Guidance

Naming children and change of name letters

Letters explaining UK laws about naming children and changing your name. Sometimes called information notes.

From:
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Published
25 July 2024
Last updated
1618 December 2024 — See all updates

British embassies, high commissions and consulates cannot issue certificates of name or change of name. Under UK law parents may give their child any forename or surname and you can change your surname or forename.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office provides standard letters to explain UK laws to local authorities when you’re abroad.

Change of name

If you’re asked to provide proof of UK law about changing your name download the relevant letter. You can get a signed and stamped version of a letter, which costs £50.

Albania: change of name

PDF, 97.5 KB, 3 pages

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Argentina: change of name

PDF, 387 KB, 6 pages

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Austria: change of name (English and German)

PDF, 575 KB, 4 pages

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Azerbaijan: change of name

PDF, 21.7 KB, 2 pages

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Bahrain: change of name

PDF, 156 KB, 3 pages

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Belarus: change of name

MS Word Document, 218 KB

Belgium: change of name

PDF, 238 KB, 6 pages

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Brazil: change of name

ODT, 19.7 KB

This file is in an OpenDocument format

Bulgaria: change of name

PDF, 559 KB, 3 pages

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Croatia: change of name

PDF, 364 KB, 3 pages

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Ecuador: change of name

ODT, 59.9 KB

This file is in an OpenDocument format

France: change of name

PDF, 821 KB, 5 pages

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Germany: change of name

ODT, 149 KB

This file is in an OpenDocument format

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Greece: change of name

PDF, 181 KB, 3 pages

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Italy: change of name

PDF, 3.38 MB, 5 pages

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Kuwait: change of name

PDF, 9.17 MB, 4 pages

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Luxembourg: change of name

PDF, 316 KB, 4 pages

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Mexico: change of name

PDF, 532 KB, 1 page

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Montenegro: change of name

PDF, 113 KB, 2 pages

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North Macedonia: change of name

PDF, 548 KB, 3 pages

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Peru: change of name

PDF, 82.4 KB, 2 pages

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Portugal: change of name (English)

PDF, 101 KB, 2 pages

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Portugal: change of name (Portuguese)

PDF, 270 KB, 2 pages

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Qatar: change of name

PDF, 393 KB, 1 page

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Russia: change of name

PDF, 647 KB, 10 pages

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Spain: change of name

PDF, 139 KB, 3 pages

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Switzerland: change of name

PDF, 136 KB, 3 pages

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Turkey: change of name

ODT, 53.2 KB

This file is in an OpenDocument format

Uruguay: change of name

PDF, 172 KB, 4 pages

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United Arab Emirates (UAE): change of name

PDF, 130969 KB, 2 pages

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Naming children

If you’re asked to provide proof of UK law about naming children download the relevant letter. You can get a signed and stamped version of a letter, which costs £50.

Hungary: naming children

PDF, 200 KB, 1 page

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email fcdo.correspondence@fcdo.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Updates to this page

Published 25 July 2024
Last updated 1618 December 2024 + show all updates

  1. Portugal change of name letters added.

  2. United Arab Emirates (UAE) change of name letter added.

  3. All countries and territories letter removed.

  4. Link to get a signed and stamped letter added. All countries and territories letter added.

  5. First published.

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