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Your age, nationality and country of residence are the factors that determine whether you can apply for a Deed Poll to change your name.  This article also includes information for people who have dual nationality, asylum seekers, refugees, undischarged bankrupts, people with criminal records and people detained under the Mental Health Act.

1.  Age requirement
To change your own name by Deed Poll you must be at least 16 years of age.  To change the name of a child who is under 16 years of age, someone with parental responsibility can apply so long as everyone with parental responsibility for the child consents to the name change.  Please read our page Can I change my child's name (opens new window) for further information about parental responsibility and the consent requirements.

2.  Nationality and country of residence
Please read the section below that applies to you.  Please note, United Kingdom means England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Isle of Man and the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey.

2.1  If you are British:

• If you live in the United Kingdom
  There are no restrictions to changing your name by Deed Poll.  However, before you apply for your Deed Poll, please read sections 3, 5, 6 and 7 below in case they apply to you.
  
  Please note, if you live in the Bailiwick of Jersey, the Jersey Passport Office will require the signing of your Deed Poll to be witnessed by a local solicitor or notary public. Alternatively, you can apply for your passport to any of the seven UK mainland passport offices (or online), who will accept your Deed Poll without the need for it to be witnessed by a solicitor or notary public.
  
  
• If you live outside the United Kingdom
  You can apply for a Deed Poll but before you submit your application, we advise you to contact your local British mission (i.e. the consular services section at your nearest British Embassy or High Commission) to ensure there are no special requirements that must be met before they will issue you with a new British passport.  For example, you may be required to produce two or three documents in your new name as evidence that you are using your new name for all purposes.

2.2  If you are a foreign national:

• If you live in the United Kingdom
  You can apply for a Deed Poll but before you submit your application, we advise you to check with the consular services section of your country's embassy or high commission to see if they will issue you with a passport in your new name using your Deed Poll as documentary evidence of your change of name.  If your Deed Poll will be accepted, there may be special requirements, for example, the Pakistan High Commission requires its nationals to have the signing of their Deed Poll witnessed by a solicitor, while the Danish and Estonian Embassies require their nationals to have their Deed Poll legalised [What is legalisation - opens pop-up window].  If you cannot get your passport changed to your new name, you may find your Deed Poll will not be accepted by all UK government departments, companies and organisations on the grounds that your are not changing your name "for all purposes".
  
  Please note, most foreign nationals are able to change their name by Deed Poll without getting their passport changed but it is not guaranteed.  Also, if you do get all your documents and records changed to your new name, you need to be aware that you may have problems travelling outside the UK if your passport shows one name and the other documents you have on you show a different name.  Of course, should you apply for British citizenship, the UK Border Agency will accept your Deed Poll.  Consequently, your naturalisation certificate and British passport will be issued in your new name.
  
  
• If you live outside the United Kingdom
  It is unlikely a Deed Poll issued by us will be effective changing your name unless you have a specific purpose for the Deed Poll document.  For example, you may be applying for British citizenship and the British Embassy you are dealing with have advised you to apply to us for a Deed Poll so your new British passport is issued in your new name.

3.  If you have dual nationality
If you are British and you are also a national of another country (or are entitled to apply for nationality of another country), before you apply for your Deed Poll, you should check with the embassy of your other nationality whether your name change will be recognised by them.  If your name change will not be recognised by them and you cannot get your other passport changed to your new name, you need to check if there will be any problems or implications of holding a British passport in your new name and your other passport in your current name.

4.  Asylum seekers and refugees
If you are seeking asylum or a refugee (i.e. you have been granted asylum), your Deed Poll will be accepted by the UK Border Agency as evidence of your name change.  Please note, when you complete your application form, enter your immigration status as your nationality.

If you have a Convention Travel Document or a Certificate of Travel, you can use your Deed Poll to apply for a new travel document in your new name.

If you apply for British citizenship after your name change, your naturalisation certificate and British passport will be issued in your new name.

5.  Undischarged bankrupts
If you are an undischarged bankrupt, you are free to change your name by Deed Poll.  However, if you are self employed and want to trade in your new name, you must tell all those with whom you do business the name in which you were made bankrupt.  In other words, you are not allowed to carry on the same trade in a different name without telling your customers about your former name.  This condition does not apply once you are discharged from bankruptcy.  You must also notify the Official Receiver dealing with your bankruptcy of your name change.

6.  People with criminal records
Having a criminal record does not prevent you from changing your name by Deed Poll.  However, you must be aware of the following:

• If you have any existing or pending criminal actions against you, you must notify the police station dealing with your case of your name change.
• If you are on probation, you must notify your probation officer of your name change.
• If you are on the Sex Offenders' Register, you must notify the police within 3 days from when you start using your new name.  It is a criminal offence not to do so.

7.  People detained under the Mental Health Act
There is no specific provision in the Mental Health Act that prevents a detained person from changing their name.  However, any person who executes a Deed Poll must have mental capacity i.e. they must have sufficient capacity to understand the significance and consequences of changing their name otherwise the Deed Poll can be deemed void and be ignored.  When deciding the capacity of a detained person, clinicians will take into account the following key principles of the Mental Capacity Act:

• A presumption of capacity - every adult has the right to make his or her own decisions and must be assumed to have capacity to do so unless it is proved otherwise;
• The right for individuals to be supported to make their own decisions - people must be given all appropriate help before anyone concludes that they cannot make their own decisions;
• Individuals must retain the right to make what might be seen as eccentric or unwise decisions.

If you are eligible to apply for a Deed Poll, please click on the How to apply link below.