To update your name on a U.S. passport, mail or hand-deliver one of three State Department forms along with a certified name-change document, a new passport photo, your current passport, and the applicable fee. Which form you use depends on how recently your passport was issued and when your name changed. Routine processing runs four to six weeks, so start well before any planned trip.
Pick the Right Form
Three forms cover every name-change scenario, and choosing the wrong one is the fastest way to have your application rejected.
DS-5504 if Both the Passport and the Name Change Are Under a Year Old
Form DS-5504 applies only when your passport was issued less than a year ago and your legal name change also happened within that year.1U.S. Department of State. Application for a U.S. Passport for Eligible Individuals (DS-5504) Both conditions have to be true. A marriage 14 months after your passport was issued disqualifies you from DS-5504 even if the passport itself is still under a year old. The advantage is cost: there is no application fee unless you add expedited service.2U.S. Department of State. Name Change for U.S. Passport or Correct a Printing or Data Error
DS-82 to Renew by Mail With a Name Change
If you’re outside the DS-5504 window, Form DS-82 lets you handle the whole thing by mail, but only if your most recent passport meets every one of these conditions:
- You can submit it with the application.
- It’s undamaged (normal wear is fine).
- It was never reported lost or stolen.
- It was issued within the last 15 years.
- It was issued when you were 16 or older.
- You can provide a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order linking your old name to your new one.
Meet all six and DS-82 is the simplest path.3U.S. Department of State. Renew Your Passport by Mail
DS-11 When You Have to Apply in Person
Form DS-11 covers everything else: a passport issued more than 15 years ago, one issued when you were under 16, a lost or stolen passport, or a situation where you can’t produce formal name-change documentation.4U.S. Department of State. Application for a U.S. Passport (DS-11) You’ll apply in person at a passport acceptance facility, which is often a post office, library, or county clerk’s office. Don’t sign the form ahead of time. The acceptance agent has to witness your signature and put you under oath.5USAGov. Apply for a New Adult Passport
The Name-Change Document
Every application needs a certified document connecting your old name to your new one. The State Department accepts marriage certificates, divorce decrees that specifically declare a return to a former name, court orders for legal name changes, and certificates of naturalization issued in the new name. A government-issued document reflecting a name change that happened by operation of state law also qualifies.6eCFR. 22 CFR 51.25 – Name of Applicant to Be Used in Passport
These must be originals or certified copies bearing the issuing authority’s seal. Regular photocopies and notarized copies are not accepted.2U.S. Department of State. Name Change for U.S. Passport or Correct a Printing or Data Error A court order must be final, not pending, and must list both your former name and your new name.7U.S. Department of State. 8 FAM 403.1 Name Usage and Name Changes A pending petition won’t get you a passport in the new name.
Your originals come back in a separate mailing after your new passport is printed.
Photo and Current Passport
You also need to include your most recent passport. The State Department cancels it and returns it separately.3U.S. Department of State. Renew Your Passport by Mail Plan around that if you have travel during the processing window.
The photo has to be 2×2 inches, taken within the last six months, shot against a plain white or off-white background, with a full-face view, neutral expression, and both eyes open. Wear normal everyday clothes. Uniforms aren’t allowed unless they’re religious garments you wear daily. Eyeglasses must be removed. The only exception is a documented medical reason, which requires a signed statement from your doctor submitted with the application.8U.S. Embassy & Consulates in France. Passport Photos Many drugstore kiosks and post offices that serve as acceptance facilities can take a compliant photo on-site.
What It Costs
- DS-5504: no application fee. Expedited service adds $60.2U.S. Department of State. Name Change for U.S. Passport or Correct a Printing or Data Error
- DS-82: $160 for an adult passport book. Expedited service adds $60.9U.S. Department of State. How to Get My U.S. Passport Fast
- DS-11: $160 application fee plus a $35 execution fee paid to the acceptance facility, for a base of $195. Applicants under 16 pay $115 plus the same $35. Expedited service adds $60.10U.S. Department of State. United States Passport Fees for Acceptance Facilities
For mailed applications, pay the State Department by personal check or money order. The DS-11 execution fee is a separate payment to the acceptance facility, so bring a second check or ask ahead about accepted payment methods.
Sending It In
DS-5504 and DS-82 go through the mail. Use a trackable service, because you’re sending your current passport and original name-change documents in the same envelope.
DS-11 requires an in-person visit. Find a local acceptance facility through the State Department’s website, book an appointment if the facility requires one, and bring your completed but unsigned form with all supporting documents.4U.S. Department of State. Application for a U.S. Passport (DS-11)
How Long It Takes
Routine processing currently runs four to six weeks. Expedited processing runs two to three weeks.11U.S. Department of State. Processing Times for U.S. Passports Both clocks start when the State Department receives your application, not when you drop it in the mail. Factor in delivery time on both ends.
If you have international travel within 14 calendar days, or need a foreign visa within 28 days, you can book an appointment at a regional passport agency for same-day or next-day service. Schedule through the State Department’s Online Passport Appointment System, or call the National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778 if you’ve already mailed an application and your travel date is closing in.12U.S. Department of State. Make an Appointment at a Passport Agency or Center
Booking Flights Before the New Passport Arrives
The name on your airline reservation needs to match the name on the passport you’ll actually travel with. If you’ve changed your name legally but haven’t received the updated passport yet, book flights under the name still on your current passport.
For domestic flights, TSA requires the name on your boarding pass to match the name on your ID.13Transportation Security Administration. Does the Name on My Airline Reservation Have to Match the Name on My Application A minor discrepancy such as a missing middle name usually won’t stop you from boarding. International travel is stricter, because foreign immigration officers compare your passport name against your boarding pass and can deny entry over a mismatch.
The common mistake is updating everything, including the airline ticket, before the new passport actually arrives. Keep the ticket and the passport aligned until the new document is in your hand.
Sex Marker Changes Are a Separate Process
Updating your name and updating a sex marker are handled under different rules. Under Executive Order 14168, issued January 20, 2025, the State Department only issues passports with an M or F sex marker matching the applicant’s biological sex at birth, and the X marker option is no longer offered.14U.S. Department of State. Sex Marker in Passports The name-change process described above works the same way regardless of the reason for the change.