Updating Your Passport After a Name Change
You do not need to update your passport straight away. You can keep using your current passport until it expires, as long as any travel you book matches the name on it.
Most people update it soon anyway, since your passport is one of your most important forms of identification.
When to Update
There is no deadline. Many people update their driving licence first, because HM Passport Office wants evidence that you are using your new name for all purposes, and an updated licence is the strongest evidence you can provide..
What You Need
- Your current passport
- Your original deed poll
- Evidence that you are using your new name
Acceptable evidence includes your updated driving licence, bank statements or letters, payslips, or utility bills in your new name. Your driving licence is usually the best single item.
How to Apply
You can apply online or by post. Online is cheaper and usually faster: you need a digital photo that meets passport requirements, a payment card, and your current passport details, and you send your supporting documents as instructed during the application.
For postal applications, forms are available from Post Office branches. Send original documents by tracked post.
Check the current fees on GOV.UK before applying, since they change periodically. Standard processing can take several weeks, and paid fast track services exist if you need the passport urgently.
Travelling While You Wait
You cannot travel internationally while your application is being processed, since HM Passport Office holds your old passport until the new one is issued. If you have travel booked, time your application around it or use a fast track service.
If you travel before updating your passport, book in the name your passport shows. Carry your deed poll with you if your other identification shows your new name, in case anyone asks about the mismatch.
Your Old Passport and Documents
Your old passport is cancelled when the new one is issued. HM Passport Office returns your deed poll and supporting documents with your new passport, so keep your deed poll safe for future updates.
Irish Passports
Many people in Northern Ireland hold an Irish passport, or both. A UK deed poll does not automatically change the name on an Irish passport. The Irish Passport Service has its own rules for name changes and generally requires evidence of use of the new name over a period of time.
If you hold an Irish passport, check the Irish Passport Service's current requirements before assuming your deed poll alone will be accepted. Your UK documents can still all be updated with your deed poll in the normal way.
Ready to Change Your Name?
Apply online and receive your deed poll by post within days. Each document is drafted to Northern Irish requirements, printed on parchment paper and embossed with a seal.
Once signed and witnessed, it is legally binding and guaranteed to be accepted in Northern Ireland and throughout the UK.