Guidance

Change of name guidance for official documents

Home Office guidance on how applications are handled to change names on official documents.

• From: Home Office
• Published: 17 February 2015
• Last updated: 31 October 2024 — See all updates

Documents

Use and change of names guidance

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Use and change of names guidance

PDF, 182 KB, 10 pages

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Annex A: use of names in passports

PDF, 195 KB, 10 pages

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Details

This document contains guidance about how the Home Office handles applications to change names on official documents it issues, such as British passports, Home Office Travel Documents (HODT), biometric residence permits (BRP) and other forms of immigration documentation.

It sets out the Home Office requirement for individuals to use one name for all official purposes and explains the additional security requirements in place when considering the use of names in the British passport.

Annex A gives specific information on changing a name in a British passport.

Published 17 February 2015
Last updated 31 October 2024 + show all updates

1. 31 October 2024

   Updated Use and change of names guidance in line with BRPs no longer being issued.

2. 21 June 2019

   Updated guidance document

3. 28 January 2019

   New use and change of names guidance.

4. 25 August 2016

   'Change of name guidance' updated and 'Annex A: use of names in passports' added.

5. 17 February 2015

   First published.