Passport Name Change Process: Forms, Proof, and Fees

A U.S. passport name change is handled by submitting one of three State Department forms along with a certified document proving your new name, a recent passport photo, and (in most cases) a fee. Which form you use depends almost entirely on how long ago your current passport was issued and whether you have a legal document tying your old name to your new one. Routine processing runs four to six weeks; expedited service runs two to three.¹

Online renewal is not an option here. The State Department’s online system excludes anyone changing personal information, so a name change has to go by mail or in person.²

Picking the Right Form

DS-5504 — Passport Issued Less Than One Year Ago

If your current passport was issued within the past year and your name also changed within that year, use Form DS-5504. There is no application fee, though expedited processing costs $60.³ You mail the completed form with your current passport, a certified name change document, and one passport photo.⁴

DS-82 — Renewal With a Name Change

Once more than a year has passed since either the passport was issued or the name changed, Form DS-82 is the standard route. You can use it as long as your most recent passport was issued less than 15 years ago, is undamaged and in your possession, and you can submit a certified document proving the name change.⁵ The fee is $130 for a passport book, with no execution fee for mail-in renewals.⁶

DS-11 — In-Person Application

You must apply in person using Form DS-11 if your passport was issued more than 15 years ago, was issued when you were under 16, or has been lost, stolen, or damaged.⁷ DS-11 is also required if you don’t have a certified legal document connecting your old name to your new one. The fee is $130 plus a $35 execution fee at the acceptance facility, totaling $165.⁶

Proof of the Name Change

Every application needs a certified legal document linking your previous name to the new one. The State Department accepts:

A certified marriage certificate issued by a government vital records office.
A certified divorce decree that specifically shows the name change. Not all divorce decrees include a name reversion, so check yours before mailing.
A certified court order granting the name change, which covers any change not tied to marriage or divorce.

Photocopies are not accepted. You must submit the original or a government-issued certified copy with a raised or multicolored seal. Originals are returned to you by mail after processing.⁵ If the document is not in English, include a certified English translation with a statement from the translator confirming accuracy and competence in both languages.

Some people have used a different name for years without any court order, marriage certificate, or divorce decree behind it. In that case, you file Form DS-60 (Affidavit Regarding a Change of Name) along with an in-person DS-11 application. Two people who have known you by both names must complete the affidavit, and you must also submit at least three certified or original public records showing you have used the new name for five or more years.³

Photo and Full Fee Breakdown

Include one recent color photograph, 2 inches by 2 inches, taken within the last six months against a plain white or off-white background. Look directly at the camera with a neutral expression or natural smile, and keep both eyes open.⁸ Pharmacies, shipping stores, and some acceptance facilities offer on-site photo services.

The 2026 fees, all in one place:

DS-5504 (name change within one year): no application fee.
DS-82 (mail-in renewal with name change): $130 for a passport book.
DS-11 (in-person application): $130 plus a $35 execution fee, $165 total.
Expedited processing on any of the above: add $60.
1-to-3-day return delivery: add $22.05, available only for passport books shipped to U.S. addresses.⁹

Pay by personal check or money order made out to the U.S. Department of State. The $35 execution fee at acceptance facilities is a separate payment, often payable to the facility itself.

Submitting the Application

DS-5504 and DS-82 go by mail. Put the completed form, certified name change document, current passport, passport photo, and payment in a sturdy envelope. A cardboard or Tyvek mailer keeps documents flat. Use a trackable service so you can confirm delivery. The mailing address is printed on the form.

DS-11 applicants have to appear in person at a passport acceptance facility, which can be a designated post office, county clerk’s office, or public library. The State Department’s searchable database at iafdb.travel.state.gov finds the nearest one by ZIP code.¹⁰ Many facilities require appointments. Do not sign Form DS-11 before you arrive; the acceptance agent has to witness your signature.

How Long It Takes

As of 2026, routine processing takes four to six weeks and expedited processing takes two to three.¹ These windows start when the State Department receives your application, not when you mail it. If you want to expedite, write “EXPEDITE” on the outside of the envelope. Adding 1-to-3-day return delivery shaves a few more days off once the passport is issued.

You can check status through the State Department’s online tracking system, usually within about two weeks of the application reaching the processing center. Your new passport and your supporting documents are mailed separately for security, so one may arrive before the other. Your old passport comes back too, marked cancelled and no longer valid for travel.

Travel While Your Application Is Pending

Once you send your passport in for a name change, you cannot use it. The State Department treats the old book as invalid the moment you apply.¹¹ If you have a trip in the next few weeks, either apply well before you leave with expedited processing and fast delivery, or wait until you’re back.

If your old passport carries a visa you still need, check with the issuing embassy or consulate before you mail anything. Some countries let you travel with both books; others require the visa to be transferred.

For airline bookings, the name on your ticket should match your passport. Minor differences like a missing middle name or hyphen formatting usually aren’t a problem at TSA checkpoints, but a completely different last name can lead to serious delays or denied boarding. If you’ve booked a flight under your new name but haven’t received the updated passport yet, contact the airline about adjusting the reservation.

One Caution About Gender Markers

As of 2026, the State Department only issues passports with an M or F sex marker matching the applicant’s biological sex at birth. The X marker has been removed, and requests for a marker different from the one in the Department’s records may cause processing delays. Submitting any passport application, including one that only asks for a name update, gives the Department an opportunity to review and potentially change the gender marker on the new book to match birth records. Existing passports with X markers or self-selected gender markers remain valid until they expire or are replaced.¹²

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U.S. Department of State. Get Your Processing Time
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U.S. Department of State. Renew Your Passport Online
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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. U.S. Passport Renewal Application for Eligible Individuals
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U.S. Department of State. United States Passport Fees for Acceptance Facilities
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U.S. Department of State. U.S. Department of State Application for a U.S. Passport
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U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Australia. Photos
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U.S. Department of State. United States Passport Fees for Acceptance Facilities
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U.S. Department of State. Passport Acceptance Facility
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U.S. Department of State. Frequently Asked Questions about Passport Services
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U.S. Department of State. Sex Marker in Passports