What is Name Change?
Name Change means changing one’s entire name or adding initials or simply modifying spelling by changing one or more letters, legally through the official Gazette of India and newspaper advertising.
This legal process of changing one’s name is undertaken through the Department of Publication, Govt of India.
Why do I need to change my name?
There are a lot of reasons for people to change their name. Some of those reasons are listed below:
| 1. Error in birth certificate, school certificates etc |
| 2. Post-Marriage/ Divorce name change for women |
| 3. Officially required in Govt job |
| 4. Change of Religion or Gender |
| 5. Astrological or Numerological reasons |
| 6. Want to add or remove Surname |
| 7. Spelling errors, personal reasons |
What is the Name Change process in India?
The Name Change process involves the following steps:
Step 1: Make a “Name Change” Affidavit
Step 2: Place a “Name Change” Ad in local and national newspaper
Step 3: Submit “Name Change” Request letter along with Affidavit, Newspaper advertisement, CD & CD Certificate, Witness forms and relevant ID proofs to the Department of Publication for notification in eGazette
Let us see the Name Change process in detail
Step 1: “Name Change” Affidavit
The first step is to make an Affidavit for “Name Change” from an authorized Notary. The Affidavit details the reason for change of name and also includes the following information:
| 1. Full name of Applicant |
| 2. Father’s name or Husband’s name (in case of a married woman) |
| 3. Full residential address |
| 4. A declaration for facts in affidavit being true & correct |
The Affidavit needs to be attested by either Judicial Magistrate or Notary or Oaths commissioner.
Step 2: Publish a “Name Change” Ad in local and national newspapers
The next step is to publish an Ad in newspaper, preferably one ad in a Hindi language newspaper and one ad in an English language newspaper.
Below is an example of a newspaper ad:
Step 3: Submit “Name Change” Request letter with Department of Publication for eGazette notification
The final step is to submit a Request letter along with the following documents to the Department of Publication:
| 1. “Name Change” Affidavit |
| 2. Original Newspaper(s) ad cutout |
| 3. Request letter (Computer printed and NOT handwritten) with signature of Applicant and 2 witnesses |
| 4. Compact Disc (CD) containing soft copy MS-word file of request letter |
| 5. CD certificate, duly signed by the applicant, declaring that contents of the Compact Disc are similar to the hard copies submitted |
| 6. Two passport sized photos self attested by applicant |
| 7. Photocopies of valid ID and address proof of applicant as well as witnesses |
Once the application is received, the documents are checked by the concerned officer and sent for final approval by Department of Publication, for printing of the notification in the official Gazette of India.
FAQ’s Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the Govt fees for Name Change?
The Govt fees depends on the length of the Name. Minimum Govt is Rs. 1100, and the maximum fees can go up to Rs. 3000.
How much time does it take from the day of submission of documents till Gazette Notification?
It can take anywhere between 15 days to 60 days for Name Change notification to be published in the Gazette.
Will I get a physical Gazette from Govt of India?
No. Physical printing of Gazette notifications has been stopped since 01 October 2015, and exclusive e-publishing through www.egazette.gov.in is maintained by Govt of India. You can take a print of Gazette from the official website.
Can I change my name on all documents after the Gazette notification?
Yes, you can change your name on all your documents using the Gazette notification.