How do I change the name on my passport?
Short answer
How do I change the name on my passport?
If your passport was issued less than one year ago, use Form DS-5504 to correct the name at no fee. If it was issued more than one year ago, use Form DS-82 and include a certified name-change document with the renewal fee.
Open the Name change & corrections guide
Actionable steps, requirements, and tools to move forward.
Key takeaways
- Less than 1 year since issue: Form DS-5504, no fee.
- More than 1 year since issue: Form DS-82 with renewal fee.
- Include a certified marriage certificate or court order.
- If the passport is damaged or you cannot document the change, apply in person with DS-11.
- A typo can also be corrected with DS-5504 within one year.
Full answer
Name changes on passports are handled differently depending on timing. Within one year of issuance, corrections are free with DS-5504. After one year, the process is treated as a renewal and the standard renewal fee applies.
The name-change document must be a certified copy, not a photocopy or a notarized copy. It must show the legal link between the name on the passport and your current name.
If you changed your name multiple times, include documentation that traces each change back to the name on the passport.