Article 370 of the Civil Code of the Philippines has long made it clear that the wife’s use of her husband’s surname is her option but not her obligation. Some women feel that getting a head start on your post-wedding to-do list means getting the IDs in order by having the name changed.
For some reason, these women think that being a ‘Mrs’ and changing their identity to their husband is something to look forward to as part of the deal. It’s familiar yet surprising, given that we now live in a gender-aware era. The tradition of having women change their last name upon marriage is a patriarchal sign that the woman becomes one of the man’s possessions. Nevertheless, it remains a tradition that most women embrace to this day. Because of this, the instances of passport name change increase as the circumstances dictating for such do as well.
This guide will detail all instances when a passport name change can occur, along with the complete requirements and the procedures you need to follow to make the change, regardless of why you need it done.
Requirements when Changing Your Passport Name
As far as name change goes, it seems that the first ID to go is the passport. It’s an optional change, especially if the passport is still valid, but if you want to, then do take note that the process for changing the name involves a renewal of passport and then some.
There are different documentary requirements for a passport name change, usually depending on the reason associated with the change. If you wish to process a passport renewal and a name change at the same time, please be guided by the following list of documentary requirements:
For Married Women who wish to use their Husband’s Surname
- Original* PSA-authenticated Marriage Contract, or if abroad, Copy of local register of marriages/Report of Marriage
- Current passport with photocopy of the bio-data page
- Valid or Latest Passport (For Renewal of Passport)
- Original* and photocopy of any valid identification card of husband
- Any of the following valid IDs with one (1) photocopy – if possible with the Married Name
- Social Security System (SSS) / Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) Unified Multi-Purpose Identification (UMID) Card
- Land Transportation Office (LTO) Driver’s License. Student Permit may be accepted if in card format.
- Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC) ID
- Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) E-Card
- Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Voter’s ID or Voter’s Certification from the Election Officer with Dry Seal
- Philippine National Police (PNP) Firearms License
- Senior Citizen ID
- Airman License
- Philippine Postal ID
- School ID
Please note that applicants must renew the passport for amendment requests of name in a machine-readable passport instead.
For Change in Surname because of Death of Husband
For this kind of name change, applicants are required to present the following documents:
- Original* and photocopy of Death Certificate/Report of Death printed in security paper and issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and authenticated by the Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
- Current passport with photocopy of the bio-data page
- Valid or Latest Passport (For Renewal of Passport)
- Original* and photocopy of any valid identification card of husband
- Any valid ID with one (1) photocopy
For Change in Surname of a Filipino Divorced By a Foreigner
- If the divorce decree is obtained in another country, original* and photocopy of the petition for divorce and divorce decree, with English translation, authenticated by the Philippine Embassy/Consulate with jurisdiction over the country/place where the divorce decree was issued;
- If the marriage is registered in the Philippines, original* and photocopy of the marriage certificate printed on in security paper by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and authenticated by the Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), with an annotation that the marriage has been declared null and void.
- Current passport with photocopy of the bio-data page
- Valid or Latest Passport (For Renewal of Passport)
- Original* and photocopy of any valid identification card of husband
- Any valid ID with one (1) photocopy
For Change in Surname of a Filipino whose, Marriage to another Filipino was Annulled by a Philippine Court
- Original* and photocopy of the annotated Marriage Contract issued in security paper by the Philippines Statistics Authority (PSA) and authenticated by the Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
- Current passport with photocopy of the bio-data page
- Valid or Latest Passport (For Renewal of Passport)
- Original* and photocopy of any valid identification card of husband
- Any valid ID with one (1) photocopy
*Note that all original documents will be returned to the applicant.
Step-by-step Procedures for Changing Your Surname on Your Passport
Once you get your requirements out of the way, the actual process for changing your surname on your passport is really not that complicated. In fact, it’s just like renewal, with the need for additional documentary requirements.
To get the passport name change processed, you can check this article on the specific steps to follow when Applying for a passport at DFA.
If you are an OFW, it would pay to know that you no longer need to make an appointment when Applying for Passport Renewal at DFA.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I still use my maiden name in my passport even though I am married?
Yes, you can use your maiden name but only if you have not yet used your married name in your Philippine passport before. You may be required to submit a Marriage Certificate if you are updating your marital status from “single” to “married”.
I am currently using my husband’s surname in my passport. Can I revert to my maiden name when applying for a new passport?
You may revert to your maiden name only if the marriage is annulled or you are already a widow. Adequate documentary evidence is required.
Upon claiming my passport I realized that my name was misspelled. What shall I do?/h3>
Before leaving the consular office, make sure that you check the details of your new passport carefully. If the details on your passport are incorrect, such as your name, sex or date of birth, you may reapply for a passport and pay the regular passport fee of PHP 950.00.
I availed courier services to deliver my passport. Upon receipt, I found a discrepancy with my personal details. What should I do?
If your passport details has any discrepancy, you are required to report such inconsistency to the DFA capturing site where you originally filed your application for appropriate action.
I made a mistake in filling out my application form. Will this affect my application? Will my appointment be cancelled?
Minor/typographical errors in fields such as parents’ names, place of birth and old passport number may be corrected during the processing stage. However, any error in the applicant’s name and date of birth fields in the application form cannot be corrected during the passport appointment. Further, regardless of the field where the error is present, any application with two or more incorrect entries shall be rejected or be subjected to further review.
Applicants must ensure that the information being submitted during the online booking of appointment are complete and accurate. Multiple errors and/or misrepresentation of information may result to failure in the capturing of the applicant’s biometrics, or be considered as grounds for rejection of the passport application.