Name Change Advertisement in Newspaper 2026

Why Is a Newspaper Ad for Name Change Required?

A paper advertisement for name change is a must for all Regional Passport Offices (RPO) and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in India to prove that the name change has been declared in public. It is used for three legal purposes:

It is a public declaration that you are the same person under a new name
It protects against identity fraud by creating a permanent published record
It is mandatory evidence before any government authority updates your official records

This requirement applies whether you are changing your name after marriage, correcting a spelling error, changing your surname, changing your father's name, or making any other legal name modification.

Name Change Advertisement in Newspaper — Format

The correct format for a name change ad in the newspaper varies slightly by city and purpose. Here are the standard accepted formats:

Standard format (general name change):
"I, [OLD NAME], S/o [FATHER'S NAME], Age [X] Years, residing at [FULL ADDRESS] have changed my name from [OLD NAME] to [NEW NAME] vide Affidavit No. [NUMBER] dated [DATE] before Notary [NOTARY NAME]. In future I shall be known as [NEW NAME]."

Format for name change after marriage:
"I, [OLD NAME], W/o [HUSBAND'S NAME], residing at [FULL ADDRESS], have changed my name from [OLD NAME] to [NEW NAME] following my marriage. Henceforth I shall be known as [NEW NAME]."

Format for father name change advertisement in newspaper:
"I, [FATHER'S NAME], S/o [GRANDFATHER'S NAME], residing at [FULL ADDRESS], hereby declare that I have changed my name from [OLD NAME] to [NEW NAME] vide Affidavit No. [NUMBER] dated [DATE]. My son/daughter [CHILD'S NAME] shall hereafter refer to me as [NEW NAME] in all official records."

Format for name change newspaper ad for passport (Mumbai-specific):
"I have changed my name from [OLD NAME] to [NEW NAME] as per the Maharashtra Gazette No. [GAZETTE NUMBER]."

Format for name change newspaper ad for passport (general):
"I, [OLD NAME], S/o [FATHER'S NAME], R/o [ADDRESS] have changed my name and shall hereafter be known as [NEW NAME]."

Paper Ad for Name Change for Passport — Complete Requirements

A paper advertisement for name change for passport must meet these specific requirements set by the Passport Seva system:

What the ad must include:
Your old name (exactly as it appears on current documents)
Your new name
Father's name or husband's name
Full residential address with PIN code
Affidavit number and date (where required)
Name of Notary Public

Which newspapers are accepted:
One national English daily (Times of India, Hindustan Times, Indian Express, Deccan Herald)
One regional language daily (language depends on your state)

Important note: The Deed Poll Affidavit (Annexure E) that was earlier required at the Passport Office for name change has been discontinued. Now only a self-attested photo identity proof with the correct name along with newspaper ads in one national and one local newspaper is required at the Passport Seva Kendra.

Name change applications cannot be submitted under the Tatkal Scheme. They are processed only under the Normal scheme.

Name Change Advertisement in Newspaper Mumbai — Full Guide

Mumbai has specific requirements for name change newspaper ads that differ from other cities.

Newspapers accepted for name change ad in Mumbai:

Mumbai-specific name change ad format for passport:
Mumbai Passport Office (RPO Mumbai) typically accepts ads that reference the Maharashtra Gazette number if you have already completed the Gazette process. The format is:

"I have changed my name from [OLD NAME] to [NEW NAME] as per the Maharashtra Gazette No. [NUMBER]."

If applying for a passport before the Gazette, use the standard affidavit-based format with full name, address, and affidavit details.

Gazette Office Mumbai: The Maharashtra Gazette Office is located in Charni Road, near Charni Road Railway Station, Mumbai. However, Maharashtra name change Gazette applications can now be submitted online through the Maharashtra Government Gazette portal or the Maha Online Portal.

Combo cost for name change ad in Mumbai: Two newspapers (one English + one Marathi) combo packages start from ₹375 onwards from various booking services.

Name Change Advertisement in Newspaper Kolkata — Full Guide

Kolkata name change newspaper ads follow West Bengal government requirements. The Regional Passport Office in Kolkata requires ads in one national English daily and one Bengali regional daily.

Newspapers accepted for name change ad in Kolkata:

Kolkata name change ad format:
"I, [OLD NAME], S/o [FATHER'S NAME], residing at [FULL ADDRESS], Kolkata — [PIN], hereby declare that I have changed my name from [OLD NAME] to [NEW NAME]. Henceforth I shall be known as [NEW NAME] for all purposes."

For passport name change in Kolkata, submit both English and Bengali newspaper clippings at your appointment at the Passport Seva Kendra on Shakespeare Sarani or your nearest PSK.

Name Change Newspaper Ad Cost — City-Wise Comparison (2026)

Rates are charged based on the number of words, lines, or characters in the advertisement. Keeping the ad concise reduces cost without affecting legal validity.

Name Change Newspaper Ad for Passport — Step by Step Process

Step 1 — Get a Notarized Affidavit
Draft an affidavit on non-judicial stamp paper (₹20 to ₹100 depending on your state) declaring your old name, new name, address, and reason for change. Get it signed and notarized by a Notary Public in your city.

Step 2 — Book and Publish the Newspaper Ad
Publish your name change ad in two newspapers — one national English daily and one regional language daily for your state. Keep the original full newspaper pages (not just cuttings) as these are required at the Passport Seva Kendra.

Step 3 — Book Passport Appointment
Visit the Passport Seva portal, fill out the application form for reissue, pay the fee, and book an appointment at your nearest PSK.

Step 4 — Submit Documents at PSK
Carry the following on your appointment date:
Original passport
Completed application form
Notarized affidavit
Original newspaper pages showing the advertisement (both papers)
Self-attested photo identity proof with your correct new name (Aadhaar or PAN)
Two recent passport-size photographs
Address proof

Step 5 — Biometric Verification and Processing
Documents are verified and biometric authentication is completed at the PSK. Your new passport with the updated name is typically delivered within 15 to 20 working days.

Name Correction Advertisement in Newspaper — When Is It Different From Name Change?

A name correction advertisement in the newspaper is required when there is a spelling error in your existing name on official documents — not a complete name change. The format is slightly different:

"I, [INCORRECT NAME], S/o [FATHER'S NAME], residing at [FULL ADDRESS], hereby declare that my correct name is [CORRECT NAME]. The name [INCORRECT NAME] appearing on my [DOCUMENT TYPE] is a clerical error. Henceforth all official documents should read [CORRECT NAME]."

Name correction ads are accepted for:
Aadhaar card spelling corrections
PAN card name corrections
Bank account name corrections
School and college certificate corrections
Passport spelling corrections

Father Name Change Advertisement in Newspaper — When and How

A father name change advertisement in newspaper is required in specific situations:
When a child's school or college records show the father's name incorrectly
When a father legally changes his own name and all child documents need updating
When the father's name on the child's passport does not match the father's current legal name

Format for father name change ad:
"I, [FATHER'S FULL NAME], S/o [GRANDFATHER'S NAME], residing at [FULL ADDRESS], hereby declare that I have changed my name from [OLD NAME] to [NEW NAME] vide Affidavit No. [NUMBER] dated [DATE] before Notary [NAME]. All records pertaining to my children [CHILD'S NAME] and other official documents should reflect my new name [NEW NAME]."

This ad is then submitted along with the child's school records correction application or the child's passport reissue application at the Passport Seva Kendra.

Download Name Change Gazette Maharashtra — How to Get Your Gazette Certificate

Once your name change is published in the Maharashtra Government Gazette, you can download the official Gazette notification PDF from the Maharashtra Government Gazette portal. Here is how:

Visit the Maharashtra Government Gazette official website
Navigate to the name change notification section
Enter your publication date, Gazette number, or application reference number
Locate your entry and download the PDF
Print the PDF for submission to Aadhaar, PAN, passport, or bank authorities

The Maharashtra Gazette processes name change applications online through the Maha Online Portal. Processing typically takes 10 to 30 days and costs approximately ₹1,000 to ₹1,500. The Weekly Gazette is published every Friday.

Name Change Advertisement Sample — Ready to Use Formats

Sample 1 — General name change:
"I, Priya Sharma, D/o Ramesh Sharma, Age 28 Years, residing at 204, Lotus Apartments, Andheri West, Mumbai — 400058 have changed my name from Priya Sharma to Priya Mehta vide Affidavit No. 4521 dated 01.06.2026 before Notary Shri Anil Joshi. Henceforth I shall be known as Priya Mehta."

Sample 2 — After marriage:
"I, Sneha Patil, W/o Rohan Desai, residing at 12, Shivaji Nagar, Pune — 411005, have changed my name from Sneha Patil to Sneha Desai following my marriage. All future correspondence should refer to me as Sneha Desai."

Sample 3 — Spelling correction:
"I, Mohammed Irfan, S/o Abdul Karim, residing at 45, Park Street, Kolkata — 700016, hereby declare that my correct name is Mohammed Irfan and not Mohammed Irfaan as incorrectly mentioned in my documents. All records should be corrected accordingly."

Sample 4 — Father name change for child records:
"I, Suresh Kumar Verma, S/o Mohan Lal Verma, residing at 78, Civil Lines, Delhi — 110054, have changed my name from Suresh Kumar Verma to Suresh Verma vide Affidavit No. 3302 dated 01.06.2026. All official documents of my children should reflect my new name Suresh Verma."