Passport has 9 years left, but I’m getting married and changing my surname

[taratatata]

We’re booking our next holiday (for next year). I don’t know what name to book it under - we get married next week, so I’ll have been my new surname for a year.

Can you change your name on your passport for free or is there a cost incurred?

Same cost as a new passport. I just left mine in my maiden name and changed it when it expired.

Why are you changing your surname, why not just leave it as it is?

Just book any holidays under your maiden name until your passport expires. Or pay £80 odd for a new one in your married name.

book the tickets in your maiden name so it matches your passport

Any change of name requires a new passport and no discounts given. You could just leave it for the next 9 years as long as you remember that when you book any holidays / flights

Why do you need to book flights in your new surname?

Because I want to

I kept mine for about 7 years in my maiden name and changed it once it expired. Wasn’t about to pay £80 for a new one

Not sure, just means I’ll need flights and travel insurance in my maiden name and I wasn’t sure if that would be ok or not since it won’t actually be my legal name

I did the same on this years holiday and took my marriage certificate with me just in case

It’s fine to do this. It’s still legally your name

Why wouldn’t you have to pay for a new passport?

My sister in law had about 7 years left, she just booked holiday/flight tickets in her maiden name. Then renewed in her married name when the time came.

You can use your "married" name in normal life, so it's what people know you as, but leave your maiden/previous name on the formal stuff like passports. Lots of people do that. Just remember when it comes to things like booking flights, hotel rooms, travel insurance, etc., so that whatever name you use matches across everything relevant to the travel.

Just bear in mind potentially needing to provide proof of ID in the future, finance etc.

I just left it in my maiden name and booked holidays etc in my maiden name, however after a few years I did change it because I was so used to my married name that I kept forgetting! No need to do it straight away though.

You can use any name you like providing you aren't using it for fraudulent purposes.

It doesn't even confuse the government agencies to have driving licence and passport in different names!

As long as you book everything in the name that matches your passport it should be fine. I got a new one earlier this year for the same reason, applied online and had to send my marriage certificate. Had the new passport within 2 weeks.

Yes it will. You still have the right to use your original name.

If you are changing your name it's worth spending the £80 and getting a new passport. It's cheaper in the long run than having to pay to change flights when a mistake happens.

I got married in 2018 and my passport is still in my maiden name! Never been a problem, just make sure that when booking a holiday the flight/hotel etc is in the name that matches the passport.

Just getting married doesn't make your "married name" into your legal name. Your maiden/previous name is just as valid legally.

You don't make a legal name change declaration when you get married. You "can" change your name if you wish, and the marriage certificate is your "evidence" you can give people to support your name change.

Your name remains the maiden/previous name if you want it to be - you don't need to do anything at all if you don't want to change it.

Thanks everybody, turns out I didn’t know much about this! Appreciate the help

I just got a new passport as I wanted everything to be in my new name.

You can legally use both names.
But take care you carry documentation to link your new and old name.

I had a nightmare collecting a hire car. Driving licence and Passport in old name and credit card in new name.....