Changing name: how and when?

Hi all,

I wanted to change my name when I apply British passport.
At present, I am applying naturalisation online. If my understanding is correct, I should get the British Citizenship first, and then apply a British passport.
My question is about:
1. How do I change me name? the process?
2. When do I do the changing? In Naturalisation process or wait for the British Citizenship certificate and afterwards, when applying for the passport? When is the good timing?

Thank you very much!

Why would you want to?
HMPO are not keen.

vinny wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 21, 2020 3:36 am

Why would you want to?
HMPO are not keen.

Thank you for reply. It’s eye opening to know that the HMPO is not keen on the change of names.

Anyway, I have decided to change and obtained a statutory declaration from a solicitor, and I will use the declaration in the naturalisation application.

You will need to change your foreign passport first too.

As a dual national, I don't think it's a good idea you change your name. You will just open the proverbial can of worms.

In the UK, it's easy to change name. But you need to do it first in your home country and get a passport issued under that name. In many countries, changing name is not even possible or is very costly/difficult.

Zerubbabel wrote: ↑

Fri Oct 02, 2020 10:35 am

As a dual national, I don't think it's a good idea you change your name. You will just open the proverbial can of worms.

In the UK, it's easy to change name. But you need to do it first in your home country and get a passport issued under that name. In many countries, changing name is not even possible or is very costly/difficult.

Thanks for your reply. So, basically you are saying it is impossible to change me name when I was applying naturalisation. While I understand I must change my name in my home country first, but I am giving up my home country's passport (no dual nationality allowed) if my naturalisation is successful.

What is the best way or a good time, to change my name, during the naturalisation on the naturalisation certificate, or when applying British passport?

CR001 wrote: ↑

Fri Oct 02, 2020 6:59 am

You will need to change your foreign passport first too.

Thanks for reply. But it is no point to change names in my foreign passport, because when my naturalisation is approved and when I apply for British passport, I must/have to give up my foreign passport/citizenship, due to the fact that my home country does not allow dual citizenship.

You won't get citizenship or a British passport in a different name if you don't change your name in your foreign passport first.

Your country not permitting dual nationality is irrelevant to this.

Annex A: use of names in passports

6.6 ii

The country of origin does not permit dual nationality meaning alignment of documentation will not be possible, the applicant will be required to provide confirmation from the country of origin that their citizenship has been cancelled;

CR001 wrote: ↑

Sat Oct 03, 2020 2:37 pm

You won't get citizenship or a British passport in a different name if you don't change your name in your foreign passport first.

Your country not permitting dual nationality is irrelevant to this.

If this is the case, then I will have some trouble changing my name for naturalisation.

Do you think it possible to change names after the first British passport, using Deed Poll?

Yes, get your British passport, then change your name. If you change your name before, you may get into trouble with HMPO. There are people in the UK with the British citizenship but they never managed to get a British passport due to discrepancies in their name. You don't want to be in that category.

Zerubbabel wrote: ↑

Sat Oct 03, 2020 5:34 pm

Yes, get your British passport, then change your name. If you change your name before, you may get into trouble with HMPO. There are people in the UK with the British citizenship but they never managed to get a British passport due to discrepancies in their name. You don't want to be in that category.

Good to know! Thanks for this information.