether or not any additional fees will be charged.

However, in case you have made the mistake of filling in your full name in the ‘Given Name’ field in your application, you will have to apply for a re-issue. It will fall under re-issue because of change in personal particulars.

To read about how to get passport issued for a minor in India, please click here.