Passport Name Change: Which Form Do You Need?

Name changes sit at the intersection of renewal eligibility and evidence rules. The assistant asks whether you have a certified marriage certificate, divorce decree restoring a prior name, or court order. It checks whether your current book is undamaged and was issued after you turned 16, which determines if mail renewal remains on the table.

DS-82 mail renewal works when you meet every standard renewal rule and can mail an original or certified name-change document with the application. DS-11 in person applies when mail renewal fails any gate, when your book was issued in your old name before a recent marriage, or when you need simultaneous corrections beyond the name field.

Fee quotes come from our config as of September 1, 2026. Mail renewal pays $130.00 for the book application. In-person DS-11 pays that application fee plus $35.00 execution at the facility. Expedite and photo costs are separate lines you can add in the calculator.

The chat does not replace Social Security or DMV updates. Airlines match tickets to the passport you present at the gate. Update reservations after your new book arrives. TSA PreCheck and Global Entry need their own profile updates.

Middle-name-only changes still need legal evidence if the passport omitted your middle name previously. Consistent spelling across SSA, DMV, and passport forms prevents mismatches when employers run background checks.

Which document proves the name change. Marriage certificates must usually be certified copies issued by the county or state, not church souvenirs. Divorce decrees must show the name you are returning to. Court orders for gender-affirming name changes follow the same in-person path when mail evidence is insufficient.

Whether you can mail DS-82 or must visit a clerk. If your passport was issued less than a year ago, different limited rules may apply on Form DS-5504 for certain corrections without new fees. The assistant flags that narrow window when dates match.

Photo and form tips specific to name updates. Your new photo must match your current appearance under the new name. Sign the application with the new name unless the form instructs otherwise for interim periods. Bring photocopies of citizenship evidence if your facility requires them.

Links for totals and longer reading. Compare renewal cost and in-person cost, gather papers from our documents hub, and read the passport name change blog post for a printable checklist.

If you booked international travel under your old name, wait to rebook until tickets can match the new book, or carry court evidence plus old ID that airlines accept under their policies. Policies vary by carrier.

Non-citizen spouses who naturalized after marriage may have extra citizenship evidence steps before a passport name update. Mention naturalization dates in the chat so DS-11 citizenship proof is not confused with a simple DS-82 renewal.

Social Security updates should precede or follow passport updates in the order your employer and bank require. The passport alone does not change SSA records automatically.