If you have changed your name by marriage, civil partnership or court order, you may apply for a passport in your new name by submitting your original marriage certificate or final court order.

• If your U.S. passport was issued more than twelve months ago, please follow the instructions for a routine passport renewal.
• If your U.S. passport was issued within the last twelve months, please click here.
• If your U.S. passport was issued more than 15 years ago, please click here.

If you have changed your name by statutory declaration or change of name deed (“deed poll”) in the UK, you may have a U.S. passport issued in that name providing you submit the original statutory declaration/change of name deed, and it fulfils all legal requirements. Any name changes for an applicant under eighteen requires the signature and consent of all legal parents. Please see the UK government’s website for how to obtain a deed poll for a change of name in the United Kingdom. The deed poll can be unenrolled.

If your former name is restored after a divorce, dissolution of civil partnership or the death of your spouse you may have your passport issued with that surname provided you submit:

• the original divorce decree/ dissolution of civil partnership certificate explicitly declaring the resumption of a former name; or
• death certificate and identification in a former or birth name.

If the divorce decree does not explicitly declare the resumption of a former name,  in addition to the original divorce decree, you must provide:

• documentation showing the origin of a former surname (such as birth certificate) if your marriage/ civil partnership was dissolved in the United Kingdom; or
• documentation showing the change of name to a former surname (such as court order or properly executed deed) if your marriage/ civil partnership was dissolved in the country other than the United Kingdom

If you meet these requirements and your U.S. passport:

• was issued more than twelve months ago, please follow the instructions for a routine passport renewal.
• was issued within the last twelve months, please click here.
• was issued more than 15 years ago, please click here.

You may obtain a U.S. passport in a new name provided you have been known exclusively by that name for at least five years.  You must submit at least three public documents that show exclusive usage of the name for at least five years including one government issued ID with photograph. Acceptable documents include but are not limited to:

A child who has been legally adopted and has a court order showing a change of name, may have a U.S. passport issued in that name, providing the original court order shows both the old and new names. If you meet these requirements and you are over 16, please follow the instructions here.  If the applicant is under 16, click here.

If you do not meet the criteria for a name change mentioned in other categories and have assumed a name for professional or other bona fide reason, the assumed name may be included in the passport as a “known as” name together with the full legal name.