How to Change Name on Your Passport in Delhi

How to Change Name on Your Passport in Delhi: A Complete Guide

If you have recently changed your name on marriage, divorce, court name change, adoption, or even for correction in your passport, changing the name in your passport is a must. It makes you free from any legal or travel inconvenience. Your Delhi passport name change is a very simple process.

Your passport is very likely the most important document you have when it comes to identification, legal cases, and travel. Your passport name and your current legal name being identical is the most important thing about carefree travel and not committing any faux pas at immigration or official documents.

Passport update usually happens for:

• Marriage: This is a common reason for name modifications among women.
• Divorce: Some people alter their maiden name after a divorce or return to it.
• Adoption: There is a name change by adults or children following an adoption.
• Legal Name Change: Personal reasons or religious conversion can cause individuals to change their surname.
• Mistakes: Passport mistakes sometimes result in misspelling of the name.

Whatever your motive for changing, it is imperative that you have all your travel and identification papers in perfect order. You will not experience any delays or difficulties traveling locally or overseas.

Why is it Important to Change Your Name on the Passport?

Your passport is a very important travel and identification document, and the reasons why your current legal name must be shown on it are as follows:

• Visa and Immigration: Travel-related difficulties include delays brought on by discrepancies between your passport name and other documents, like your visa or Aadhar card.
• Legal Consistency: Your legal name used for official purposes like banking, employment, and government should match the name on your passport.
• Smooth Travel:Having the same name on all papers, such as your passport, driver's license, Aadhar card, helps to prevent misunderstanding at checkpoints.

Marriage, divorce, adoption, or a court-ordered name change are reasons to update your passport and prevent legal or travel issues.

Why Do You Need to Change Your Name in Your Passport in Delhi?

Having your passport name corrected is absolutely essential to avoid legal or travel issues.

• Avoid Travel Hassles: Imagine yourself arriving at the airport only to learn that your passport name differs from that on your airline ticket, visa, and other papers.
• Visa and Other Documents:You could be denied entry or stuck for hours. Smooth travel depends on ensuring your passport name matches other identification papers, including your driver's license or Aadhaar.
• Legal Reasons:: You must have a passport showing your corrected legal name. This covers getting visas, setting up bank accounts, or handling legal paperwork concerning your identity.
• Staying Away from Trouble:Preventing legal problems or pointless confusion resulting from a mismatch in your legal papers, especially your passport, identification cards, and records. This is avoided by making sure your passport exactly represents your legal name.
• Specific Situations: Individuals usually need to change their passport name because of:
• Marriage: Men or women who assume their partner's last name or change their own.
• Divorce: Those who want to reclaim their maiden name or select a fresh post-divorce name.
• Adoption: Legally adopted youngsters or adults bearing a fresh name.
• Legal: People legally change their names for whatever reason or purposes, whether it's for personal reasons, gender identity, religious conversion, or any other reason.
• Errors: Passports also occasionally have errors, including misspelled names due to bureaucratic mistakes.

Renaming in your passport is highly vital so that there is no confusion, especially with the law or when flying.

How to Change Your Name on Your Passport in Delhi: Two Easy Methods

Two Ways to Change Your Name on a Passport in Delhi

Online and offline are two ways one can change the name on their passport. Though with minor differences in steps and usability, both of these approaches are straightforward and effective.

A. Online Application for Passport Name Correction

Applying for a passport name change online is a good approach to save time and avoid long queues.

Steps:

• Go To The Official Passport Seva Website: Visit www.passportindia.gov.in.
• Log In To Your Account: Register on the portal if you do not yet have an account. Otherwise, just sign in.
• Choose ‘Reissue of Passport’: Once you log in, select the 'Reissue of Passport' option and then choose 'Change in Name' as the reason for reissue.
• Complete Application Form: Diligently complete the form with your former name and the new name you wish to see reflected. Ensure you steer clear of mistakes in this process.
• Pay Fees Online: Pay the relevant costs for reissuing your passport via the online payment portal.
• Fix a Date for Meeting: This is required for document verification at the closest Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) after sending the fees.
• Submit Papers at PSK: Visit the PSK on your scheduled appointment day with the required documents, including your original passport and evidence of the name change.

Eligibility for Online Application:

• The request for a name change applies only to those wishing a passport reissue.
• If you can upload your papers electronically and value ease, the online approach is perfect.

Online Application Advantages:

• Faster Process: Most online processes can be completed without constant visits to the passport office.
• Convenience: The whole application is handled from the comfort of your home, eliminating standing in long lines.
• Trackable: You can follow the progress of your passport name change request directly on the website.

B. Name Change Offline Application

If you want an older process or if you have issues with the online process, the offline process can be used to change your passport name.

Steps:

• Visit your local PSK and ask for a change of name passport application form.
• On the application form, include your previous name and present name along with the necessary information
• Prepare Papers:Keep your original passport, proof of name change (marriage certificate, gazette notification, or legal documents) handy while preparing the papers to be submitted.
• Pay the Costs: Send the name change fees. Depending on the office's needs, this can be done either at the PSK or by means of a demand draft.
• Send Your Application: Give the PSK staff your completed application form and papers for verification.

Offline Application Eligibility:

• Anyone can apply offline if they prefer or run into problems with an online application.
• Perfect for people without internet access or those who favor in-person help.

Offline Application Advantages:

• Personal Interaction: You can directly consult and get help from PSK officers in person.
• Physical Submission: The offline system can be helpful for those who prefer or need clarification regarding physical papers.
• Secure: Personal papers are directly handled by the officers, hence lowering the risk of document errors or loss.

Documents Required for Passport Name Change

Depending on the justification for the name change on your passport, you must supply particular documents.

The most commonly required documents are as follows:

• Original Passport: Keep with you the original passport you want to renew.
• Marriage Certificate: If the name change is due to marriage, you must produce your marriage certificate.
• Divorce: If the name change is a result of divorce, you require a copy of the divorce decree from the court.
• Court Order: If you're having a name change by court order—such as for a legal name change or adoption—you'll need to submit the copy of such a court document.
• Gazette Notification: If your name change was informed through a gazette notification, then do keep a copy with you.
• ID Proof: Aadhar card, PAN card, voter ID, or any government ID that you have with your new name is acceptable as the identification proof.
• Address Proof: Recent ones that are proof of address, including utility bills, bank statements, or the rental agreement, are needed.
• Affidavit: When necessary, a name change affidavit is a notarized statement describing why you are changing your name.
• Photograph: Don't forget to include recent passport photos with your application.

Affidavit

• Affidavit: If your name change is due to neither marriage nor divorce, you need to submit an affidavit of your new name in clear detail. The affidavit has to be notarized and certified.
• Validation and Scheduling: Go to the PSK/RPO on the scheduled day. Bring self-attested copies in addition to all original papers. The passport authorities will confirm your papers and information. A police verification might occasionally also be needed.
• Issue of Passport: Your new passport with the new name will be dispatched to your registered address after your documents are duly authenticated. Starting from the date of submission of your application, the whole process for passport name change normally takes 15 to 30 days.

How Much Does It Cost to Change Name in Passport?

Cost of Name Change on a Passport

Changing the name on your passport could cost various sums depending on your age, type of passport, and processing speed.

• Standard: The Standard handling charges are the usual costs for a name change. Your passport fee will vary depending on your age and the kind of passport—whether you wish a 36-page or 60-page one.
• Tatkal: For faster processing, use the Tatkal (quick) option. You pay a higher charge for the service.

Common Fee Schedule:

Time Needed For Name Change

Whether you apply offline or online will determine the time your name change takes:

• Online: Online applications often take two to four weeks to process.
• Offline: Applications offline often take four to six weeks to process.
• Tatkal: For the expedited Tatkal (Expedited) service, processing should take roughly 1–2 weeks.

Can you update your passport without changing your name?

Under some situations, yes, you can modify the passport name without having to modify your legal name.

• Marriage: Some do not formally change their last name upon marriage. In such situations, your marriage certificate verifies your identity and assists you in changing your passport name.
• Other Grounds: Renew your passport with the necessary supporting papers—for example, an affidavit or marriage certificate if you are using a name not legally recognized.

Official paperwork and records can be an issue if your name change is not legitimately recognized.

Travel Considerations After Name Change

Traveling with an old name on your passport?

You may have to juggle multiple issues, including:

• Immigration: If your passport name is contradictory to your flight ticket, visa, or other identification cards, immigration can stop you or cause delays.
• Travel Services: Often, airlines, hotels, and travel companies need a match of passport name and reservation details.
• Visa: Many countries require that your passport name match the data on the visa form. Visa rejections or delays may result from a conflict.

If You Don't Change Your Name, What Will Happen?

Not changing your name on your passport could cause several problems:

• Travel Delays: Traveling with a passport name that differs from other documents may bring problems.
• Legal Issues: If your passport has an expired name, any legal procedures or papers requiring passport verification could be affected.
• No Peace of Mind: Having an old name on your passport might lead to inconsistencies in other vital documents, including your Aadhaar, PAN cards, and banking records.

After a Name Change, Travel Factors to Consider

Traveling with a passport that does not have your updated name is a risky thing. You may encounter problems at:

• Immigration: The government can hold you, leading to delays, if your passport name differs from the name on your flight tickets, visas, or other papers.
• Travel Services: Travel agencies demand accuracy in your passport and other travel papers from airlines, hotels, and travel companions.
• Visa: Most countries confirm the name on your visa application with your passport. Your visa can get rejected due to a wrong name.

What Will Happen If You Don’t Update Your Name?

Not altering your passport's name can cause a number of problems:

• Delays: Traveling with a passport name different from other papers could result in difficulties.
• Legal Issues: Any legal process or papers requesting a passport verification can slow down, especially if your passport carries the old name.

The wrong name on your passport can cause problems with support, PAN cards, and other papers, including your bank accounts.

How to Monitor Your Passport Name Change Status

Through the Passport Seva Website, you can readily monitor the progress of your passport name change application. Here's how:

• Go to the Passport Seva's official website.
• Under Track Status, enter your login details.
• Use your ARN, or Application Reference Number, to see the status of your application.

Suggestions for a Simple Passport Name Change Procedure

These are some useful directives to ensure a trouble-free trip:

• If you are traveling, start the renaming process early, as it is time-consuming.
• Once your passport has been changed, make sure to change your name on all pertinent papers.
• Be certain all of your documents are correct and check your forms for inconsistencies.
• Keep a file of all the documents presented.

Minor's Name Change

For children, changing the name on a passport demands permission from both parents. The following documents must be provided:

• Application: Application with signatures from both parents
• Court Order: If the minor's name is to be changed for adoption or legal reasons, the required court orders must be brought.
• Birth Certificate: Proving the identification and specifics of the youngster requires the child's birth certificate.

Effects of a Change of Passport Name on Other Documents

Other official papers are not automatically updated with a passport name change. You will have to change your name on the following documents:

• Aadhaar Card
• PAN Card
• Bank Records
• Driver's License

Once your passport has been changed, make sure to change your name on all pertinent papers.

Conclusion

A relaxing trip is assured if your passport reflects your actual legal name. Keeping your passport current will help you avoid problems, whether a name change is done by marriage, divorce, adoption, or legal reasons.

Read Related Articles

• Birth certificate correction online
• Change Name in Birth Certificate in Maharashtra
• Birth certificate correction online
• Aadhaar Name and Date of Birth Corrections
• Birth Certificate Correction Online in Karnataka
• Change Name in Birth Certificate in Karnataka