A passport name change is free by mail with Form DS-5504 if less than 1 year has passed since both your passport was issued and your name was legally changed. After 1 year, you renew by mail for $130 with a certified name-change document, or apply in person with Form DS-11 if you can’t renew by mail.
Getting married, divorced or ordering a court name change leaves you with a passport in the old name. That mismatch causes problems at the airport, at the bank and on the visa form. The fix depends on one date check, and the State Department sets three routes. This guide explains each route, the forms, the fees, the documents and the common errors, plus what to do if you use a name without a legal document. The rules come from the State Department page on changing or correcting a passport, last updated September 28, 2026. For the general overview of passports, start with our US passport guide.
How Do You Change Your Name on a Passport?
Pick the route by checking two dates: when the passport was issued and when your name was legally changed. The answer sorts you into one of three cases.
The State Department sets these routes:
- Less than 1 year since both events: mail Form DS-5504.
- More than 1 year since either event: renew by mail, or apply in person with Form DS-11 if you aren’t eligible to renew by mail.
- A new name with no legal document: apply in person with Form DS-11 and extra proof.
Start by finding your passport’s issue date on the data page, then find the date on your marriage certificate, divorce decree or court order. If both are within the last year, you have the easiest case. If either is older, you are in the second group. Our passport renewal guide explains the standard renewal routes in more detail.
Which Route Fits Your Situation?
The table summarizes the routes for a passport name change. Find your row, then read the matching section below.
| Situation | Form | How to apply | Fee |
| Passport issued and name changed less than 1 year ago | DS-5504 | By mail | No fee |
| More than 1 year since either event | DS-82 | By mail, if you qualify to renew | $130 for an adult book |
| More than 1 year and you can’t renew by mail | DS-11 | In person | $165 for an adult book |
| New name with no legal document | DS-11, plus DS-60 if needed | In person | Standard fees |
Expedited service adds $60 in any case, and 1 to 3 day return delivery adds $26.87. Our expedited passport guide explains when to use them.
How Do You Change Your Name Within One Year?
Mail Form DS-5504, your most recent passport, an original or certified name-change document and one passport photo. There is no fee for this route, but expedited processing costs $60.
The document must have been issued within that year. It can be a marriage certificate, a divorce decree or a court order. Send the original or a certified copy, since a plain photocopy is not enough, and your documents come back to you separately.
Follow these steps:
- Print Form DS-5504 from the State Department site and complete it.
- Gather your current passport and the certified name-change document.
- Take one color passport photo that follows the rules. Our passport photo requirements guide explains them.
- Mail the package to the address on the form, and add the $60 only if you want expedited service.
- Watch your mail for the new passport and your returned documents.
Keep the new passport safe and update any travel accounts that store your passport number.
How Do You Change Your Name After One Year?
Renew by mail with a certified copy of your legal name-change document, or apply in person with Form DS-11 if you aren’t eligible to renew by mail. An adult renewal book costs $130 by mail.
The mail route is Form DS-82. To use it, your last passport must have been issued within the last 15 years, you must have been 16 or older when it was issued, and it must be undamaged. The name-change document goes in with the application, and you receive a passport in your new name. The passport renewal guide lists every renewal condition.
If you can’t renew by mail, apply in person with Form DS-11. You can do this if you have valid ID in your new name and you complete the marriage details section on page 2 of Form DS-11. An adult application costs $165, which is the $130 State Department fee plus the $35 acceptance fee. Our passport application guide lists the documents you bring.
Online renewal is not an option for a name change. The online route requires that you have no name change, so you must use the mail or in-person routes. The guide to renew passport online shows who qualifies.
What If You Use a New Name Without a Legal Document?
Apply in person with Form DS-11, proof of US citizenship, valid ID in your current name and a photocopy, one color photo and the fees for your age. If your citizenship evidence shows a different name, you may also need Form DS-60.
This case covers people who have used a name for years without a court order, marriage certificate or divorce decree. The State Department says that if your citizenship evidence shows a different name and you can’t prove the change with a legal document, you need Form DS-60. Two people who knew you under both names must complete it. You must also submit three certified or original public records showing 5 or more years of use of the new name.
This route takes more preparation than the others. Collect the records early, because certified copies from offices can take time. If you have a court order, marriage certificate or divorce decree, use that instead, since it is faster and simpler.
How Much Does a Passport Name Change Cost?
A passport name change costs nothing within 1 year by mail, $130 for an adult mail renewal and $165 for an adult in-person application. The extras are optional.
- Within 1 year, Form DS-5504: $0.
- After 1 year, mail renewal: $130 for an adult book.
- In-person Form DS-11, adult book: $130 plus the $35 acceptance fee, for $165.
- Expedited service: $60.
- 1 to 3 day return delivery: $26.87.
Photos, copies of documents and certified copies from a vital records office cost extra. Our guide on how much a passport costs lists every fee, including child fees. The State Department page does not list the exact DS-11 amounts for every age, and it points to its fees page for the full table.
How Long Does a Passport Name Change Take?
Routine processing takes 4 to 6 weeks and expedited processing takes 2 to 3 weeks, and mailing is extra. Mailing can add up to 2 weeks each way.
That puts a routine name change near 10 weeks at worst. Plan ahead if you have a honeymoon or an international trip. Our guide on how long it takes to get a passport explains the options, and the passport application status guide helps you follow the file. If your trip is within 14 days, you can ask about an appointment at a passport agency.
Should You Change Your Passport Before Booking a Trip?
Yes, if your trip is within a few months and your passport still shows the old name. The name on your ticket must match the name on your passport.
Booking a flight in your new name before the passport arrives is risky. If your passport is still in the old name, the airline may deny boarding. Many couples book honeymoon travel using the name on the current passport, then change the name after the trip. That is a practical choice if the trip comes first.
Work through the order like this:
- Check the dates on your passport and your name-change document.
- Decide whether the trip comes before the name change.
- Book flights in the name that matches the passport you will carry.
- If the passport arrives late, ask about faster options.
What About Correcting a Mistake on Your Passport?
Corrections are free if your passport is still valid. Mail Form DS-5504, your current passport, one color photo and evidence of the error.
The State Department separates data errors from printing errors. Data errors can involve your name, sex or place of birth. Printing errors include discoloration, crooked printing or missing data on the biographical page. Evidence can be a birth certificate showing the correct spelling.
The timing of your report matters. If you report the error within 1 year of issuance, the new passport is valid for 10 years for adults and 5 years for children under 16. If you report it after 1 year, the new passport expires on the same date as the incorrect one. A printing error in the photo can also be fixed at no cost with Form DS-5504. If the photo is printed correctly but needs an update, use Form DS-82 if you are eligible and pay the normal fees.
What Should You Update After Your Passport Name Change?
Update every account that stores your passport number or name once the new passport arrives. The State Department also advises that visas in an old passport may not transfer, so ask the issuing embassy or consulate.
- Global Entry, NEXUS or SENTRI accounts, with the new passport number and dates.
- Airline frequent flyer and booking profiles.
- Visa records, since a visa in the old passport may not transfer.
- Your driver’s license and Social Security records, so your IDs match.
- Travel insurance and hotel bookings made in the old name.
Keep the old passport if it has valid visas, and ask the issuing embassy or consulate how to handle them. If the old passport is lost or stolen before the new one arrives, see our lost passport replacement guide.
What Mistakes Delay a Passport Name Change?
Sending a photocopy instead of a certified document is the most common mistake. Other errors include using the wrong form and sending the application to the wrong address.
- Sending a plain photocopy of a marriage certificate or court order.
- Using Form DS-5504 when more than 1 year has passed.
- Forgetting the photo, or sending one that fails the rules.
- Choosing online renewal, which does not allow a name change.
- Mailing the package without keeping a copy of your documents.
Check each item against the State Department page for your case before you mail anything. If you are unsure, call 877-487-2778. Deaf or hard-of-hearing callers can use 888-874-7793. For the official page, use the State Department’s change or correct a passport page.
FAQs
How do I change my name on my passport after marriage?
If less than 1 year has passed since your passport was issued and your name changed, mail Form DS-5504 with your passport, certified marriage certificate and a photo. There is no fee.
How much does a passport name change cost?
Within 1 year by mail it is free. After 1 year, an adult mail renewal costs $130, and an in-person application costs $165.
Can I change my name on my passport online?
No. Online renewal is not available when you have a name change. Use Form DS-5504 by mail, a mail renewal with Form DS-82, or an in-person application.
What documents do I need for a passport name change?
You need your current passport, a photo and an original or certified marriage certificate, divorce decree or court order showing the change.
What if my name changed more than one year ago?
Renew by mail with a certified copy of your name-change document. If you aren’t eligible to renew by mail, apply in person with Form DS-11.
How long does a passport name change take?
Routine processing takes 4 to 6 weeks and expedited takes 2 to 3 weeks. Mailing can add up to 2 weeks each way.
Do I need a new passport if there is a printing error?
You need a corrected one, and it is free if your passport is still valid. Mail Form DS-5504 with your passport, a photo and proof of the error.
Conclusion
A passport name change is simple once you check two dates. Within 1 year, use Form DS-5504 for free by mail. After 1 year, renew by mail for $130 or apply in person. Send certified documents, add a compliant photo and plan for 4 to 6 weeks plus mailing.
