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Name Changes and Corrections
 

If you have changed your name, you may apply to have this change reflected in your passport. Please note that U.S. passports are no longer amended to change items appearing on the data page; you will therefore need to apply for a new passport in your new name.

Department of State directives determine the manner in which names are entered in United States passports. The following information covers the majority of cases that arise. If your case does not fall within these guidelines, please e-mail us with the details of your situation so that we may provide you accurate guidance.

Most applications for a change of name must be accompanied by at least three pieces of acceptable identification showing use of the new name. In some cases, these records must cover a certain time period. Please carefully read the instructions for your specific name change. Acceptable pieces of identification may include the following:

  • School records
  • Tax records
  • Military records
  • Medical card/records
  • Driver's license
  • Federal/state/local government card
  • Deeds to property
  • Insurance records
  • Foreign passport

This page contains special requirements for the different types of name changes. The documents described on this page are required in addition to other requirements for your specific passport service.

Married name

An applicant (either the wife or husband) may assume the spouse’s surname upon marriage and have the passport written in the spouse’s surname.  You must provide either an original or certified copy of the marriage certificate or a completed marriage license reflecting that the marriage took place.  If you prefer not to present one of these documents, you may submit acceptable identification showing use of the spouse’s surname.

Complete change of name by court order or adoption

An applicant who has had his/her name legally changed by a court order and who submits the original or a certified copy of the order may have a passport issued in the new name.

A child who has been legally adopted and has a court order showing a change of name may have a passport issued in the new name, provided the original court order shows the previous and present names.

Given name changed, recorded incorrectly, or not recorded at birth

When a given name has been changed from what is shown on the birth certificate or is not listed and the birth certificate has not been amended to show the name, the applicant must provide acceptable identification in the name currently used, along with either of the following:

  • An affidavit, executed by an immediate blood relative of the applicant’s generation or older, which explains the discrepancy between the name on the birth record and the name on the application; or
  • An early public record (such as a baptismal certificate, hospital birth record, early census, or school record) that shows the applicant’s correct name and date and place of birth.

If the birth certificate says, “Baby Girl XXX,” simply “XXX” and no first name, or “Unnamed” XXX or “No Name” XXX, the applicant must present either an amended birth certificate listing the given name or an early public record reflecting use of the given name.

"Known as" professional or religious name

An applicant who has assumed a name for professional or religious reasons, while retaining the use of the legal name, may have the professional or religious name included in the passport as a "known as" name provided that he/she submits three pieces of acceptable identification, as listed above. 

Complete change of name through usage

An applicant requesting the a change of name when the name has not been legally changed by court order may have a passport written in the assumed name providing s/he has been known exclusively by this name for at least five years. The applicant must submit the following:

  • Three pieces of acceptable identification as listed above showing exclusive use of the new name for at least five years; and
  • The applicant must be accompanied to this office by two or more persons who have personal knowledge of the applicant's use of both names and who can attest to the applicant's exclusive use of the assumed name for at least five years. These witnesses may be relatives, close friends, or business associates. The witnesses will need to produce some form of legal photo identification.

Procedures for changing the name in a passport issued less than one year ago

If your passport was issued less than one year ago, you may change the name in your passport without paying an additional fee. To do so, please submit the following items to the Consular Section:

Procedures for changing the name in a passport issued more than one year ago

If your passport was issued more than one year ago, you must make a new passport application, pay all fees, and submit all required evidence of your name change, as described above.  For instructions on how to apply for a new passport, please visit this page.

Procedures for correcting an error in your passport made by our office

If you notice an error in your passport due to a mistake committed by our office, we will issue you a corrected passport at no cost.  In order to obtain this passport, please submit the following items to the Consular Section:

  • The passport containing the error.
  • A properly completed Application for a U.S. Passport: Name Change and Data Correction (Form DS-5504) (PDF 74 KB).  If the applicant is under 16 years of age, one parent must sign the DS-5504 on his or her behalf.
  • One passport photograph that meets our strict photo specifications.
  • Acceptable citizenship and/or identification evidence showing the correct data.

Please note that we cannot return the defective passport to you after issuing a replacement passport.

How to submit your application

There are four ways to submit your application to our office:

  • Mail us all of the documents listed above through the Israeli postal service.  Include a self-addressed, stamped envelope with at least 16.70 NIS of postage, more if you are submitting multiple applications.  We will use this envelope to send you your new passport.
  • Submit all of the documents listed above through the Shaal courier service.  For a flat-rate fee, Shaal will deliver your application to the Consulate and either deliver your new passport to your home or office or hold it for pick-up at their office.  The Jerusalem office of Shaal is located in the Ha'paamon Building, 3 King George Street, 3rd Floor.  Shaal can be reached by phone at (02) 623-6189 or by e-mail at shaal@ittaa.org.il. 
  • Submit all of the documents listed above through the Aramex courier service.  Aramex will deliver your application to the Consulate, and the Consulate will return your documents via Aramex, which will contact you to pay for the shipping and collect your package.  Aramex has offices in most major towns in the West Bank, including Ramallah, Hebron, Nablus, Jenin, Jericho, and Bethlehem.  The Ramallah office of Aramex is located on Latin Patriarch Street and can be reached by telephone at (02) 298-6094.  The Gaza office of Aramex is located on Omar El Muktar Street, El Rimal, Gaza, and can be reached by telephone at (08) 284-0076 or (08) 284-8855. 
  • If you prefer to file your application in person at the Consular Section, you must obtain an appointment by visiting this page and following the instructions.

Our address

Please submit your complete application packet to the following address:

U.S. Consulate General

Attn: American Citizen Services

18 Agron Road

Jerusalem 94190

Tracking your passport

Once you have submitted your passport application to our office, you can check its status by clicking here.  Please note that passports are produced in the United States, so three to four weeks are required to complete your application.