Name Change Process in India- 3 Easy Steps
Are you Looking for Name Change, Surname addition/deletion, Religion Change, Gender Change, or Name change after Divorce/Marriage?
Do you want to correct your name and parent’s in your Marksheets or any other documents?
All can be done in 3 Easy Steps:
- Affidavit
- Newspaper Ad Publication
- File Making & Submission
Let’s simplify this with an example:
Imagine Surjit, who is from Delhi, already has a passport where his given name is listed as “Surjit,” and the surname field is left blank. This is because, in all of Surjit’s public and academic documents, he has only ever used the single name “Surjit.”
Now, Surjit wants to add the surname “Gupta” to his passport, but he doesn’t have any documents that include “Gupta” as his surname. However, adding the surname is necessary for him to apply for permanent residency in a country called ABCD.
So, can he still add the surname to his passport?
The answer is YES. Even if none of his ID cards or public documents currently include a surname, he can still add it to his passport.
Few Another Cases:
- A boy named “Pappu Kumar” wants to change his complete name because it makes him feel bad when someone calls him Pappu. He wants to change his name from Pappu Kumar to Kumar. YES, again it is possible. He needs only 2 ID proofs with the old name “Pappu Kumar” and it will be done.
- Ritika is 26 year old girl. Last month she got married to Shubham Pathak. Ritika wants to add “Pathak” as her surname taken from her husband’s name. YES, it is possible.
- Armaan Khan is a Muslim by religion but now he wants to adopt Hinduism and change his name to Armaan Kumar. YES, it is possible.
- Gagan is an employee of XYZ company. He is planning to apply for a fresh passport but there is a mismatch in his name/parents’ name in his all educational documents. He wants to correct his and his parents’ names in his educational documents. YES, it will also be done.
BUT… HOW?
Before knowing the steps, we must learn the documents required to get your complete name change or surname added to your documents:
- 2 ID Proofs with Old name.
Yes, only 2 ID proofs with old name is sufficient to get your name changed or surname added to your passport or other public documents.
These 3 Steps will be Followed
Now let’s learn the whole process. This process will take 30-40 days.
Step 1: Affidavit Preparation
First, you need to create an affidavit and have it notarized on a Rs. 10 stamp paper. This marks the completion of the initial step.
However, if it is the case that the surname you’re adopting isn’t associated with your father’s name, you’ll need to have the same affidavit attested by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of your area to finalize this step.
Step 2: Newspaper Advertisement
Using the notarized affidavit, the next step is to publish a name change advertisement in any newspaper within your state. The content of the ad should be in English.
One advertisement is sufficient to meet this requirement.
Step 3: Name Change File Preparation and Submission
The final and most crucial step involves compiling a name change file, which might require expert assistance. You can seek help from a local lawyer or someone experienced in this process. The file should include the following:
- A request letter
- Two witness forms
- A digital CD with the name change information in a .doc file
- A CD certificate
- A government fee receipt for Rs. 1100
After the file is prepared, you need to submit it to the Controller of Publications office in Civil Lines, Delhi. Once submitted, your name change notification will be issued within 3-4 weeks.
After receiving the notification, you can get your new name updated in your public documents like Aadhar Card, PAN Card, Passport etc..
What is the Cost?
What Are the Costs Involved? A Common Query Answered:
Affidavit: The cost for this step includes Rs. 10 for the stamp paper and Rs. 50 for notarization.
Newspaper Advertisement: Expect to pay approximately Rs. 1000 for the ad, though this amount can vary depending on your location and the newspaper chosen.
File Preparation: If you seek assistance from an expert, their fees generally range between Rs. 2500 and Rs. 4500.
Government Fee: A fee of Rs. 1100 is required for complete name change or Surname addition. If you need correction in documents then the fees will be Rs 1400. If the case is of minor child then the Govt. publication fees is Rs. 1700.
In total, the estimated cost for the entire process falls between Rs. 4700 and Rs. 5000.
(Please note that these figures are estimates and provided for educational purposes to help those seeking a general idea of the costs involved.)
Need Our Help?
Our Fees: Rs.3500 Only (For complete file drafting as per your case + CD Matter + Newspaper Ad).
We will make your file and send it to you over email or via Courier.
Note: Other than our Fees, you need to pay an additional fee of Rs.1100 while submitting your file to the department office. Publication fees varies according to your case and matter.
Our Office Address:
We provide our services in PAN India. We make files and send them to you via courier. We are in tie-ups with Newspaper Ad agencies which help us to give Newspaper Ad in All India.
If you want to Visit us Physically, our office address is:
ChangeMyName, Office No. 158, Ground Floor,
Opposite Improvement Trust Colony,
Near Bus Stand, Moga, Punjab-142001