Guidance

Change of name passport applications: caseworker guidance

Tells HM Passport Office staff how to deal with passport applications when the customer has a change of name.

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This guidance tells HM Passport Office staff how to deal with passport applications that have a change of name, including:

how customers apply to change their name
how to deal with:
- adult and child name changes
- name changes for someone who you suspect is an offender
- name changes and name differences after the customer has registered or naturalised
- a change of name as the customer has changed gender
- a change of name after a passport was lost or stolen
- name changes for British overseas citizens and British overseas territory citizens
- name changes on joint citizenship applications
- name changes for diplomats and officials
- name changes and differences when the customer needs an interview
- name changes on standard, heightened and substantial risk applications
additional checks that you need to do when the customer has changed their name
name changes that may be an indication of fraud
carrying out searches and file requests when the customer has changed their name

Published 4 March 2021
Last updated 1 December 2022 + show all updates

1 December 2022
This guidance has been updated to reflect the change of name of the Queen’s Messenger Service to the King’s Messenger Service.
28 September 2022
Accessible version added.
4 March 2021
First published.