Having two names on a UK passport?

[BazVegas]

Sorry if this is the wrong place to post this, it’s an oddly specific question.

It was here on Mumsnet that I learned the useful info that it’s possible to have your original/birth surname noted under ‘official observations’ in your UK passport. Useful for people who have changed their surname but still use the original one at work etc.

My question is - is it possible to do it the other way round? Has anybody done this? How do you go about it?

Context - I am renewing my passport soon. I have never changed my name but I am married and the DC have my husband’s surname. I would like to have ‘also known as Firstname Marriedname’ on my passport if it’s allowed.

I know there’s a knowledgable person somewhere here who can tell me what I need to know!

I didn’t know about this, so I can have my maiden name on my passport, how?

From what I gather you can have it added as an ‘official observation’ (if you look at your passport, the page above your photo/info page probably says something like “official observations: there are no official…”

I’ve been told (on here and elsewhere) that you can provide a copy of your wedding cert. and have it recorded “also known as Firstname Maidenname”

I’d like to know if I can do the same thing but with my husband’s / DC’s name.

Or - do I have to change my name to get both recognised? Not crazy about that idea…

You’ve never changed your name but you want your passport to record an “also known as” name?
Why?

A few personal reasons but the ones I’m happy to share are:

The kids have his name, I always get anxious travelling with my children without him. We end up doing this at least once/twice a year because of family/work reasons. It did once cause us a headache.

My husband and I run a small side business together and occasionally it causes problems when people try to write cheques/pay invoices etc and incorrectly assume we have the same surname.

There is another (more compelling) reason but it’s a little too private for here.

Why?
Makes travelling with your kids easier if you have the same name?

I used my maiden name for work, then started to use my married name on my health records when I had the kids (6yrs after we married).

I finally started using my married name when I changed career and no longer needed/wanted to be associated with all of my previous publications...

I've never really 'changed' my name as such. I use both.

Drawbacks: I never know what surname people know me by

I can't remember how I did it on my passport (it was 15-20yrs ago). It was really straight forward, I know that.

I don't know for sure but would like to do the same thing and might do next renewal whenever it rolls around. I've got passport in maiden name / drivers licence in married name and find it helpful to have photo ID for both names, so don't want to change. I believe my sister may have done similarly.

Former passport officer here. You should be able to have it added as an observation. We used to add “Holder is also known as Jane Smith.”

Thank you!

Should I send a copy of my marriage cert along with my renewal application?

Hi OP 👋

I did it your way around for the same reason. I didn’t change my name when I got married, so I’ve always been BookishNerd Maidenname

I renewed my passport just after I got married and I wasn’t sure whether or not I would ever use BookishNerd Husbandname so I got them to add it in on observations, just in case.

Was actually really simple, though I’ve never actually travelled as anything other than my normal name.

OP, I have done it the other way, as you mention, in that I still use my maiden name professionally so have my passport as Mrs Y but the official observation 'also known as Dr X'

I don't know how straightforward it will be for you to do if didn't actually change your name at all, but someone may be able to help with that.

It may help with travel but a word of caution - it is unlikely to help with the bank issue, as cheques do need to be written in the name of the account holder

If there is a bank account issue with cheques then a bank can also have a ‘also known as’ added to the account…

passport first using marriage certificate for evidence (fairly standard)

then use passport as evidence for the bank

then you should be able to have cheques in either name

@BazVegas I know it’s been a while since your original post, but I would also like to add my married surname as an observation in my passport. What did you do in the end?

Besides your marriage certificate, did you need to send in any other evidence to make this request? Did you state the reason why you wanted the observation?

Struggling to find any definitive answers online so it’d be useful to know what you ended up doing.

Thanks very much!

Does it help with the bank issue though?

I requested this on my last passport application and they didn't do it!