If your name changes due to marriage, divorce, or personal choice, you can update it on your passport. Let’s learn about how to change name on US Passport easily.
If you have recently changed your name, you must follow the instructions to change your name on your passport, which we have detailed step-by-step in today’s article.
Contents
Why You Need to Update Your Passport After a Name Change
Your passport is one of the most important legal documents you possess. It serves as proof of your identity and citizenship when traveling abroad.
Failing to update your passport after a name change can lead to complications, including issues with international travel, applying for visas, or even opening bank accounts in a foreign country.
How to Change Your Name on a Passport?
The process for changing your name on a U.S. passport depends on how long it has been since your passport was issued and when your name was legally changed.
Below are the detailed instructions for changing your name on a passport, categorized by different time periods.
Name Change Within One Year of Passport Issuance
If your name change occurred within one year of the passport’s issuance, you can update your passport at no cost, unless you need expedited service. Here are the steps you need to take:
- The first task is to obtain and correctly fill out Form DS-5504.
- Then, you must attach your recent passport to the application form and submit it.
- Additionally, you will need to provide an original or certified document, such as a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order that shows your name change within one year of the passport issuance.
- You also need to send an active passport-size photograph.
- So, after attaching all the necessary documents to the application form, send it to the following address:
National Passport Processing Center
Post Office Box 90107
Philadelphia, PA 19190-0107
Name Change More Than One Year After Passport Issuance
If more than a year has passed since your passport was issued and you want to change your name after that time, you can do so either by mail or by applying for a new passport.
Below are the methods discussed in detail:
Renew by Mail (Form DS-82)
If you want to renew your passport by mail and update the name on your passport, you must meet the eligibility criteria:
- Your most recent passport is submitted with your application and is undamaged.
- The passport was issued when you were 16 or older.
- It was issued within the last 15 years.
- It was issued in your current name, or you can provide proof of your name change.
When renewing by mail, you must provide some documents, which should be attached to the application form and sent by post. These documents are:
- Form DS-82
- Your Recent Passport
- Original or Certified Name Change Document
- One Passport Photo
- Applicable Fees
Send your application and supporting documents via USPS to the PO Box address listed on Form DS-82.
Apply in Person (Form DS-11)
If you are not eligible to renew by mail, you will need to apply in person using Form DS-11. For in-person renewal, the documents you will need are:
- Form DS-11
- Evidence of U.S. Citizenship: Such as a birth certificate or naturalization certificate, along with a photocopy.
- Name Change Document: An original or certified document showing your name change.
- Valid ID: A government-issued ID in your current name and a photocopy.
- One Passport Photo
- Applicable Fees
If your name changed due to marriage and your ID is issued in your new name, you might not need to submit proof of your name change.
However, you must include details of the marriage on the second page of Form DS-11.
How to Change Name on US Passport Without Legal Documentation
If you want to change your name but do not have a marriage certificate, court order, or other legal documentation, you will need to apply in person using Form DS-11.
Additionally, you may need to submit Form DS-60. To prove your name, you will need to present at least two witnesses who know you by that name.
You will also need three certified or original public records showing you have used the new name for at least five years.
Correcting a Name Error on Your Passport
If there is a mistake on your passport application that results in a name error on your passport, you can correct it later. If you notice a name error on your passport, you can change it without any charge. You will need to submit some documents, such as:
- Form DS-5504
- Your Current Passport
- One Passport Photo
- Proof of the Correct Name: For example, a U.S. birth certificate showing the correct spelling of your last name.
If you apply to correct this error within one year of passport issuance, you will be issued a new passport with a validity of 10 years.
On the other hand, if you apply to change your name after one year, the same validity period as the original passport will apply to the new passport.
Does It Cost to Change Your Name on a Passport?
There are costs associated with changing your name on a passport, which depend on various factors.
Some general costs are outlined below, but in most cases, a fee is not applicable for changing your name on a passport.
However, if you need an urgent name change, you will have to pay an emergency fee.
Name Change Within One Year of Passport Issuance is free of charge if you submit Form DS-5504 within one year of the passport issuance. However, if you require expedited processing, there is an additional fee of $60.
Name Change More Than One Year After Passport Issuance:
- Renew by Mail (Form DS-82): The fees are typically around $130 for an adult passport book. There may be additional fees for optional expedited service.
- Apply in Person (Form DS-11): The cost includes a $130 application fee for the passport book and a $35 execution fee for applying in person, totaling $165. Additional fees apply for expedited service.
Correcting a Name Error on Your Passport is free of charge if you are correcting a data or printing error on a valid passport using Form DS-5504.
If you want to renew your passport, you can easily do it by following USPS Passport Renewal
How Long Does It Take to Process a Name Change on a Passport?
The processing time for changing your name on a passport depends on the method you choose and whether you opt for expedited service:
- Standard Processing: Typically 8 to 11 weeks from the date your application is received. This timeframe includes processing and mailing times.
- Expedited Processing: Approximately 5 to 7 weeks. Expedited service costs an additional $60 and is recommended if you need your updated passport quickly.
- In-Person Applications: If you apply in person using Form DS-11, the processing time remains the same (8 to 11 weeks for standard or 5 to 7 weeks for expedited)
For those in urgent need of a passport due to imminent travel plans, an appointment at a Passport Agency may be possible for even faster processing, though this is subject to availability and may involve additional fees.
