Passport Name Change Supporting Documents List (2026)

To change the name on a U.S. passport, you must submit an original or certified copy of a legal name-change document — such as a marriage certificate, divorce decree, court order, amended birth certificate, certificate of naturalization, or adoption decree — along with the correct application form. Per State Department policy, that document must explicitly link your old name to your new one, and it must carry an official seal and the issuing official’s signature. Uncertified photocopies are not accepted.

Your next step depends on when your current passport was issued:

• Name changed within a year of issuance: Use Form DS-5504 and mail it with your original or certified name-change document.
• Name changed more than one year after issuance (and you meet renewal criteria): Use Form DS-82 and mail your application.
• You do not meet mail-in criteria or lack citizenship evidence in your new name: Use Form DS-11 and apply in person.

Submission route at a glance:

• Travel within 3 days or a family emergency: visit a regional passport agency in person.
• Travel in 2 days to 4 weeks: use a courier or expediting service.
• Travel 4+ weeks out: mail your application via USPS.

Table of Contents

• Which DS form do you qualify for?
• What documents are accepted for a passport name change?
• Certification requirements and why applications get rejected
• Passport photo specs, ID, and other materials to include
• How to submit: mail, regional agency, or courier?
• Your pre-submission checklist and what to look for on documents
• Key Takeaways
• The document detail most applicants overlook
• Fast Passport Center handles name-change applications when time matters
• Useful sources and State Department form links
• FAQ

Which DS form do you qualify for?

The form you use determines whether you can mail your application or must appear in person. Getting this wrong adds weeks to your timeline.

A few eligibility points worth knowing before you fill anything out:

• DS-5504 requires that your passport still be in your possession. If it was lost or stolen, you cannot use this form.
• DS-82 is only available by mail. You cannot complete a passport name change entirely online because the process requires submitting physical original or certified documents.
• DS-11 covers a broader range of situations, including applicants who are changing their name but cannot show citizenship evidence already in the new name.
• Form DS-60 is the affidavit path for people already using a name without a formal legal document to prove the transition. It is not a shortcut; it requires substantial supporting evidence.

What documents are accepted for a passport name change?

The State Department’s 8 FAM 403.1 policy is clear: a name-change document must document the link between your former name and your new name. A document that shows only your new name is not sufficient on its own.

Accepted name-change documents:

• Certified marriage certificate — issued by the county clerk or state vital records office, bearing an official seal and registrar’s signature. A church-issued or commemorative certificate does not qualify.
• Certified divorce decree showing name restoration — the court order must explicitly state that your former name is restored. Not all divorce decrees include this language; check yours before applying.
• Court order for name change — the full court decree, certified by the clerk of court, showing both your former name and your new name. This is the standard document for a legal name change outside of marriage or divorce.
• Amended birth certificate — a reissued birth certificate from the state vital records office reflecting the new name; must carry the official seal.
• Certificate of naturalization showing new name — issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) when a name change was granted at naturalization.
• Adoption decree — a certified copy from the court showing both the former and adopted name.
• State name-change record — any official state-issued record documenting the legal name change, certified by the issuing authority.

What “certified” actually means:

A certified copy is not a photocopy you make at home and stamp with a notary seal. It is a copy produced and authenticated by the issuing office — the county vital records office, the clerk of court, or the relevant state agency — bearing a raised or color-printed official seal and the signature of the issuing official. Notarized photocopies are not accepted by the State Department.

Common non-examples that cause rejections:

• Hospital-issued birth announcements or souvenir birth certificates without a state seal.
• Marriage certificates printed from an online genealogy database.
• Divorce decrees that do not include a name-restoration clause.
• Any photocopy, even one that looks official, without the issuing office’s original certification.

Foreign-language documents: If your name-change document is in a language other than English, you must include a complete English translation. The translation must be accompanied by a certification from the translator stating their competence and the accuracy of the translation. For certified translation services, CF Legal Doc Prep handles State Department-compliant translations.

Pro Tip: Before you mail anything, open the document flat and confirm it shows both your former name and your new name in the body of the text. A marriage certificate that lists only your new name as the married name, without referencing your maiden name, may trigger a request for additional evidence.

Certification requirements and why applications get rejected

The State Department requires originals or certified copies with a visible official seal and the issuing official’s signature. That standard is consistent across every document type on the accepted list.

Where to get certified copies:

• Marriage certificates: county clerk’s office or state vital records office.
• Divorce decrees and court orders: clerk of court in the jurisdiction where the case was filed.
• Birth certificates: state vital records office.
• Naturalization certificates: USCIS (for replacement) or present the original.

Request certified copies directly from the issuing office. Third-party “certified copy” stamps from local notaries are not accepted by the State Department, even when they appear official.

Common reasons name-change applications are rejected:

• The document shows only the new name without referencing the former name, violating the 8 FAM 403.1 linkage requirement.
• A photocopy was submitted instead of an original or certified copy.
• The seal is missing, obscured, or appears to be a photocopy of a seal rather than an embossed or printed original.
• The issuing official’s signature is absent.
• A commemorative or souvenir certificate was submitted instead of an official government-issued document.
• The divorce decree does not include a name-restoration clause.

Quick pre-submission check:

• Does the document show both your former name and your new name?
• Is there a visible official seal from the issuing government office?
• Is there a handwritten or printed signature from the registrar, judge, or clerk?
• Is this a certified copy from the issuing office, not a photocopy you made yourself?

Pro Tip: If you are unsure whether your document meets the certification standard, contact the issuing office and ask for a “certified copy for federal government purposes.” That phrasing signals to the clerk exactly what you need.

Passport photo specs, ID, and other materials to include

A name-change application is more than just the legal document. Missing any of the following items will delay your application just as surely as a rejected certificate.

Passport photo requirements:

• Two identical photos, 2×2 inches, color, taken within the last six months.
• Plain white or off-white background; no glasses or headwear (with limited religious exceptions).
• Your face must be centered and fully visible, with a neutral expression.
• DS-5504 and DS-82 each require two photos; DS-11 also requires two photos.

ID requirements:

• When applying in person with DS-11, bring a valid government-issued photo ID in your current name — a driver’s license or state ID is standard. You must also bring a photocopy of the front and back of that ID.
• When mailing DS-82 or DS-5504, include a photocopy of your ID (front and back) on a single page.

Other materials to include:

• Your most recent U.S. passport (required for DS-5504 and DS-82; bring it for DS-11 as well if you have it).
• The correct application fee. Government fees are paid separately from any courier or expediting service fees; check travel.state.gov for current amounts.
• A prepaid return envelope if your acceptance facility or instructions require one.

About returned originals: The State Department returns original supporting documents separately from your passport, via First Class Mail. Your passport may arrive first; originals can follow weeks later. Plan accordingly — do not submit the only copy of a document you need for another purpose in the near term.

When mailing originals, use a trackable shipping method such as USPS Priority Mail with tracking. Keep the tracking number until every document is returned.

How to submit: mail, regional agency, or courier?

Your travel timeline is the deciding factor. Choose the wrong route and you may miss your departure.

Regional passport agencies require an appointment and proof of imminent travel. For most travelers in cities like Tampa, Charlotte, Sacramento, Nashville, and Louisville, the nearest agency may be two or more hours away. That distance makes a courier service the practical choice for any timeline shorter than four weeks.

Fast Passport Center operates as a U.S. State Department-registered passport courier with drop-off offices in 24 cities. For name-change applications, the service includes document review, secure hand-delivery to regional passport agencies, and real-time order tracking. If you are weighing your options, the passport expeditor vs. passport agency comparison lays out the tradeoffs clearly.

Packaging your originals for mail or courier drop-off:

• Place documents flat in a rigid envelope or between cardboard backing to prevent folding.
• Use USPS Priority Mail Express or Priority Mail with tracking for mailed applications.
• Keep a copy of every document you submit, including the completed form.
• Write your return address clearly on every item inside the envelope, not just on the outside.

Pro Tip: Never fold a certified document to fit a standard envelope. Creases across a seal or signature can make a document appear altered. Use a flat 9×12 envelope instead.

Your pre-submission checklist and what to look for on documents

Use this checklist before you mail or drop off your application. Every item should be confirmed before the envelope is sealed.

Application checklist:

• Correct DS form completed and signed (DS-5504, DS-82, or DS-11).
• Original or certified name-change document with official seal and issuing official’s signature.
• Document explicitly shows both former name and new name.
• Two passport photos (2×2 inches, color, plain background, no glasses).
• Photocopy of valid government-issued photo ID (front and back on one page).
• Most recent U.S. passport included (if applicable to your form).
• Correct government fee payment enclosed or submitted.
• Trackable return shipping arranged.
• If foreign-language document: certified English translation attached.
• If using DS-60: two completed witness affidavits and three public records showing 5+ years of name use.

Sample wording that confirms name linkage on your document:

Look for phrases such as “formerly known as [former name],” “the name [former name] is hereby changed to [new name],” or “petitioner’s name shall be changed from [former name] to [new name].” A marriage certificate should list your maiden name as your name at the time of the marriage and your married name as the name you are taking. If none of that language appears, the document may not satisfy the State Department’s linkage requirement.

For translations: Attach the certified translation immediately behind the original document. Include the translator’s signed certification statement. Mark the outside of your envelope with “Contains Original Documents — Return to Sender” so the processing office knows to return them.

Key Takeaways

Changing your name on a U.S. passport requires an original or certified legal document that explicitly links your former name to your new name, submitted with the correct DS form based on your timeline and eligibility.

The document detail most applicants overlook

There is one mistake that shows up in name-change rejections more than any other, and it has nothing to do with filling out the form incorrectly. It is submitting a document that shows only the new name.

A marriage certificate that lists your married name without referencing your maiden name in the body of the document does not satisfy the State Department’s linkage requirement under 8 FAM 403.1. A court order that was issued after a confidential name-change proceeding may have the former name redacted. A divorce decree may restore a former name but omit it from the section the clerk certified. These are not edge cases. They are the documents that come back with a request for additional evidence, adding weeks to a timeline that may already be tight.

The fix is simple but requires attention before you apply: read the document as the State Department will read it. Does a stranger, seeing only this document, know what name you used before and what name you are using now? If the answer is no, obtain a corrected or supplemental document from the issuing office before you submit.

For applicants dealing with confidential court orders, such as those issued under Safe at Home address confidentiality programs, the State Department does have protocols to protect that confidentiality while still verifying identity. Contact a regional passport agency or a registered expeditor for guidance on secure handling in those cases.

For travelers who live far from a passport agency, the courier route is not just convenient. It is often the only realistic option when a trip is two to four weeks out and the standard mail queue is too slow.

Fast Passport Center handles name-change applications when time matters

When your travel window is two to four weeks out and the nearest regional passport agency is hours away, the standard mail route carries real risk. Fast Passport Center is a U.S. State Department-registered passport courier with over 20 years of experience and drop-off offices in 24 cities, including locations serving travelers in Tampa, Charlotte, Sacramento, Nashville, and Louisville.

For name-change applications, Fast Passport Center provides a document review before submission, secure hand-delivery of your original certified documents directly to a regional passport agency, and real-time order tracking so you always know where your application stands. The service covers the full process: form assistance, document handling, and guaranteed faster processing than standard USPS mail. Government fees are paid separately; the service fee covers the courier and expediting work.

If your passport name change is urgent, start your application with Fast Passport Center or visit fastpassportcenter.com to review your options and get a document pre-check before you submit.

Useful sources and State Department form links

The following official resources are where you should download forms and verify current requirements directly:

• Change or Correct a Passport – Travel – State Department
• DS-5504 – Application for a U.S. Passport for Eligible Individuals
• 8 FAM 403.1 Name usage and name changes
• Renew Your Passport by Mail – Travel.State.Gov
• DS-82 – U.S. Passport Renewal Application for Eligible Individuals
• DS-11 – Application for a U.S. Passport

For certified copies, contact your state vital records office (for birth certificates and marriage certificates) or the clerk of court in the jurisdiction where your case was filed (for court orders and divorce decrees). If your name-change document is in a foreign language, you will need a certified English translation; CF Legal Doc Prep provides State Department-compliant translation and certification services.

For form downloads, document checklists, and a pre-submission document review, visit the Fast Passport Center forms and documents page.

FAQ

What documents do I need to change my name on a U.S. passport?

You need an original or certified copy of a legal name-change document — such as a marriage certificate, divorce decree, court order, amended birth certificate, certificate of naturalization, or adoption decree — that explicitly shows both your former name and your new name, along with the correct DS form, two passport photos, and a valid photo ID.

Does my name-change document have to show both my old and new names?

Yes. Per State Department policy under 8 FAM 403.1, the document must link your former name to your new name. A document showing only your new name will typically be rejected or trigger a request for additional evidence.

What if I don’t have a certified legal document for my name change?

Apply in person using Form DS-11 and complete Form DS-60, which requires two witnesses who have known you by both names and three certified or original public records demonstrating at least five years of use of your new name.

Can I change my name on a passport entirely online?

No. The process requires submitting physical original or certified documents, either by mail or in person. Online renewal does not accommodate name changes because originals cannot be uploaded digitally.

How long does it take to get a passport after a name change?

Processing times vary by submission route. Standard mail processing can take several weeks; expedited government processing is faster. For travel within two to four weeks, a courier service such as Fast Passport Center can hand-deliver your application to a regional passport agency and significantly reduce the wait.

Recommended

• Passport Name Change & Data Correction — Form DS-5504 | Fast Passport Center
• Passport Renewal – Fast Passport Center
• Forms-and-Documents – Fast Passport Center
• New Passport – Fast Passport Center