Guidance published on change of name on official documents

The Policy aims to deter name changes to commit crime

The Home Office has published new guidance on how applications are handled to change names on
official documents.

The guidance notes that the vast majority of people living in the UK change their names on
official documents issued by the Home Office for perfectly legitimate reasons, such as when they
get married. The policy is focussed on achieving two aims: first, helping the genuine applicant
to obtain documents in a change of name with the minimum but necessary level of supporting
information; and second, deterring, disrupting and detecting those who change their names in
order to commit crime or avoid detection.

The guidance applies to applications to changes of names and identities to the following
documents:

• British passports, including emergency travel documents and emergency passports Home Office 
• travel documents 
• biometric residence permits 
• visas 
• right of abode and certificates of entitlement 
• residence documents issued to EEA nationals and their family members, including derivative categories.

Where a person is seeking to change an identity on one of the Home Office documents listed
above the person is required to provide supporting evidence that they intend using that identity
for all purposes of their life. This may include a marriage certificate or a deed poll along
with other supporting documentary evidence that the new name is being used for all purposes
For more information click here