Passport and Name Change Question

annabella26

Quick question for those who may be able to help...

Im getting married in 9 months and my passport is out of date in just over 12 months. If i register my marraige in the next few weeks/months (as i will have to do anyway) can i apply for a new passport in my new name or do i have to wait untill the ceremony part is done? ie is it legal to change my name as such before im ceremonial married?

Sorry if it seems a stupid question, just seems a waste to apply for a new passport and then re-apply again in a year or so after the wedding

lazygal

Names in Ireland are based on common usage. If you continue to use your current surname, you'll have to apply for a passport in that name, otherwise you can start using it now so you have a record that the married surname you're using is yours. There's no 'legal' way of changing your name, you just start using the new one, and if you don't plan on doing that for another nine months, that's when you'll be able to apply for a passport in a different name.

annabella26

lazygal wrote: »

Names in Ireland are based on common usage. If you continue to use your current surname, you'll have to apply for a passport in that name, otherwise you can start using it now so you have a record that the married surname you're using is yours. There's no 'legal' way of changing your name, you just start using the new one, and if you don't plan on doing that for another nine months, that's when you'll be able to apply for a passport in a different name.

i would start using it today if i was able! maybe i worded this wrong, what i meant was if i was to apply for a passport in my "married" name would i need to supply a marraige certificate or letter of registration? basically i want the passport in my new name but i dont know when i can apply for it

lazygal

You apply when you change your name. If that's after you get married, and proof of your name is sought, then you will need a marriage cert and other relevant paperwork (not sure, bills maybe?). But there's nothing stopping you from changing your surname right now, and using your 'married' name, as names are based on common usage, eg my mother's name given at birth is not the one she uses, her passport is in her common usage name.

bovril

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/travel_and_recreation/travel_abroad/passports/renewing_an_irish_passport.html

From the above page

If you want to change the name on your passport to your married name include your civil marriage certificate.

Moonbeam

and they charge you the full whack now for a new passport.

bovril

annabella26 wrote: »

If i register my marraige in the next few weeks/months (as i will have to do anyway)

I presume you mean register your intent to marry. If this is the case you are not married when you do this, you have just registered your intent. There are probably cases where people for whatever reason do not get married even though they have registered intent so while you could technically use your married name if you wanted to at work etc there are a lot of places that would require your actual marriage certificate to change your name. Some banks etc will only take original copies too and not photocopies so it's worth ordering a few copies of your marriage cert if you want to send a few out at once to change your name.

annabella26

thanx for all the help... looks like i will wait untill im married to renew the passport as im not renewing it and then paying another 90 quid to get a name changed

LB6

Hi there.

You're bringing back memories for me here. My passport was out of date too for when I was going away on HM, and I so wanted to get it in my new name.

So, spoke to the priest, and he wrote a letter. Stated the marriage intent, date and the new name that I'd be taking. Hand written on church paper, embossed and sealed. Couldn't have been more original, even written with a fountain pen :-)

I filled in the forms using my upcoming new name and attached the letter from the priest.

There was never any question, forms sent off in the PO env and they were back in 3 weeks with my new name.

Hopefully you can do something similar. Best of luck.

lollisue

LB6 wrote: »

Hi there.

So, spoke to the priest, and he wrote a letter. Stated the marriage intent, date and the new name that I'd be taking. Hand written on church paper, embossed and sealed. Couldn't have been more original, even written with a fountain pen :-)

Not possible any more as the laws around marriage have changed.
You have to have the civil marriage certificate.

OP - just make sure wherever you are going on honeymoon doesn't require your passport to be valid for at least 6 months after travel. (sounds like you'll only have 3 months left on your passport when you get married?)

If it's the US, while they do have this rule, Ireland are exempt and your passport just needs to be valid for the length of your stay. EU you are fine too.