Which Annexure Required for Name Change on Passport

Changing your name in an Indian passport means you must apply for reissue with full proof of identity update. If the change is due to marriage, divorce, or a legal decision, passport officers ask for official documents that support the reason. One of the most used documents is an affidavit called Annexure E.

Annexure E is required for any full name change or surname removal in the passport. It is used in legal name updates, divorce name reverts, or cases without marriage certificates. Knowing which annexure required for name change on passport depends on what changed and why.

This post explains when you need Annexure E, and why it matters for reissue approval at the Passport Seva Kendra.

What is an Annexure in Name Change on Passport

An annexure is an official affidavit used to support your name change in the passport. It is a signed legal declaration that confirms the new name you want on your passport.

Each annexure has a fixed use. Annexure E is used for general name changes or going back to a maiden name after divorce. Annexure J is used if you are adding your spouse’s name and do not have a marriage certificate.

These papers must be printed on stamp paper, signed in front of a notary or magistrate, and submitted with your passport form. The passport office uses them to check that your new name is legally valid.

Annexures are official documents. Without the right one, your name change request may be delayed or rejected.

When Annexures Are Required for Name Change

Annexures are not always needed in passport name change cases. If your name change is simple and backed by official papers like a marriage certificate, the process may not ask for extra affidavits. But if certain documents are missing or the change is more than just a surname, then specific annexures are mandatory.

You must submit an annexure if your name change falls under any of these cases:

• No marriage certificate available
• Full name changed after marriage
• Reverting to maiden name after divorce
• Adding or removing spouse name
• No Gazette or newspaper proof submitted
• Major spelling change in first or last name
• Male applicant changing name due to marriage
• Change based on remarriage or spouse’s death
• No identity proof in new name yet
• Minor applying with single-parent declaration

In all these cases, annexures like Annexure E, J, or C become part of the passport reissue file. They act as legal support when your primary documents are not enough or do not clearly explain the name update. Each annexure follows a fixed format and must match your reason for name change. Carry it signed, stamped, and in original.

Annexure E for Name Change in Passport

Annexure E is a legal affidavit written on stamp paper to confirm your new name for passport purposes. It works as a declaration to stop using your old name and start using your new one in all personal, travel, and ID records.

This affidavit, often called a deed poll, is signed by the person applying for the name change. It is the most important supporting document used by the Ministry of External Affairs when your passport needs to be reissued with a different name.

This affidavit gives legal weight to your name update, making it valid for the Passport Seva Kendra to accept your reissue request.

When You Must Use Annexure E

You do not need Annexure E for every update. But if you are changing your actual name—not just adding a spouse’s name, you will likely need it. Below are the most common cases:

• Full name change not related to marriage
• Switching back to maiden name after divorce
• Adopting new surname after remarriage
• No marriage certificate but spouse surname added
• Change in spelling that changes how name sounds
• Legal name change for religious conversion
• Gender transition with a name update

Every case listed above requires this affidavit to be created and submitted during your reissue application.

Annexure E Format and Execution

Write Annexure E on non-judicial stamp paper. It must follow a strict format.

Inside the affidavit:

• Declare your old name and the new name
• Write that you give up the old name completely
• Confirm you will sign the new name from today
• Ask everyone to call you by the new name
• Sign at the bottom using both names

Now comes attestation. This affidavit must be signed in front of one of the following:

• Judicial Magistrate
• Executive Magistrate
• Notary Public (inside India)
• Indian Consulate Officer (outside India)

Even though self-declaration is allowed in some annexures, this one should always be notarized or attested. It carries legal weight. That is why even Indian embassies require you to sign Annexure E in front of their officer, or get it notarized before submission.

Use clear handwriting or typed format. Print on white paper. If in doubt, ask at your nearest PSK for the current format they follow.

Supporting Documents Needed with Annexure E

This affidavit must be supported by real-world proofs. Below are key add-ons:

• Name change ad in two newspapers
• Gazette copy if ad is not available
• Aadhaar card or PAN with new name
• Divorce decree (if name dropped post-divorce)
• Marriage certificate or joint affidavit (if married again)

If the name is already updated in Aadhaar or PAN, attach those too. They help verify that you are using the new name consistently in your daily documents.

For remarriage-based change, attach both marriage and divorce documents.

Sample Use Cases for Annexure E

Annexure E is not for casual corrections. It is meant for real identity shifts where a person stops using their old name and formally moves to a new one. Below are the most common passport situations where this affidavit is mandatory. Each point reflects how actual Indian applicants use this format at Passport Seva Kendras.

Man changes full name after religious conversion

Example: Ramesh Iyer becomes Rahim Ali. No marriage link. A complete legal identity change. Needs Annexure E + newspaper ads + updated Aadhaar or PAN.

Woman reverts to maiden name after divorce

Priya Verma drops her married surname and resumes her father’s surname. Must carry divorce decree, Annexure E, and IDs with maiden name (if updated).

Spelling change that alters the name’s sound

Rajeshwar becomes Rajesh. Shilpaah becomes Shilpa. These are not typos. Since the pronunciation is affected, the Passport Office treats this as a name change. Annexure E is required.

Adoption of surname after second marriage

After remarrying, Sunita Rao becomes Sunita Sinha. No Gazette published. No joint affidavit. Only Annexure E can legally declare the new surname.

Male applicant updates full name across all IDs

Harish Gopal wants to be known as Harsh Vaidya in all government records. No marriage involved. Needs full set: Annexure E + Gazette copy + updated PAN and Aadhaar.

Name changed through court declaration or public notice

Name change due to gender transition, religious identity change, or safety concerns. These are high-scrutiny changes. Must attach Annexure E, plus Gazette or court order.

Final tip: If your name in Aadhaar or PAN has already been updated to the new one, carry those too. It makes the verification faster.

Difference Between Annexure E and Other Annexures

Some people confuse Annexure E with other passport affidavits. But these annexures serve different roles. Annexure E is for full name change. Others like Annexure J, F, D, or C are tied to specific cases like marriage, Tatkal, or minors.

Below we break down each one, clearly showing how it’s different from Annexure E and when it should actually be used.

Annexure J for Married Name Without Certificate

This is a mutual affidavit. Both husband and wife sign it together. It’s a replacement only when you don’t have a registered marriage certificate.

You use Annexure J when your name update is based only on marriage. It helps you add a spouse’s name or surname to the passport. It does not prove a full legal name change or stand alone in complex reissue cases.

Unlike Annexure E, you won’t need to publish newspaper ads or make a Gazette entry with this. It’s a simple confirmation of marriage between two people.

Use Annexure J when:

• No marriage certificate is available
• You’re just adding spouse name, not changing full name
• You want a simpler affidavit signed by both

Annexure F for Urgent Tatkal Identity Check

Annexure F is not an affidavit. It’s a certificate signed by a government officer. This one is meant only for Tatkal processing.

It helps speed up your application if police verification is skipped. The officer confirms your identity, current job, and clean record.

There is no name change info in this document. So you can’t use it to update your surname, first name, or anything else in the passport.

Do not use Annexure F if:

• You’re applying for normal reissue
• You’re changing name after marriage or divorce
• You’re only updating spouse field

Use it only when:

• You are eligible for Tatkal
• Officer agrees to verify and signs on letterhead

Annexure D (Now Replaced by J)

This form was once used for marital declarations. That time is over.

Annexure D is no longer accepted at Passport Seva Kendras or consulates. It has been fully replaced by Annexure J for cases where a couple needs to confirm marriage without a certificate.

If someone hands you Annexure D today — like an old agent or online form site — don’t use it. Your application may get delayed or rejected.

Right action now:

• Always choose Annexure J for marital affidavits
• Never submit Annexure D — it is obsolete

Annexure C for Minor Applications by One Parent

This annexure is designed for children, not adults.

You use Annexure C when only one parent is signing for a minor’s passport — maybe due to divorce, separation, or if the other parent is abroad.

It includes a declaration of consent by the available parent and clarifies legal responsibility.

It is not used for name change affidavits or for any adult passport reissue.

Use Annexure C when:

• You’re a single parent applying for child
• One parent cannot appear in person
• The minor’s name or details are being changed

When You Do Not Need Any Annexure

You do not always need to attach an annexure when updating your name in the passport. If your reason is clear and documents are strong, the Passport Seva Kendra will accept your application without extra affidavits.

Annexures are skipped when the core proof already shows the name change.

Cases where no annexure is needed:

• You are only adding your spouse’s name
• Your marriage certificate has both your full names
•  You have a divorce decree and just want to drop surname
• Your Aadhaar or PAN already shows the new name
• You made a small correction and the birth record matches
• You are applying fresh with the updated name in all IDs

If your official document explains the change, that’s enough. No need to write a separate affidavit. Just bring your certificate, updated ID, and the standard documents for passport reissue.

Mistakes to Avoid While Submitting Annexure E

Even a small error in your Annexure E can delay your passport. This affidavit is treated as a legal document, not just a form. Officials at Passport Seva Kendra or Indian Missions check every detail before accepting it. Below are common reasons Annexure E gets rejected or flagged for correction.

• Using plain paper instead of stamp paper
• No attestation by notary or magistrate
• Applicant forgot to sign the affidavit
• Missing witness signatures at the bottom
• Submitted without newspaper or Gazette proof
• Submitted even though marriage certificate is accepted
• Divorce or marriage proof not attached with form
• Spelling errors or mismatched names in affidavit

Always review your affidavit line by line before visiting the PSK. Each entry, stamp, and signature must be present and readable. If one detail is off, your application may be held back or cancelled.

Final Takeaway

Annexure E is used when your name has changed in a legal, personal, or post-divorce context and must be updated officially in your passport. It confirms your new name, explains why it changed, and proves the update with supporting documents like newspaper ads or divorce orders.

So, if you’re still unsure which annexure required for name change on passport, check whether you’re only adding a spouse name or actually replacing your own.