How to change the name on your US passport
Which form you use depends on when your passport was issued. If it was issued less than a year ago, use Form DS-5504 by mail: there is no fee. If it is older and you can renew by mail, use Form DS-82 ($130) with a certified copy of your marriage certificate, divorce decree or court order. Otherwise apply in person with Form DS-11. All three routes need one new passport photo. You can’t change your name in an online renewal.
Passport issued less than a year ago: Form DS-5504
If your name changed by marriage or court order less than one year after your passport was issued, you can ask for a corrected passport by mail with Form DS-5504. The State Department says you do not pay a fee for this service, unless you ask for expedited service ($60).
- Your most recent passport
- An original or certified copy of your name change document, with a seal and signature (marriage certificate, divorce decree or court order)
- One new passport photo
- Form DS-5504, filled in and signed
The State Department returns your documents. A plain photocopy of your marriage certificate is not enough; it must be certified.
Passport older than a year: renew by mail with Form DS-82
You can renew by mail if your most recent passport is undamaged, was issued in the last 15 years when you were 16 or older, and is in your current name or you can show the change with a document such as a marriage certificate. Send a certified copy of your legal name change document with the form. It comes back to you in a separate mailing.
The fee is $130 for a passport book, the same as any adult renewal. See how to renew a US passport and all passport fees.
Why you can’t do it in an online renewal
Online renewal is only for people who are not changing personal information such as their name or sex. If your name has changed, renew by mail or apply in person instead. See who can renew online.
When you must apply in person: Form DS-11
If you can’t renew by mail, for example because your last passport was issued more than 15 years ago, before you turned 16, or was lost or damaged, apply in person at an acceptance facility with Form DS-11. Fill in the marriage details on page 2 of the form and bring your name change document. The fee is $130 for a book plus a $35 acceptance fee.
No legal name change document?
If you changed your name without a court order or marriage certificate, apply in person with Form DS-11 and Form DS-60. Two people who have known you by both names complete Form DS-60. You also need three certified or original public records that show you have used the new name for five years or more.
The photo
Every route needs one new photo: 2 × 2 inches, taken in the last 6 months, with a plain white or off-white background and no glasses. If your appearance changed along with your name, the new photo shows that. You can take it at home and check it before you print. See the US passport photo rules.
Already have a photo? Check it free with the passport photo checker. Every rule in one place: passport photo requirements.
Questions
How much does it cost to change my name on my passport?
Nothing with Form DS-5504 if your passport was issued less than a year ago (unless you expedite for $60). Otherwise $130 to renew by mail, or $130 plus a $35 acceptance fee in person.
Can I change my name when I renew my passport online?
No. Online renewal is only for people who are not changing their name or sex. Renew by mail with Form DS-82 instead.
Do I need a new photo to change my name?
Yes. All three forms, DS-5504, DS-82 and DS-11, need one new 2 × 2 inch passport photo.
Will I get my marriage certificate back?
Yes. The State Department returns your name change document. With a renewal by mail, it comes in a separate mailing from your new passport.
Sources: Change or correct a passport - travel.state.gov , Form DS-5504 - U.S. Department of State , Renew your passport by mail - travel.state.gov , Renew your passport online - travel.state.gov , Passport fees - travel.state.gov . Checked Oct 18, 2026. How we keep rules accurate