Well, apart from your identity of course! But that's not we are talking about!
In this blog we are chatting about - changing your name on your passport.
And well, I did it! Yesterday in fact. After nearly 6 months married, I finally applied for a name change to my passport.
This might seem a bit strange. Let’s be honest. I’m married. I have a certificate to prove it. And been readily using my married name since our big day.
But for some reason, applying to change my name on my passport, seemed, all of a sudden, a very big deal. Maybe that’s why it’s taken so long to do! And like many, I was pretty used to the name I already had.
I used the passport 1 week ‘Fast Track’ service - as a frequent flyer, there wasn’t really any other way I could do it. Prepare yourself though - if this is the route you choose - it’s £160 - but it’s process was straightforward and I was in and out of my appointment in about 10mins (I did go first thing on Sat morning).
I still had 6 years on my existing passport - and the thought of using my maiden name for holidays just seemed a complication I didn’t need (I’m still guilty of signing it sometimes - so using my old name probably wouldn’t help that!).
Nor was the idea very appealing of carrying my marriage certificate with me every time my travel booking conflicted with my passport.
So fast track it was.
It’s easy. Fill out a passport application form, get 2 passport photos, countersign with an accepted person, bring your wedding certificate, pay the fee and a week later - a new passport. (The process is the same if you are using the ‘normal’ passport service - just minus the appointment and £160 fee and the week turnaround!)
You may also not know this - future brides & grooms - but you can apply for a passport in your new name up to 3 months before your marriage ceremony.
Your old passport WILL however be cancelled and your new passport is ‘post-dated’ - therefore, you cannot use it before the ceremony - which might not be helpful if you have Hen or Stag Doo’s closely beforehand!
But if you don't. You would send a ‘passports for newly weds and civil partners’ form with your documents AND it must be signed by the celebrant who will conduct your ceremony.
The link for information on how to change your details on your passport after marriage is here:
Along with the link to the 'Passport for newly weds and civil partners' form:
Or you could be like me. Delay doing it. Until one day you decide to put your big girl pants on and just apply to change your name! But however you decide to do it (if at all!) then hopefully, you find this a little bit useful!
Any questions at all on this or anything else to do with your ceremony needs, send me a wee message and I'll be happy to help!
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