Passport Name Change and Renewal: Forms, Fees, and Mailing

To handle a passport name change renewal, you mail Form DS-82 with your current passport, an original or certified copy of your marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order, a new passport photo, and the $130 fee. If your current passport was issued less than a year ago, you use Form DS-5504 instead and pay nothing. Online renewal is not an option when your name is changing, so plan on the mail-in route or an in-person appointment.

Which Form to Use

The right form depends on how old your current passport is and how recently it was issued relative to the name change.

DS-82 for Most Name Changes

You can use Form DS-82 by mail if your most recent passport is undamaged, was issued when you were 16 or older, was issued within the last 15 years, and you can document your name change with an original or certified legal record.¹ Meet all four, and you skip the in-person appointment entirely.

DS-5504 If Your Passport Is Less Than a Year Old

If your passport was issued within the past year, use Form DS-5504 to update the name. There is no application fee for this form unless you request expedited processing or faster return delivery.² You still send an original or certified name change document, the same as with DS-82.³

DS-11 If You Have to Apply in Person

If you don’t qualify for DS-82, you start over with Form DS-11 at an acceptance facility such as a post office, county clerk’s office, or a library that processes passport applications. The common reasons: a passport issued before age 16, a passport more than 15 years old, or a significantly damaged passport. Applying in person adds a $35 execution fee paid to the acceptance facility on top of the standard application fee.⁴

Why You Can’t Renew Online

The State Department’s online renewal system specifically excludes anyone changing personal information such as a name or sex marker. If you start the online process, one of the eligibility questions will screen you out.⁵ This catches a lot of recently married travelers off guard. Mail-in or in-person are your only routes.

What to Send With Your Application

Every name-change renewal needs an original or certified copy of the legal document that connects your previous name to your new one. That means a marriage certificate, a divorce decree that specifies your restored name, or a court order granting the name change.³ Photocopies and notarized copies are not accepted. The State Department returns your original document after processing, but it travels separately from your new passport, so expect two pieces of mail.

If your name change document is in a language other than English, include a certified English translation. The translator does not need to be a government-certified professional, but the translation must carry a statement certifying its accuracy.

Along with the name change evidence, put these in the envelope:

Your most recent passport. It will come back with holes punched through it to mark it as cancelled.
A passport photo, 2 by 2 inches, taken within the last six months, against a plain white or off-white background. No glasses unless you have a signed medical statement.
Your completed form, filled out in your new legal name exactly as it appears on your supporting document. Print clearly in black ink.

Fees and How to Pay

A standard adult passport book renewal on DS-82 costs $130. Expedited processing adds $60. Faster return shipping (1-to-3-day delivery) adds $22.05.⁶

For mail-in renewals, pay by personal check or money order made out to the U.S. Department of State. Write the applicant’s full name and date of birth on the front. Cash isn’t accepted by mail.⁷

If you qualify for DS-5504, the application itself is free; you only pay if you add expedited service or faster delivery.² If you’re on DS-11 in person, the $130 book fee still applies, plus the $35 execution fee to the acceptance facility. The execution fee is non-refundable even if a passport is not ultimately issued.⁶

Mailing and Processing Times

The mailing address depends on your state and whether you want expedited service; the form instructions carry the current addresses, and expedited applications require “EXPEDITE” on the outside of the envelope.⁷ Use a trackable method with delivery confirmation. Your current passport, original legal document, and a check are all inside, so this isn’t a package to lose.

As of early 2026, routine processing runs four to six weeks and expedited runs two to three weeks. Neither figure includes mailing time, which can add up to two weeks in each direction.⁸ Plan the full round trip if a trip is on the calendar. You can check status through the State Department’s online tracking tool, though it usually takes a couple of weeks after mailing before anything appears.

If You’re Traveling Soon

If your trip is within two weeks and your passport still shows your old name, you may be able to book an appointment at a regional passport agency. These offices serve travelers by appointment only who have international travel within 14 calendar days or need a foreign visa within 28 calendar days.⁹ Bring proof of upcoming travel, such as a flight itinerary or ticket confirmation.

For genuine life-or-death emergencies involving an immediate family member abroad, the State Department can move faster with documentation of the emergency, such as a hospital letter on official letterhead or a death certificate. The emergency line is 1-888-407-4747.

Don’t Forget These Other Updates

The Social Security Administration requires you to report a legal name change and get a corrected Social Security card.¹⁰ The State Department does not explicitly require your SSA record to be updated before you renew your passport, but aligning your records across federal agencies avoids complications.

If you have Global Entry, NEXUS, or another Trusted Traveler Program membership, a new passport alone won’t automatically update your profile. You can update your passport number online, but a name change specifically requires an in-person visit to an enrollment center. Bring your new passport and your name change document.¹¹

For a standalone TSA PreCheck membership, contact the enrollment provider you originally applied through to update your name. Until the change goes through, your PreCheck benefits won’t work when you travel under the new name.¹² Showing up expecting PreCheck and getting sent to the standard line is a rough way to start a trip.

A Note on Gender Marker Changes

If you were also planning to update the gender marker on your passport, federal policy has shifted. As of late 2025, the State Department only issues passports with an M or F marker matching the applicant’s biological sex at birth. The X (unspecified) marker introduced in 2022 is no longer available. Applicants who request a marker that differs from their birth sex may experience delays and could receive a letter requesting additional information.¹³ This area is the subject of active litigation, so check the State Department’s page for current guidance before applying.

1
U.S. Department of State. Change or Correct a Passport
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U.S. Department of State. DS-5504 – Application for a U.S. Passport for Eligible Individuals
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U.S. Department of State. Change or Correct a Passport
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Pay.gov. Fee for U.S. Passport Application Submitted at Acceptance Facility
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U.S. Department of State. Renew Your Passport Online
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U.S. Department of State. Passport Fees
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U.S. Department of State. Renew Your Passport by Mail
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U.S. Department of State. How to Get My U.S. Passport Fast
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U.S. Department of State. Make an Appointment at a Passport Agency or Center
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Social Security Administration. How Do I Change or Correct My Name on My Social Security Number Card?
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U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Global Entry Frequently Asked Questions
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Transportation Security Administration. My Personal Information Has Changed. How Do I Update My TSA PreCheck?
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U.S. Department of State. Sex Marker in Passports