All content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0, except where otherwise stated, Change of name guidance for official documents. When you live in the United Kingdom and you purchase a home with a less than flattering name, probably the first thing you think of is how fast you can change the name. The Home Office reserves the right not to issue a document in a new name to a person who is either a registered sex offender or was convicted of an offence involving the use of false or fraudulently obtained genuine documents. You could pick a new name and start using it without needing a Deed Poll or Statutory Declaration to make changing your name official. Get a New Driver's License. You’ve accepted all cookies. The policy is focussed on: It aims to make it more difficult for people to change their identities to support criminality and to ensure there is a consistent approach to handling applications to change names contained on official documents. Always check with your consulate before changing names. These documents are records of events, and changes to these records are not covered by this policy. However, if a new citizen wants a British passport in their married name they must change the name on their other passport(s), travel documents and national identity card(s) to reflect their married name before submitting their application. A Deed Poll is such a document and it will enable you get all your official documents and records changed to your new name, including your passport, driving licence, bank account, medical records etc. You can change your cookie settings at any time. Change your name on property records. Where the Home Office has accepted a request to change a name on a Home Office document, the law enforcement records may be updated to reflect the new name and the link to the old name. Get a deed poll A deed poll is a legal document that proves a change of name. You can also find out how you can go about changing your name. You’ve accepted all cookies. Changing A Name by Deed Poll. Any decision not to issue a document will depend upon the purpose for the change of name, the nature of the offence committed and whether the change of name may be used to perpetrate further offending. These additional safeguards are in place to meet the specific security considerations associated with the issuing of a passport. We offer a quick, easy and stress-free service. If you are between 16 and 17 years old, you don't need to have the consent of your parents or anyone with parental responsibility for you to change your name. This is a great choice for women who want to keep in with tradition but don’t want to completely let go of their family name. Where a person is seeking to change an identity on one of the Home Office documents listed above the person is required to provide supporting evidence that they intend using that identity for all purposes of their life. It aligns how changes of name are handled across the Home Office ensuring there is a consistent approach for British citizens and foreign nationals, so that a person only holds the documents listed in paragraph 7 in the name they use for all official purposes. To help us improve GOV.UK, we’d like to know more about your visit today. nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3, Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance and support, Check how the new Brexit rules affect you, Transparency and freedom of information releases, published for Home Office staff on 28 January 2019, helping the genuine applicant to obtain documents in a change of name with the minimum but necessary level of supporting information, deterring, disrupting and detecting those who change their names in order to commit crime or avoid detection, British Passport, including Emergency travel documents and emergency passports, right of abode and certificates of entitlement, residence documents issued to EEA nationals and their family members, including derivative categories, punctuation marks other than hyphens or apostrophes, too many characters in forenames/surname to fit onto the face of the document, language which may cause outrage or offence or are deliberately or inadvertently likely to offend sectors of the community, wording that promotes criminal activities, a trademarked name, or is subject to copyright, except where the applicant produces written permission from the owner, vulnerable victims of crime (for example victims of domestic violence or stalking). Use this tool to find out: what forms you'll need to complete; what documents you'll need to send; You'll answer 2 questions. Your photocard driving licence explained. You cannot apply for a card online. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk. This policy aligns the various approaches to managing name changes across the Home Office. A situation where an offender is also considered to be a vulnerable victim or witness and a threat to life exists, is one example of where we may choose to issue a document in a new name. Foreign nationals will only have the name contained in their passport and national identity card placed on their BRP. While not terribly difficult to do, changing the name of your new house does require some paperwork to … Normally dual nationals will be expected to align the name on their foreign passport or identity card with the names requested on Home Office issued documents. You can change any part of your name, add or remove names and hyphens, or change spelling. Next, simply send out your Easy Name Change letters and emails to get your name changed everywhere else. In the United Kingdom, you can change any part of your entire name, including your surname, by Deed Poll. Foreign nationals who apply to become British citizens may be registered or naturalised in their married name. If you decide to change your last name when you get married, you don’t need a court order. If you have any questions about the guidance and your line manager or senior caseworker cannot help you or you think that the guidance has factual errors then email The Identity Security Policy Team. Name Change for Non Citizens. In addition, consideration will be given to allowing the person to use more than one name for all purposes. This legally binding document is also commonly known as a "Change of name Deed." Search for property information if you don't know: Changing Your Name and Gender Fill out the relevant court forms. Along with HMRC, ensure government issued photo ID (such as your driving licence and/or passport) are among the first records updated when you change names. Transgender people who hold non-British passports and identity cards in their former name and gender will normally be expected to align with their other passports or identity cards to reflect their acquired name and gender, so that they are using one name for all purposes, unless they are from a country that does not recognise their acquired gender and are unable to obtain a foreign passport in their new details. It will take only 2 minutes to fill in. Send a copy of your marriage or civil partnership certificate to record-holders, such as benefits offices. This was called changing your name by ‘usage’. However, it is legal for you to use a passport in your previous name until it expires. Don’t include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details. Before 1965 house numbers weren’t really a thing . Unfortunately, the next step requires a … Loans. An example of this is when members of the House of Lords use both their titled names and their given names. It will take only 2 minutes to fill in. However, when they have been unable to obtain a passport from their country in their acquired gender and were issued with a BRP in their acquired name and gender they can be issued with a naturalisation certificate in the identity contained on their BRP. Changing Your Maiden Name to Your Middle Name. This may include a marriage certificate or a deed poll along with other supporting documentary evidence that the new name is being used for all purposes. You do not need a deed poll to take your spouse’s or civil partner’s surname. Visit the Social Security Administration's website and fill out the … We use cookies to collect information about how you use GOV.UK. We use this information to make the website work as well as possible and improve government services. Changing your name everywhere else. After you've gone to the Social Security office, wait at least 24 hours … But you might need a ‘deed poll’ to apply for or to change official documents like your passport or driving licence. ‘Enrolling’ a deed poll means that you’re putting your new name on public record. There are 2 ways to get a deed poll. If you'd rather change your computer's name in the Control Panel, or if you're running an older version of Windows, here's how to do that: 1. Beside your name, click Update. Regardless of your reason for changing names, you must notify HMRC of the change. This service is free. Successful applicants will receive evidence of their new name in the form of a BRP. Right-click on the Start button and click Control Panel . Where, in exceptional circumstances, a different name is allowed for dual nationals then this will be recorded on Home Office systems and as an observation in the British Passport. The UK, unlike a lot of other countries have very few restrictions as to what you can call yourself. The vast majority of people living in the UK change their names on official documents issued by the Home Office for perfectly legitimate reasons, such as when they get married. Change of first name in law. Legally change your name by Deed Poll - DeedPolls.co.uk Change Your Name with DeedPolls.co.uk for just £9.50 inc FREE Delivery Never before has it been easier and cheaper to change your name by Deed Poll. The type of people who are included in this group are: Where a vulnerable victim or witness is seeking to change their name to prevent them from harm, their application should be supported by an appropriate authority, such as the police, refuge service or other accredited organisation. Changing your name by deed poll In the U.K. you can change your name (or your child’s name) at any time. In addition to the steps in … Change Your Name With UK Deed Poll Office The UK Deed Poll Office is proud to provide excellent service and facilitate your name change at a low cost. Where a foreign national applies to change their name and claims not to hold a foreign issued passport or EEA Identity Card, the Home Office will only change the name on their BRP where the applicant is a recognised refugee or stateless person or has been granted Humanitarian Protection where it is has been accepted that they cannot approach their national authorities. In order to change your name and gender on your UK driving licence you do not need to do anything special but should just follow the standard process for changing your name and photo. The Home Office will not normally issue a document in a new name where a person has secured an entitlement to the document using a fraudulent identity. The policy is focussed on: 1. helping the genuine applicant to obtain documents in a change of name with the minimum but necessary level of supporting information 2. deterring, disrupting and detecting those who change their names in order to commit crime or avoid detection It aims to make it more difficult for people to change … You do not have to follow a legal process to start using a new name. Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned. Change your Social Security card. We’ll send you a link to a feedback form. Where a transgender person applies to become a British citizen, they will normally be naturalised in the name and gender contained in their passport, Home Office Travel Document and national identity card. This may include married naturalised British citizens who are unable to change the family name on their foreign passport due to legal requirements. To change your name for any other reason, you need a document that provides evidence that you have changed your name. You will likely need to show your marriage certificate and new Social Security card to update … It is rare for a deed poll to be used in Scotland and most people opt for the statutory declaration. Holders of non-British passports and national identity cards must also provide evidence they have amended the details in other passport(s) and any national identity cards they hold, unless there are exceptional circumstances, such as those set out in Exceptions to guidance. You can change your cookie settings at any time. All content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0, except where otherwise stated, Certificates, register offices, changes of name or gender, Change the name or gender on your driving licence, Change your name or personal details on your passport, Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance and support, Transparency and freedom of information releases, make an ‘unenrolled’ deed poll yourself, civil partnership certificate and final order. Don’t include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details. Another option is to change your maiden name to a middle name, so it is still part of your legal name – and your partner could adopt your maiden name as a middle name too. You may be able to go back to your original name by showing record-holders either your: Some organisations will not change your name back without a deed poll. A Statutory declaration of name change, should be sufficient for most purposes. Where a person holds Home Office issued documents in the old name, such as Home Office Travel Documents, BRPs and older forms of immigration evidence they must surrender them when applying for a change of name. It is particularly targeted at those people who intend to change their identity to commit an offence, such as fraud or to evade detection, such as registered sex offenders who want to disguise their previous background. You’ll find a list of valid proof of name change on this page and you’ll need to take in the original or certified copy of the document, not a photocopy. What supporting evidence is required to support a change of name? This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. Grounds for refusing to change a name on a Home Office issued document. The names used in these documents take precedent to names used in other supporting documents, such as marriage certificates and deed polls. You can change your name or add an additional name (example: nickname) to your Facebook account. Such individuals may also be asked to provide evidence that they are living in the new name for all other official purposes. Foreign nationals wanting to change their names on Home Office issued immigration documents must apply for either a Transfer of Conditions (if they have temporary leave) or a No-Time Limit (if they have indefinite leave). You can change any part of your name, add or remove names and hyphens, or change spelling. Where a naturalisation of registration document is changed any subsequently issued passports should be amended as part of the name change process. British citizens who hold warranted titles or are known more commonly by their stage or professional name may use both names. Nowadays,UK Government departments, companies and organisations now require ‘documentary evidence’ of the change of name. To change the name on your passport, you have to renew it, which costs £72.50. GOV.UK Log In | Sign Up. The easiest and most popular way to change your name in the United Kingdom is by Deed Poll. Don’t worry we won’t send you spam or share your email address with anyone. National Insurance Name Change. The rules for changing a name by deed poll are different in Scotland than they are in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Your first name — or “first names”, or “Christian name”, or “forenames”, or “given name”, or “proper name” (or sometimes just “name”) — consists of all of your names apart from your surname.. This document sets out the Home Office’s approach to a request for a change of name on official documents, such as the British passport, Home Office Travel Documents (HOTD) and biometric residence permits (BRP). Where there is a need to protect persons from risk of harm separate arrangements should be implemented which protect the identity of the person who is seeking to change their name. Applications to change a name on a Home Office document will be refused if it includes one or more of the following: A Home Office document which is a record of an event, such as a birth certificate or a naturalisation certificate, cannot normally be amended unless there are exceptional circumstances. It costs £42.44. To change the name on an account: Go to Settings. There are different rules for changing your name in Scotland. Below is information on when this version of the guidance was published: The vast majority of people living in the UK change their names on official documents issued by the Home Office for perfectly legitimate reasons, such as when they get married. Annex A sets out the additional requirements concerning the use of and change of names in issuing a British passport. A deed poll is a legal document that proves a change of name. The policy provides a consistent approach across Home Office. We’ll send you a link to a feedback form. If you legally change your name because of marriage, divorce, court order or any other reason, you must tell Social Security so you can get a corrected card. We use this information to make the website work as well as possible and improve government services. However, where individuals can provide evidence that they are unable to change their name in their foreign issued documents, the Home Office will exceptionally consider allowing them to use a different name in a Home Office issued document (see Annex A). Birth certificates and changing your name In these pages, you can find out when you have to register a birth and how to get a copy of your birth certificate. Check how the new Brexit rules affect you. Subject to the restrictions outlined below, you can change your name to pretty much anything as long as it is not harming or likely to harm anyone else or infringe on their intellectual property. In 1965 a law was passed which made it a requirement for every home built post 1965 to have a house number and a street name. All other foreign nationals must produce a passport or their EEA Identity Card in the new name when applying to change their name. You can either: Ask the organisation you’re dealing with (for example your bank) which type of deed poll they’ll accept as proof of your new name. The policy’s aim is to ensure the right to change names in the UK is not subject to abuse. Your documents will be updated for free. This may include where the person was issued a Gender Recognition Certificate in his or her acquired gender or where a UK Court has approved adoption. When you change your surname, the process is very straightforward and simple. To help us improve GOV.UK, we’d like to know more about your visit today. Exceptions to this approach are set out in Exceptions to guidance. How to change your house name. When a BRP is issued in a new name any Home Office Travel Documents containing the old name will be cancelled and the person will need to make a separate application for a replacement Travel Document in their new name if they want to travel overseas. Your signed Deed Poll, bearing our official seal, is documentary proof of your change of name, which you then need to show to all government departments, companies and organisations that hold your personal records, instructing them to change your name. However, if as an adult, you want to be officially known by another name, or change your name, you need to complete a deed poll or a statutory declaration of change of name and then notify everyone of the change. There is no concept or definition of a “middle name” in English law. Change your name on your driver’s license or state ID card. You must apply to the Royal Courts of Justice to get an ‘enrolled’ deed poll using the deed poll process. UK residents are able to change their name in the UK and Easy Name Change kits are suitable for notifying UK organisations. We use cookies to collect information about how you use GOV.UK. MORE. An observation may be included in their passport. If you notice any formatting errors in this guidance (broken links, spelling mistakes and so on) or have any comments about the layout or navigability of the guidance then you can email the Guidance Rules and Forms team. Take proof of your name change into one of our branches and a member of our staff will update your details. Brief Summary. If you’re a permanent resident overseas, you cannot change your name by deed poll. At Deed Polls Online we offer a range of comprehensive Deed Poll Services, which include Adult, Child and Replacement Deed Poll Service. Before you start. However the gender marker on a driving licence is not obvious and it may not be immediately obvious if it has been changed. The law says you must be over 16 years of age to change your name by deed poll in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. You can change your name yourself if you’re 16 or over. Transgender foreign nationals whose national authorities do not recognise changes to names and/or gender in their passports or national identity cards will be able to obtain a BRP in their acquired name and gender, providing the person can demonstrate they are using the acquired name and gender for all purposes. Choose the appropriate name change from the available options, 'Fix a minor typo', 'Update your name' or 'Change your legal name'. You can only do this if you’re 18 or over. However, such restrictions will not go beyond the time the person ceases to be recorded on the Sex Offenders Register or after their conviction is spent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. This policy applies to applications to changes of names and identities to: All applications to change names must be supported by documentary evidence which resemble the acquired name and show the linkage to the previous name, such as a marriage certificate or a deed poll, except where the change is a requirement to protect a vulnerable victim of crime or a witness or where other legislation provides specific requirements. It is not possible to change the name on your account to another person's name. Don’t worry we won’t send you spam or share your email address with anyone. What checks should be undertaken before allowing a change of name on a Home Office document? When a change of name is made for a purpose other than marriage, adoption, change of gender or as a result of needing protection as a vulnerable person, both the previous and the acquired names may be checked against other data to prevent criminality, including police records and with other law enforcement organisations. Your middle names (if you have any) are a part of your first name. There is no charge for a Social Security card. It also aims to deter frequent and frivolous changes of names where it is not clear that the person intends to use the name for all purposes. Start now. This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/change-of-name-guidance/use-and-change-of-names. The process is different if you want to change a child’s name. Your passport or their EEA Identity card in the form of a BRP copy of your name changed else... Is rare for a Social Security Administration 's website and fill out the additional requirements concerning the use of change! Asked to provide evidence that they are in England, Wales and Northern Ireland National. Your child’s name ) at any time and hyphens, or change.! Home Office issued document precedent to names used in other supporting documents, such as certificates... 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