Changing the Name on Your UK Passport After Marriage
A UK passport can't be amended — a name change means a new passport, at the normal fee, with your marriage certificate as evidence. It takes about three weeks and it's the one step with a real price tag, so it's usually the step to plan around.
How to apply
- Apply online at GOV.UK (≈ £94.50) — cheaper and faster than the paper form (£107).
- Upload or take a digital photo that meets the rules (plain light background, no glasses glare).
- Post the evidence when asked: your current passport and your original marriage certificate or a certified copy. Use the pre-paid label; both come back separately.
- Wait about 3 weeks. Don't book travel in the new name until it arrives. Need it faster? The 1-week Fast Track (≈ £178) requires an in-person appointment.
| Cost | ≈ £94.50 online / £107 paper (adult) — GOV.UK fees |
|---|---|
| Time | About 3 weeks standard; 1 week Fast Track with an appointment |
| Evidence | Current passport + original marriage certificate (or certified copy) |
| Before the wedding | Post-dated passport with form PD2, up to 3 months ahead |
| Keep the old name? | Allowed — travel on it until it expires, tickets in that name |
Double-barrelling and other combinations
Taking your spouse's surname, double-barrelling (with or without a hyphen), or combining the two are all accepted on the marriage certificate alone. A completely new surname, or moving your maiden name to a middle name, may need a deed poll as well — the passport office will say so when it reviews the evidence.
Common questions
Can I just amend my passport with the new name?
No. Since 2010 the UK issues a brand-new passport for any name change — the old one is cancelled (and usually returned to you, cut). It costs the same as a renewal.
How much does a passport name change cost?
The standard adult fee: ≈ £94.50 applying online, £107 with a paper form (current fees). There is no separate 'name change' fee.
Can I get the passport in my married name before the wedding?
Yes — a post-dated passport. Apply up to 3 months before the wedding with form PD2 signed by the person conducting the ceremony; the passport is valid from the wedding date, so you can honeymoon in the new name. You can't use it before then.
Do I have to send my marriage certificate?
Yes, the original or a certified copy from the register office, plus your current passport. Photocopies aren't accepted. It's returned separately from the new passport.
Can I travel on my old-name passport after marriage?
Yes, as long as your tickets are booked in the name on the passport. Many people keep the maiden-name passport until it expires. Just never book a ticket in a name your passport doesn't show.
Next: the DVLA, or back to the UK overview.