Last updated: 16 September 2026
Quick Answer: For a passport name change, Passport Seva accepts two local newspaper ads or a State Gazette notification, plus two documents in your new name. Unlike other applicants, government employees can use their department's Gazette notification with a fresh ID certificate instead. An affidavit alone isn't accepted.
Either way, you apply for passport re-issue. A woman's surname change after marriage, or adding a spouse's name, follows a simpler route in our Annexure J joint declaration guide.
Overview: changing the name in your passport at a glance
| Detail | What applies |
|---|---|
| Authority | Passport Seva, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) |
| Major name change proof | State Gazette notification or two local newspaper clippings, plus two public or school documents in the new name |
| Fee (from 1 July 2026) | ₹2,500 (36 pages) · ₹3,500 (60 pages) · ₹1,750 (minors, 5 years) |
| Tatkaal | Not available for a major name change |
| Police verification | Before the passport is issued, for a change of name |
| Time | About 30 days for a major name change, not counting the submission day |
Is your case a minor correction or a major name change?
It's a minor correction if the spelling changes but the name sounds the same, or the parts are rearranged without adding or dropping anything. Everything else, including adding a surname or a full name change after marriage, is a major name change and needs the Gazette or newspaper proof.
| Change you want (Passport Manual, Chapter 3) | Example | Treated as |
|---|---|---|
| Spelling that sounds the same | D'souza to De Souza | Minor correction |
| Spelling as it appears in your birth certificate | Sanjiv to Sanjeev | Minor correction |
| Rearranging parts, nothing added or removed | Parmeshwaran Shiva Kumaran to Shiva Parmeshwaran Kumaran | Minor correction |
| Splitting a given name into first name and surname | DILIP KUMAR to DILIP (given name) and KUMAR (surname) | Minor correction |
| Adding or changing a surname (not after marriage) | Adding a family surname | Major name change |
| Going back to a maiden name while still married | Married surname to maiden surname | Major name change |
For a passport name correction that rearranges or splits your name, carry at least two public documents showing it that way. You can't rearrange parts when your initial or last name is your father's name, as is common in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Maharashtra.
Do you need a Gazette notification or newspaper ads for a major name change?
You need one or the other, not both. Passport Seva asks for clippings of two local newspapers or the Gazette notification of the concerned State Government, plus at least two public or school documents in your new name, meaning records issued by a government body or school.
The Passport Manual sets this out in paragraph 3.1.2 and doesn't rank one route above the other. If you've already published the change in your State Gazette, submit that; if not, two newspaper clippings are enough.
| Route | What you submit | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Newspaper ads | Two local newspaper clippings + two documents in the new name | Any applicant |
| State Gazette | State Gazette notification + two documents in the new name | Anyone who already has one |
| Departmental Gazette | Departmental Gazette notification + fresh ID certificate | Government, public sector and statutory body employees, as an option instead of ads |
Is a name-change affidavit enough on its own?
No. A passport name change affidavit isn't on Passport Seva's document list, and its Annexures page has no name-change form. An affidavit you signed before placing the ads can't replace the clippings or the Gazette notification.
Which documents are needed for a passport name change?
Passport name change documents depend on your case, but every case needs your old passport in original. Add self-attested copies of its first two and last two pages, including the ECR/Non-ECR page.
| Your case | Documents to carry |
|---|---|
| Minor correction | Old passport and copies · two public documents in the new form, if you're rearranging or splitting the name |
| Major name change, including a full change after marriage | Old passport and copies · newspaper clippings or State Gazette notification · two public or school documents in the new name |
| Government employee using the departmental route | Old passport and copies · departmental Gazette notification · fresh ID certificate |
These lists match Table 2 of the Passport Seva application instruction booklet, updated in June 2026.
How much does it cost to change your name in a passport?
A name change costs the same as a routine re-issue: ₹2,500 for a 36-page, 10-year passport and ₹3,500 for 60 pages. A minor's 5-year, 36-page booklet costs ₹1,750.
These rates apply from 1 July 2026 and are non-refundable; check the Passport Seva fee structure before you pay. Newspaper ad or Gazette charges aren't paid to Passport Seva.
Can you use Tatkal for a name change?
No, a major name change can't go through Tatkaal. For a minor spelling correction, and for government employees changing their name, Passport Seva's instruction booklet (V3.0, June 2026) lists Tatkaal documents.
But its Tatkaal page still excludes "any change in name", so check with your Passport Seva Kendra before paying the Tatkaal fee.
How do you change your name in an Indian passport?
You apply online for re-issue on the Passport Seva portal, then finish at a Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) or Post Office PSK appointment. Here's how to change name in passport records, in order:
- Get your proof first: the newspaper ads or Gazette notification, and two documents in the new name.
- On Passport Seva, choose re-issue and select a change in personal particulars as the reason.
- Enter the new name exactly as it should print, with initials written out in full.
- Answer "Yes" to "Have you ever changed your name?" and give your previous name, even for small changes like Ritesh to Reetesh.
- Pay online, book a slot and carry originals with self-attested copies.
The screens match any re-issue: follow our passport re-issue guide and book your passport appointment. Police verification comes first, so check how long passport police verification takes. For help filing the form, Jaagruk Bharat can assist with your passport re-issue application, while the fee is still paid on Passport Seva.
