In India, most women change their names after marriage. These days even men change their names due to numerological or various other reasons, and these name changes should be reflected in all government documents.

In 2017, Prime Minister Narendra Modi mentioned in his address at the Indian merchant’s Chamber’s Ladies wing that women need not change their names in the passports anymore after marriage. This invited multiple responses from the public, who claimed that even prior to this announcement there was no such mandatory requirement. On the issue of online name change, the instructions booklet of the passport application form on the Passport Seva website says, ‘This will be applicable to an applicant who has even marginally changed the name or a female who has changed her name or surname after marriage’.

This means that if a woman kept her maiden name, nothing changes in the passport application process. 

Procedure for Changing the Name After Marriage in Passports:

 Steps for submitting an online form:

1. First, go to the Passport Seva Online Portal and register by clicking the Register Now option on the home page
2. Now, use the registered Login Id to log onto the Passport Seva Online Portal
3. To continue, click Apply for a New Passport/Reissue a Passport
4. Fill out the form with the relevant information and submit it
5. To arrange an appointment, go to the View Saved/Submitted Applications screen and click the Pay and Schedule Appointment option. Remember that booking appointments at all Passport Seva Kendras/Passport Offices now requires online payment
6. To print the application receipt containing the Application Reference Number (ARN)/Appointment Date, click the Print Application Receipt link.
7. After making a payment, visit the Passport Seva Kendra (PSK)/Regional Passport Office (RPO) where appointment has been booked, along with original documents.

Steps for e-form Submission:

Note that nowadays provisions have been made to facilitate the submission of the applications online, just like any other government documentation, for more convenience.

1. In order to complete this process, you must first download the e-form from the download e-form link on the main page, fill it out and click the Validate and Save button
2. This will produce an XML file, which will be required for uploading in the system later
3. Log in to the Passport Seva Online Portal with the registered login ID using the same procedure as above. After logging in successfully, click the Upload e-Form option to upload the XML file
4. At this point, you should not upload the PDF form because the system only accepts XML files
5. To make an appointment with your nearest Passport Seva Kendra (PSK)/Regional Passport Office (RPO) using the original documents, you must go through the same payment process.

Documents required for name change in passport:

1. An original marriage certificate with a photocopy (self-attested)
2. Old passport in original with self-attested photocopies of the first two and last two pages, including the emigration check required (ECR)/non-ECR page (previously ECNR) and the page of observation (if any) made by the passport issuing authority, as well as the validity extension page, if any, in the case of a passport with a short validity
3. Proof of current residence
4. Proof of education – 10th + 12th + degree certificate (if completed)
5. A photocopy of the spouse’s/passport.

Also, Read:

• Difference between Court Marriage and Registry Marriage in India
• Know About Marriage Registration
• How To Change the Name on the PAN Card After Marriage?