Changing your name
An Australian passport cannot be altered to reflect a change of name. A new application must be made and a new passport produced.
You may change your name in your passport by completing the Form PC8 and by providing an original name change document as well as the other documents required for your application. The name change document can be in the form of a change of name certificate, a marriage certificate issued by the state (for a marriage in Australia you must present the marriage certificate issued by a state registrar of births, deaths and marriages), death certificate or a divorce decree.
If you were born in Australia or normally reside in Australia and you wish to change your name, you must have this name change registered through the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages in your Australian state of birth or residence. The overseas name change document (even marriage certificates) will not be accepted as proof of a name change for your application. We regret that there are no exceptions made to this policy. If you were married in Australia and you are presenting the marriage certificate issued by Births, Deaths and Marriages, this is acceptable evidence of name change (for your family name only). If you cannot access a state or territory RBDM in Australia to change your name, you may use a name from a foreign marriage or a foreign name change certificate provided it has been legalised (apostilled or authenticated) by the issuing government in a form that meets our requirements and it was issued after you obtained Australian citizenship.
Please note that there is a difference between a marriage license and a marriage certificate. The Passports Office requires a marriage certificate to proceed with a change of name based on marriage.
You may not substitute one of your given names for a maiden name through a marriage certificate; this must be done with a name change certificate or amended birth certificate.
You are eligible for a free (gratis) passport if:
• your current passport has more than 2 years validity,
• the reason for name change is a result of a marriage,
• divorce or death and the event occurred during the validity of the current document,
• the name change event has occurred within the 12 months prior to you lodging your application.
The gratis passport will be issued up to the expiry date of your current document.