Your name is more than just a label — it’s your identity, your reputation, and a reflection of who you are. But in India, if you want to change your name legally, you need to follow a specific process to ensure every government and private institution recognises it. Whether you’re changing it after marriage, divorce, for personal reasons, or to correct an error, knowing how to legally change your name in India is essential.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the complete name change process in India, the legal requirements, and how you can avoid common mistakes that delay approvals for Aadhaar, PAN, passport, and other official documents.
People in India change their names for many reasons, including:
No matter the reason, the legal procedure remains the same, and skipping any step can lead to mismatched IDs and rejected applications.
It’s not enough to simply start using a new name on social media or introduce yourself differently in daily life. If you don’t follow the name change procedure in India, you may face:
In other words, without proper documentation, your “new name” might not exist legally even if everyone around you uses it.
Changing your name is a three-step process recognised across India.
The affidavit is your formal declaration of intent to change your name. It must include:
Important points:
You must announce your name change in:
The ad should clearly mention your old name, new name, and address.
Keep the original clippings with the date visible — they’re essential for the next step.
This is the most important part of the name change process in India. The Gazette is the official government record of your new name. Once published, it is accepted by:
How to apply:
Send the complete set to the Department of Publication, New Delhi (for central Gazette) or your state’s Gazette office.
The process for changing both your first and last names is the same as above, but be extra careful with spellings in all documents. Any mismatch in affidavit, newspaper ad, or application can cause rejection.
Even a minor spelling correction must go through the Gazette of India. For example, changing “Ramesh” to “Rameesh” or adding a missing middle name will require affidavit, newspaper, and Gazette steps.
Once your Gazette notice is published, you can update:
Educational Records — Provide Gazette copy to the board/university.
Some states offer gazette name change online options for part of the process, but central Gazette applications still require physical submission. You can, however, prepare your affidavit, format your application, and even send documents via courier without visiting offices in person.
We make the name change procedure in India stress-free:
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🌐 Website: gazetteconsultant.com
Yes, for government and legal purposes, a Gazette is required.
No, an affidavit alone is not considered final proof.
Typically 30–45 working days for Gazette publication.
Yes, but parents/guardians must file on their behalf.
No, you can do it yourself or use a professional service like ours.