Changing your name in your passport. If you have changed your name by marriage or divorce, you may apply for a new passport to be issued in your new name, using form DS-82 or DS-5504. If you have changed your name any other way, you must apply using form DS-11, Click here for instructions.

Legally, you are not strictly required to change your passport after getting married, provided you are comfortable traveling under your maiden name. However, the most important rule of international travel is that the name on your passport must exactly match the name on your airline tickets. If you choose to legally change your name and wish to book future travel under your new married name, you must apply for a passport renewal or amendment to reflect that change. In the United States and UK, this usually involves a standard renewal process where you submit your marriage certificate as evidence. In India, recent 2025/2026 rules have further simplified this, allowing women to retain their maiden names or easily update spouse details using a "Joint Declaration" (Annexure J) instead of a formal marriage certificate. If you have an upcoming honeymoon and your passport is in your maiden name, it is often safer to book the flights in that name and handle the legal name change on your documents after you return.