Change of name, name discrepancy and naming children letters
Letters explaining that British embassies, high commissions and consulates cannot issue name or change of name certificates. Sometimes called information notes.
- From:
- Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
- Published
- 25 July 2024
- Last updated
- 24 January 2025 — See all updates
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office provides these standard letters to explain UK laws and conventions to local authorities when you’re abroad.
Change of name
Under UK law you can change your surname or forename. If you’re asked to provide proof of UK law about changing your name, download the relevant letter. You can get a signed and stamped version of a letter, which costs £50.
Albania: change of name
PDF, 97.5 KB, 3 pages
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Argentina: change of name
PDF, 387 KB, 6 pages
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Austria: change of name (English and German)
PDF, 575 KB, 4 pages
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Azerbaijan: change of name
PDF, 21.7 KB, 2 pages
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Bahrain: change of name
PDF, 156 KB, 3 pages
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Belarus: change of name
MS Word Document, 218 KB
Belgium: change of name
PDF, 238 KB, 6 pages
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Bulgaria: change of name
PDF, 559 KB, 3 pages
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Croatia: change of name
PDF, 364 KB, 3 pages
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France: change of name
PDF, 821 KB, 5 pages
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Germany: change of name
ODT, 149 KB
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Greece: change of name
PDF, 181 KB, 3 pages
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Italy: change of name
PDF, 3.38 MB, 5 pages
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Kuwait: change of name
PDF, 9.17 MB, 4 pages
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Luxembourg: change of name
PDF, 316 KB, 4 pages
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Mexico: change of name
PDF, 532 KB, 1 page
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Montenegro: change of name
PDF, 113 KB, 2 pages
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North Macedonia: change of name
PDF, 548 KB, 3 pages
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Peru: change of name
PDF, 82.4 KB, 2 pages
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Portugal: change of name (English)
PDF, 101 KB, 2 pages
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Portugal: change of name (Portuguese)
PDF, 270 KB, 2 pages
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Qatar: change of name
PDF, 393 KB, 1 page
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Russia: change of name
PDF, 647 KB, 10 pages
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Spain: change of name
PDF, 139 KB, 3 pages
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Switzerland: change of name
PDF, 136 KB, 3 pages
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Uruguay: change of name
PDF, 172 KB, 4 pages
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United Arab Emirates (UAE): change of name
PDF, 969 KB, 2 pages
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Name discrepancies on British documents
British embassies, consulates and high commissions cannot verify that two or more documents with name discrepancies are for the same person. If you’re asked for proof of this, download the relevant letter. You can get a signed and stamped version of a letter, which costs £50.
Brazil: name discrepancies on British documents
ODT, 19.8 KB
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Naming children
Under UK law parents may give their child any forename or surname. If you’re asked to provide proof of UK law about naming children download the relevant letter. You can get a signed and stamped version of a letter, which costs £50.
Hungary: naming children
PDF, 200 KB, 1 page
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Updates to this page
Published 25 July 2024Last updated 24 January 2025 + show all updates
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A letter added for use in Brazil explaining that the British Embassy cannot verify that name discrepancies in documents refer to the same person.
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Portugal change of name letters added.
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United Arab Emirates (UAE) change of name letter added.
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All countries and territories letter removed.
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Link to get a signed and stamped letter added. All countries and territories letter added.
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First published.