Change your name in the Gazette of India
Also known as: gazette name change, name change after marriage, surname change India, Gazette of India Part IV name change, change name legally
Publishing a change of name in the Gazette of India, Part IV — the notification that Aadhaar, PAN, passport and banks accept as proof that you are the same person under a new name. Nobody is required to change their name on marriage; but if you do, this is the paperwork that makes every other update possible.
- Issued by
- Department of Publication, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India
- Official portal
- e-Gazette
- You get
- Gazette of India Part IV name-change notification — Valid for life
- Offline options
- Department of Publication, Civil Lines, Delhi 110054 (documents are sent to the Controller of Publications)
Who can apply
- Applicant is 18 or above — a person attaining the age of 18 years and above uses the adult (major) change-of-name route; minors go through a guardian under separate guidelines
- Changing your name after marriage is a choice, not a legal duty. No Indian law requires a spouse to take another surname. This procedure exists for people who have decided to change it.
- If the matter is before a court of law, the change of name cannot be processed until the final verdict is pronounced (per the Department's maiden-surname guideline)
What it costs
| Printing charges for publication of change of name (in India)india-feeThe Department's guideline states ₹1,100 — but its own wording reads 'w.e.f. 01/04/2016 to 31/03/2017', a validity window that has long expired without the document being updated. Treat ₹1,100 as indicative and confirm the current charge on Bharatkosh before paying. | ₹1100 |
| Printing charges for Indians living abroadabroad-feeSame caveat as the India figure — the guideline states ₹3,500 'w.e.f. 01/04/2016 to 31/03/2017'. Confirm on Bharatkosh. | ₹3500 |
| Newspaper advertisementCommercial rate charged by the newspaper, not a government fee — it varies by paper and city. KaamKar states no figure. | ₹0–₹0 |
How long it takes
Typically 14–60 days.
Publication is in the Weekly Gazette Part IV; the Department does not publish a committed turnaround, and the paper bundle travels to Delhi by post.
The full step-by-step guide
What's inside for this procedure:
- 8 steps in exact order, with the official link at each one
- 11 documents — accepted alternatives, exact upload sizes
- 9 common reasons applications get rejected, and how to avoid each
- A 3-question intake that prunes the checklist to your situation
- The nearest office and authorised centre to file it, for your PIN code
- Progress tracking with your deadlines, notes, and application numbers
Common questions
Do I have to change my name after marriage?
No. Nothing requires it. If you want your marital status or nomination changed in official records, that runs off the marriage certificate, not a gazette notification.
What does the Gazette actually require?
Seven things: an undertaking signed by you; the original newspaper carrying your ad; the prescribed proforma in duplicate, typed and signed by you and two witnesses; a CD with the print matter in MS Word; two self-attested photos plus a self-attested ID copy; a certificate that the hard and soft copies are similar; and a request letter with the fee.
What does it cost?
The Department's guideline states ₹1,100 for applicants in India and ₹3,500 for Indians living abroad, paid through Bharatkosh — but the guideline states those figures for a 2016–17 window that has expired without update. Confirm the current charge on Bharatkosh before paying.
I want my maiden name back. Is it different?
Yes. You must submit either a copy of the divorce decree or a NOC from your husband saying he has no objection, with his ID proof and mobile number. If the matter is before a court, the change cannot be processed until the final verdict.
How do I get the gazette copy?
You download it yourself from egazette.gov.in: search category Weekly Gazette, Part IV, set a Saturday-to-Saturday date range, download the PDF and find your name. The downloaded copy needs no certification from the Department.
Will Aadhaar accept it?
UIDAI asks for a gazette notification copy from a State or Union Government, along with an old proof of identity carrying the name currently on your Aadhaar, and states the address details in the gazette should match your Aadhaar.
Part of a bigger goal
Would you rather have someone do this for you?
The guide above covers the full procedure. If you would prefer professional help, let us know — assisted filing is on the way, and this helps us decide which services and cities come first.
We record the service, the state and the first 3 digits of your pincode — enough to see which areas need help, not enough to identify you. No name, no phone number.
Where this comes from
This guide is put together from the official government sources listed below. We last reviewed it on 20 July 2026. Government rules and fees change often, and official websites are sometimes incomplete or unclear, so we cannot promise every detail is current. We make every effort to keep this updated, but there is no guarantee. Always check the official source linked below before you act or pay.
Recent changes
- 20 July 2026 — Re-voiced steps to the action-first step-writing standard (docs/STEP-WRITING-STANDARD.md): second-person imperative, action first, who-you-need surfaced; all facts, citations, fees and references preserved.
- 15 July 2026 — Initial authoring against the Department of Publication's own guideline PDFs (adult change of name, maiden surname, different surname, acceptable-documents list) and the UIDAI name-update FAQs. Fees are stated as the Department states them (₹1,100 / ₹3,500) but flagged verifyBeforeLaunch because the guideline's own effective window reads 01/04/2016–31/03/2017 and has not been updated; the newspaper cost is a commercial rate and is left unasserted. The Aadhaar name-update limit is flagged pending confirmation of the current count.
Official sources for this guide
- Department of Publication — Guidelines for Change of Name for Adult (Major): the seven required documents, newspaper-in-original rule, old-name signature, MHA O.M. deed route for Central Government employees, embassy-attested deed for Indians abroad, ₹1,100/₹3,500 printing charges, Bharatkosh payment, e-gazette download steps
- Department of Publication — Link V: for obtaining maiden surname (divorce decree or husband's NOC with ID and mobile; sub-judice bar)
- Department of Publication — Link 2: adopting a different surname (First Class Magistrate affidavit)
- Department of Publication — list of acceptable documents as proof of old name and proof of address
- Department of Publication — Change of Name / Public Notices guidelines index
- UIDAI FAQ — how to change first name or full name on Aadhaar (gazette notification + old POI; gazette address must match Aadhaar)
- UIDAI FAQ — name update limit exceeded and exception handling through the regional office
- e-Gazette portal — where the published notification is searched and downloaded
KaamKar is an independent guide, not a government website. Apply only on the official portal linked above. Content prepared to published requirements — no outcomes are guaranteed.