This guidance tells HM Passport Office staff how to deal with passport applications that have a change of name, including:

• how customers apply to change their name
• how to deal with:
  • adult and child name changes
  • name changes for someone who you suspect is an offender
  • name changes and name differences after the customer has registered or naturalised
  • a change of name as the customer has changed gender
  • a change of name after a passport was lost or stolen
  • name changes for British overseas citizens and British overseas territory citizens
  • name changes on joint citizenship applications
  • name changes for diplomats and officials
  • name changes and differences when the customer needs an interview
  • name changes on standard, heightened and substantial risk applications
• additional checks that you need to do when the customer has changed their name
• name changes that may be an indication of fraud
• carrying out searches and file requests when the customer has changed their name