How to Change Your Name on Your United States Passport
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Changing your name after getting married, divorced, or completing another legal name change usually means updating a long list of documents, and your passport is an important one to think about if you travel internationally.
The good news is that changing the name on a U.S. passport is fairly straightforward once you know which application form applies to your situation.
The confusing part is that there isn't one form for everyone.
The correct process depends on when your current passport was issued, when your legal name changed, and whether you're eligible to renew your passport by mail.
This guide walks through the three main possibilities, the documents you'll need, what it may cost, what to do if you have travel coming up, and a few mistakes that can delay your application.
Important: Passport requirements, fees, and processing times can change. Always confirm the current requirements with the U.S. Department of State before submitting your application.
Looking for general passport information instead? My U.S. Passport Guide covers first-time applications, online and mail renewals, passport books vs. cards, current fees, processing times, urgent travel, and more.
At a Glance
Which Passport Form Do I Need to Change My Name?
For most people, the process comes down to three forms:
DS-5504: It has been less than one year since your current passport was issued, and your name was legally changed.
DS-82: It has been more than one year since either your passport was issued or your name was legally changed, and you're eligible to renew your passport by mail.
DS-11: You aren't eligible to renew by mail and need to apply in person. That distinction is important. Don't choose a form based solely on your passport's age. The State Department considers both when your passport was issued and when your legal name change occurred.
That distinction is important. It isn't enough to look only at how old your passport is. For the DS-5504 process, both your passport issuance and legal name change must fall within the required one-year window.
Option 1: Use Form DS-5504
Your Passport and Name Change Are Both Within the One-Year Window
You may be able to use Form DS-5504 if:
It has been less than one year since your current passport was issued
It has been less than one year since your name was legally changed
You'll generally need to mail:
Your most recent U.S. passport
An original or certified document showing your legal name change, such as a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order
One passport photo
There is no standard passport application fee for this type of name change. If you choose expedited processing, the current expedite fee is $60.
Follow the mailing instructions listed directly on Form DS-5504 rather than using an address from an older article or saved screenshot.
What I'd Recommend
Double-check both dates before assuming DS-5504 applies to you.
Look at the issue date printed inside your passport, then compare it with the effective date of your legal name change.
If either falls outside the required one-year window, proceed with the DS-82 or DS-11 process instead.
Option 2: Use Form DS-82
It Has Been More Than One Year, and You're Eligible to Renew by Mail
If it has been more than one year since either your passport was issued or your legal name changed, you may be able to update your name while renewing your passport by mail using Form DS-82.
To use DS-82, your most recent passport generally must:
Be submitted with your application
Be undamaged other than normal wear
Have been issued when you were age 16 or older
Have been issued within the last 15 years
Either show your current name or be accompanied by documentation proving your legal name change
If you're eligible, you'll generally submit:
Form DS-82
Your most recent U.S. passport
A certified copy of your legal name-change document
One passport photo
The required passport renewal fee
The State Department requires that DS-82 applications be sent via the U.S. Postal Service because the application addresses are P.O. boxes.
What I'd Recommend
Before filling anything out, use the State Department's current renewal eligibility requirements to make sure DS-82 actually applies to you. Don't assume that having an existing passport automatically means you can renew by mail.
Option 3: Use Form DS-11
You're Not Eligible to Renew by Mail
If you don't qualify to use DS-82, you'll generally need to apply in person using Form DS-11.
You may need to provide:
Form DS-11
Evidence of U.S. citizenship and a photocopy
Your original or certified legal name-change document
Valid identification and a photocopy
One passport photo
The applicable passport fees
If your name changed through marriage and you already have valid identification in your new name, the State Department may not require you to submit separate proof of the name change as long as you include the marriage details requested on Form DS-11.
DS-11 applications are submitted in person at an approved passport acceptance facility.
What I'd Recommend
If you're not sure whether you qualify for DS-82, check the State Department's renewal requirements before making an appointment.
Using the wrong form is one of the easiest ways to create unnecessary delays.
What Documents Can Prove a Legal Name Change?
For most passport name changes, the State Department accepts an original or certified legal document showing the name change.
Common examples include:
Marriage certificate
Divorce decree
Court order
A regular photocopy generally isn't a substitute when the application calls for an original or certified document. Your supporting documents are normally mailed back separately from your new passport, so don't panic if everything doesn't arrive in the same envelope. The State Department says supporting documents can arrive several weeks after the passport itself.
What If I Don't Have a Legal Name-Change Document?
There is a separate process for people who are already using a different name but don't have a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order showing the change. In that situation, you generally need to apply in person with Form DS-11.
Depending on your circumstances, the State Department may also require Form DS-60, Affidavit Regarding a Change of Name. DS-60 must be completed by two people who have known you by both names, and the State Department may require three certified or original public records showing that you've used the new name for at least five years.
Can You Change Your Name on Your Passport Online?
The State Department's standard online passport-renewal system cannot currently be used to change personal information, such as your name. If you're changing the name on your passport, you'll need to follow the appropriate DS-5504, DS-82, or DS-11 process instead.
Be careful with websites advertising online passport name-change services. Use the official U.S. Department of State website to find the current forms and instructions for your situation.
How Much Does It Cost to Change Your Name on a Passport?
The cost depends on which form you're using.
DS-5504
If you qualify for the DS-5504 name-change process, there is no standard passport application fee. Expedited service currently costs an additional $60.
DS-82 or DS-11
If you're using DS-82 or DS-11, you'll pay the normal passport fees that apply to that application.
Rather than duplicating the complete fee table here, I've included the current passport book, passport card, acceptance, renewal, and expedited-service fees in my U.S. Passport Guide.
Passport fees can change, so I also recommend checking the U.S. Department of State's current passport fees before submitting your application.
How Long Does a Passport Name Change Take?
Passport processing times change throughout the year, and mailing time is separate from the time your application spends at a passport agency or center. Because those timelines aren't specific to name changes, I keep the current routine and expedited processing estimates in my U.S. Passport Guide.
Before mailing your passport, check the State Department's current processing times and make sure you have enough time before your next international trip.
If you're traveling soon, pay particular attention to the next section because mailing your current passport means you won't have it available while your application is being processed.
Once you've submitted your application, you can use the State Department's passport application status tool to follow its progress.
What If I Have International Travel Coming Up?
If you mail your current passport with a DS-5504 or DS-82 application, you won't have that passport available to use while your application is being processed. If you're traveling in less than six weeks, the State Department recommends considering expedited service.
If your international travel is much closer, passport agencies can accept urgent travel appointments for travelers departing within 14 calendar days, or within 28 calendar days if a foreign visa is required. Appointments are required, and availability isn't guaranteed.
Do not pay a third party simply to book a passport-agency appointment. The State Department does not charge a fee to schedule those appointments.
Can I Travel Using a Passport in My Previous Name?
A legal name change doesn't necessarily mean that a still-valid U.S. passport in your previous name instantly becomes unusable. U.S. Customs and Border Protection says U.S. citizens who have changed their name may travel using a valid passport in their prior name and should carry documentation showing the progression between the names, such as a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order. CBP also advises travelers to check the entry requirements of their destination and transportation security requirements.
That doesn't mean you should automatically assume every airline, country, or travel situation will work the same way. If you already have flights booked when your name changes, check with your airline and review the requirements for your destination before changing your passport or reservation.
Other Documents to Update After Changing Your Name
Your passport doesn't have to be the very first document you update.
Depending on your situation, you may also need to update things such as:
Social Security record
Driver's license or state ID
Employer and payroll records
Bank and credit-card accounts
Insurance policies
TSA PreCheck or Global Entry information
Airline loyalty accounts
Other travel reservations
The exact order can depend on your state and circumstances.
Changing Your Name With Social Security
Depending on your situation and state, you may be able to request a Social Security name change online. In other situations, you may be able to start the process online and complete it with an appointment at a Social Security office.
If you can't use the online services, Form SS-5 is still available. The SSA generally needs evidence of your identity, your legal name change, and sometimes your citizenship or immigration status.
I would use Social Security's current name-change tool to determine which process applies to you rather than automatically printing Form SS-5.
Common Passport Name-Change Mistakes to Avoid
Using the Wrong Form
Don't choose between DS-5504 and DS-82 based solely on your passport's age. For DS-5504, the State Department looks at both when the passport was issued and when the legal name change occurred.
Sending the Wrong Type of Name-Change Document
If the application requires an original or certified document, don't substitute a normal photocopy unless the official instructions specifically allow it.
Forgetting the Passport Photo
DS-5504, DS-82, and DS-11 name-change applications all generally require a new passport photo. Make sure it meets the State Department's current passport-photo requirements.
Assuming Online Renewal Will Work
Online renewal isn't currently available when you're changing personal information such as your name.
Waiting Until Right Before a Trip
Remember that processing estimates don't include all mailing time. If you know you have international travel coming up, build in more time than the minimum estimate.
Not Checking Your Travel Reservations
If your passport and airline reservation will show different names, don't simply assume it won't matter. Check with the airline and understand what documentation you'll be traveling with before you make changes.
Final Thoughts
Changing the name on your U.S. passport isn't necessarily difficult, but using the correct process matters. Start by answering three questions:
When was your current passport issued?
When was your name legally changed?
Are you eligible to renew your passport by mail?
Those answers will usually determine whether you need DS-5504, DS-82, or DS-11.
From there, gather your name-change documents carefully, verify the current State Department requirements, and make sure you have enough time before your next international trip.
If you need more general passport information, including how to apply for your first passport, renew online or by mail, current fees, processing times, passport cards, urgent travel, and application tracking, head over to my complete U.S. Passport Guide.
Once your new passport arrives, double-check that your name and other information are correct before putting it away for your next adventure.
Make the PTO count. See you out there.
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