How to Change Name on Passport in India: Process and Documents Required

You open the passport. The name is wrong. Maybe a missing letter. Maybe the surname changed after marriage. If any detail is incorrect or if your name has legally changed, the passport must be updated before travel or visa work begins. A mismatch between Aadhaar and passport can delay police verification or hold the file during printing at the RPO.

If the name is wrong, apply for passport name correction through reissue. This can be done online or offline. The online method needs a working passport Seva login, filled application form with updated name, and scanned proof like marriage certificate, divorce decree, or Gazette notification. For most people, passport name correction online is faster, but only when all documents match Aadhaar, PAN, and address records.

Visit the Passport Seva Kendra on your scheduled PSK appointment date with the fee receipt and original documents. If the name change is major, you must carry an affidavit for passport. In some cases, Annexure D is also needed, especially for minors. Police check is required in most reissue cases. If the police clears it early, the Regional Passport Office will begin printing. If there is a name mismatch, the RPO may hold the file.

This blog explains how to change name on passport, what documents are needed, how to avoid rejection, what slows the process, when police verification or affidavit is required, and how long it takes to receive the updated passport.

Why Do You Need to Change Name in Passport

If your Aadhaar and PAN have one spelling, and your passport shows another, the file may get stuck. A name mismatch in passport and Aadhaar can pause police verification or delay final print at the Regional Passport Office. Some files even go back for recheck without warning. If you need visa stamping, airline checks, or international travel, all IDs must match.

A surname update in passport after marriage or divorce always needs correction. In most cases, PSK accepts it with a marriage certificate or divorce decree, but you still need to reissue your passport with an updated name.

If the change is legal or for personal reasons, Gazette of India print is compulsory. The Gazette notification for name change must match the Aadhaar card, or the application may go into hold.

For spelling errors or minor changes, PSK may allow direct correction, but only with the correct affidavit for passport. If the change is major, Annexure E or F must be attached. For minors, Annexure D is standard. The Ministry of External Affairs marks each reissue with a new file under your Application Reference Number (ARN), so everything must match exactly from name to date of birth.

Old passports with incorrect names are not accepted once Aadhaar or PAN shows a different record. This is why passport name correction is not optional. If there is a change of name in passport for personal reasons or after marriage, update it. Without that, RPO will not move the file to print.

When to apply for passport name correction

Passport reissue is needed when the name on your document does not match your Aadhaar Card, PAN Card, or legal identity records. Even a small spelling mistake or surname change can trigger a file hold at Passport Seva Kendra. If a Gazette copy or affidavit for passport is missing, the file may not move at Regional Passport Office. Any name correction, including father name or minor spelling, needs reissue with correct documents and Application Reference Number.

Apply for name correction in these cases:

• Name changed in passport after marriage
• Surname removed after legal divorce decree
• Aadhaar and passport name mismatch found
• Father name printed wrong in passport
• PAN and passport names not matching
• Gazette issued for personal name update
• Spelling mistake in passport given name
• RPO held file due to mismatch proof
• Reissue required after official Gazette change
• Name format not matching PAN card
• Minor using Annexure D for correction

Apply only when the name printed in your passport does not match your ID proofs, legal records, or current documents.

How to change name on passport online

Start the passport name correction online only if your Aadhaar Card, PAN, and other ID proofs already show the new name. If even one of them does not match, your file will likely get stuck at the Regional Passport Office. Open the Passport Seva portal and start only when your details are clean across documents. Once you submit the correction request, you get an Application Reference Number to track your file.

Step 1. Login using the Passport Seva portal

Make an account or use your old one. Go directly to the official website.

Step 2. Pick reissue and choose name correction

Click reissue. Then tick “Change in Existing Personal Particulars.” Enter the updated name. No extra space.

Step 3. Fill the form using Aadhaar name

Type what name is printed on the Aadhaar card exactly. Not what you use casually. Name mismatch leads to hold at PSK.

Step 4. Upload all supporting documents one by one

Use scanned Aadhaar, PAN, marriage certificate, or Gazette of India. Include an affidavit for your passport if your reason is not marriage. Files must be sharp and in PDF or JPEG.

Step 5. Pay passport fee online without delay

Use SBI gateway or any working card. Fee depends on booklet type. Save the receipt immediately.

Step 6. Book your PSK appointment early

Pick the nearest Passport Seva Kendra. Avoid late slots. Morning hours move faster. Dates vanish quickly.

Step 7. Carry all originals to PSK

Print your ARN receipt. Carry original documents and self-attested copies. No document, no processing.

Step 8. Finish biometrics and verification at PSK

You will be photographed. Fingerprint taken. Documents checked. If names mismatch, it goes to RPO for secondary check.

Step 9. Track your status using ARN

Use your Application Reference Number on the Passport Seva site. If under review, wait. If in print, the passport usually comes in 5 to 10 days.

How to change name on passport offline

The offline method for passport name correction is required when your name change is not linked to marriage or divorce alone. This applies in legal updates, identity mismatch cases, or full name restructuring.

You must prepare a valid affidavit for passport name change, publish ads in two newspapers, and submit a printed Gazette notification from the Gazette of India. These are mandatory when the Ministry of External Affairs treats it as a legal identity change.

Step 1. Write and notarise the affidavit

Use stamp paper. Mention both names clearly. Add your reason. Get it signed and sealed.

Step 2. Publish your name in two newspapers

One ad in a local daily. One in a national paper. Same format. Full name. Original cuttings only.

Step 3. Apply for Gazette publication

Submit an affidavit and both ads to the Gazette of India. Wait for your name to be printed in the official list. Keep that copy safe.

Step 4. Fill out the passport correction form

Use the printed reissue form. Tick the box for Change in Existing Personal Particulars. Fill the new name exactly as per Gazette.

Step 5. Visit your nearest Passport Seva Kendra

Carry Aadhaar Card, PAN Card, marriage certificate or divorce decree (if relevant), Gazette, affidavit, and both ads. Originals and copies, all signed.

Step 6. Submit all documents at PSK

No online upload. Hand it over at the counter. If anything looks off, the file moves to RPO for extra check.

Step 7. Take your ARN receipt

Your Application Reference Number will be printed after they log your file. This is what you’ll use to track it later.

Step 8. Wait for police verification and approval

Offline corrections usually call for police verification. If documents are clean and matching, printing begins in 10 to 15 working days.

Documents Required For Name Change in Passport

The documents required for change of name in passport depend on the reason. If you are applying online or offline, all identity proofs must match. Any mismatch delays file processing at Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) or triggers hold at Regional Passport Office (RPO). Below is the clean list based on what applies to your case.

List of Required Documents

• Aadhaar Card (For all correction cases)
• PAN Card (For ID and DOB verification)
• Affidavit format for passport (For legal updates)
• Gazette notification (For official name change cases)
• Marriage Certificate (For surname update after marriage)
• Divorce Decree (For surname removal after divorce)
• Newspaper advertisement (For Gazette-linked correction)
• Death Certificate of spouse (For remarriage updates)
• Old passport copy (For reference and reissue)
• Application Reference Number print (For PSK submission)

Name Change After Marriage

• Self-attested Aadhaar Card
• Marriage Certificate
• PAN Card copy
• Husband passport copy (if name is matched)

Name Change After Divorce

• Divorce Decree (court-certified)
• Affidavit format for passport
• Aadhaar with updated name
• PAN Card

Name Change After Remarriage

• Marriage Certificate
• Divorce Decree or Death Certificate of ex-spouse
• Gazette notification (if surname fully changed)
• PAN Card or Aadhaar Card

Legal Name Change With Gazette

• Notarised Affidavit
• Newspaper advertisements (two different papers)
• Printed Gazette notification
• Aadhaar and PAN with updated name

For Minor Name Correction

• Annexure D with both parents signatures
• Minor’s Birth Certificate
• Aadhaar (if issued)
• Marriage Certificate (if surname is updated due to parent name)

All these documents are verified at the Passport Seva Kendra. Any mismatch during biometric check may push your file to the Regional Passport Office. Police verification can be delayed if even one document is missing or unclear. Always double-check the name on each ID before submission.

Fee for Name Correction on Passport

Updating the name in your passport means a new booklet must be printed. The fee is the same as reissuing a passport. This cost depends on the booklet size and whether you choose normal or Tatkal service.

Below is the actual fee for name correction on passport, as per current charges under the Passport Seva portal.

The passport reissue cost is fixed and must be paid in full. Tatkal only speeds up processing if police verification is already clear. You can pay these charges directly on the Passport Seva online portal using SBI gateway or any bank card. Keep the receipt to show at your Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) during your appointment.

How Long Does it Take to Change Name in Passport

The time to update your name in a passport depends on how fast your file clears verification at the Regional Passport Office. Normal applications take about 25 to 35 working days if police verification and document checks are completed without delay.

In Tatkal applications, the average time is 7 to 10 days, but only if your earlier Police Verification Report is valid. If there is any mismatch in Aadhaar or PAN, or if your file gets flagged at the Passport Seva Kendra, it can delay the reissue.

After approval, passport printing usually begins within 48 hours. Once printed, delivery takes 5 to 7 working days. You can track progress using your Application Reference Number (ARN) on the Passport Seva portal.

Delays mostly happen when uploaded documents like Gazette notification, affidavit for passport, or address proof are unclear or mismatched. If the RPO finds even one mismatch, the file may go under hold for manual review.

How to track passport after name change submission

After submission, you get an Application Reference Number (ARN). This number is used to track your file on the Passport Seva portal. You can enter it on the status check page to see real-time updates.

If the status says under review, your documents are still being verified by the Regional Passport Office (RPO). This usually includes checking Aadhaar, PAN, and your affidavit or Gazette notification. Once cleared, the file moves to printing in progress.

Next, the status changes to passport dispatched. Delivery usually takes 5 to 7 working days. You can track the parcel through the India Post tracking link shown in the final ARN status update. If the system shows no update for more than 7 days, it often means police verification is pending.

Always recheck the spelling of your ARN when logging in. If even one character is wrong, the portal shows no result. Once dispatch is confirmed, keep your ID ready for delivery.

What to do if name in Aadhaar does not match passport

If the name in Aadhaar does not match the passport, your file may stop at verification. Even one missing letter or extra space can hold the Application Reference Number (ARN) under review at the Regional Passport Office (RPO). This mismatch triggers document recheck or police verification delays. The correction must be done before booking your Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) appointment.

When Aadhaar and passport name mismatch affects reissue

• Name spelling format is not matching
• Surname missing in Aadhaar document
• Initials used instead of full first name
• PAN Card shows name with full expansion
• Aadhaar not updated after marriage change
• Gazette submitted but Aadhaar still old
• Affidavit accepted but Aadhaar rejected
• PSK flagged name variation in biometrics

You should update Aadhaar first if the spelling is outdated or different from your passport correction form. The UIDAI portal allows online changes if you have the correct proof. Once Aadhaar, PAN, and affidavit all match, the file clears at PSK without hold. Always double-check before uploading or the name correction request can be delayed by 15 to 30 days at the RPO.

Mistakes to Avoid During Passport Name Correction

Even small mistakes in the passport name correction form can delay printing or lead to full rejection. If your uploaded name does not match Aadhaar, PAN, or Gazette notification, the file goes on hold at the Regional Passport Office (RPO). Every document must match, and every step must be complete before booking your PSK appointment.

• Using initials or short form in name
• Booking PSK slot before upload check
• Skipping affidavit for legal name change
• Submitting expired Gazette copy by mistake
• PAN and Aadhaar not showing same spelling
• Uploading unreadable scanned PDF or JPEG
• Leaving blank fields in passport correction form
• Signing documents with mismatched full name
• Wrong document format on Passport Seva portal
• Applying online without Gazette when required

If the RPO finds even one spelling mismatch, the file is sent back for manual recheck or police verification. Always match your name across all ID proofs before applying. Once rejected, the same ARN cannot be reused.

FAQ’s

Can I apply for passport name correction without supporting documents?

No. Every name change must be backed by proof. Missing affidavit or Gazette gets the file rejected at PSK level.

Is it mandatory to change passport after updating your name in Aadhaar?

Not mandatory, but recommended. If Aadhaar and passport do not match, RPO can delay dispatch during reissue.

What happens if passport and voter ID have different names?

RPO checks Aadhaar and PAN first. Voter ID mismatch usually does not affect passport unless address or surname conflicts.

Can I update only my surname in the passport?

Yes, if your proof supports it. Marriage certificate, divorce decree, or Gazette must clearly show a new surname.

Will passport name correction affect my valid visa?

Yes. Visa linked to an old passport becomes invalid. After correction, you must apply for a new visa with updated details.

Do minors need police verification after name change in passport?

Usually yes. If Annexure D and birth certificate are valid, police visit may be waived but still depends on RPO approval.

Is Annexure F required for father name correction?

Yes. Annexure F is mandatory if father name correction is not linked to Aadhaar or legal affidavit.

Can I update name in my passport if married abroad?

Yes. Foreign marriage certificate must be attested or apostilled. Only then PSK accepts it for reissue request.

How many times can I apply for name correction in passport?

No fixed limit, but repeated applications get flagged. RPO may hold ARN if multiple files show different details.

Can passport name correction be done from a different city?

Yes. Choose a PSK in your current city. But carry address proof that matches local PIN or the file may go on hold.

Conclusion

Now you know how to change name on passport without missing any step or document. Whether you apply online or offline, make sure your IDs match and your file is complete before booking PSK. A clean application saves time and avoids rejection.