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Original poster

Valid passport without all middle names? Advice please!

33 replies

ElectricShoe · 07/05/2025 13:30

Hi everyone,

I really need some advice from anyone who has long middle names and has applied for a passport.

I have recently applied for a passport for one of my children. When I attempted to fill in their forename and middle names in the field on the application website, they were too long by 1 character.

I called HMPO and they said to include a covering letter and to put an initial for the last middle name on the form. Since the birth cert and letter would be included with the application, they would see this and either make it fit or place it in the observations page above.

So I did as told and sent it off. It came back a few days ago and the name on the plasticy credit card type "main" page says "First Middle Middle M" ie. the last middle name is just an initial as would have been filled out on the online form. There were no observations on the page above, where I was told the full name would be listed.

I called HMPO after googling and from what I can see, it definitely should be listed there, which is exactly what the 2nd person I spoke to said. I was told to now fill out a paper form, get new photos and send it all off again. I pointed out that this was not my fault and that I had provided all the required information and done exactly as instructed - So its going to cost me at least another £10 special delivery to send off? She said I could request a call back from a manager, which came yesterday.

The manager told me I had been given misinformation by the previous two people at the standard call centre and that the passport is definitely valid. She said they only put the full name on the official observations if it is specifically requested. I have asked for this in writing because obviously it's going to be absolutely awful if we get to the border and find out we can't travel!

My question is: Has anyone else with names that wouldn't fit, been able to travel without when all present on the passport? Is it valid?

I'm really quite concerned about the variation in information I have been given and I am very worried this will wreck the holiday. We're going to Disney Land, so as you can imagine, the fallout from this could be absolutely disastrous!

Thanks

OP posts:
Original poster
ElectricShoe · 08/05/2025 22:12

@ThirdAidKit Thanks! This is exactly what I was hoping to hear, that's reassured me. <3

@titchy It's an issue because 2 people at HMPO told me that the middle names should be in the observations, and one person told me they shouldn't. I don't know about you, but I would rather have confirmation than get to the border and find out the holiday is ruined! Anyway, I think ThirdAidKit has pretty much answered this as she has an identical situation.

@samarrange We're going to Disney Land (France), not Disney World (US). We're visiting family first before heading on, hence no Euro Star. The whole trip has taken a lot of money, planning and effort - so this is why I was so anxious about it. If 3 of us can travel and not the 4th, well... it's not like getting to the cinema and finding out your ticket isn't valid so it wrecks your evening.. this is a whole other kettle of fish! :)

I am still interested to see if the letter from HMPO arrives..

OP posts:
samarrange · 08/05/2025 22:31

ElectricShoe · 08/05/2025 22:12

@ThirdAidKit Thanks! This is exactly what I was hoping to hear, that's reassured me. <3

@titchy It's an issue because 2 people at HMPO told me that the middle names should be in the observations, and one person told me they shouldn't. I don't know about you, but I would rather have confirmation than get to the border and find out the holiday is ruined! Anyway, I think ThirdAidKit has pretty much answered this as she has an identical situation.

@samarrange We're going to Disney Land (France), not Disney World (US). We're visiting family first before heading on, hence no Euro Star. The whole trip has taken a lot of money, planning and effort - so this is why I was so anxious about it. If 3 of us can travel and not the 4th, well... it's not like getting to the cinema and finding out your ticket isn't valid so it wrecks your evening.. this is a whole other kettle of fish! :)

I am still interested to see if the letter from HMPO arrives..

Edited

The original Disneyland is still open in California. We took DC there many years ago. Maybe it's because I've never been to the one in Paris, but to me "Disneyland", written on its own and without any other indication, means the one in Anaheim. 🙏

Anyway, as discussed above, your passport will be fine for Europe too. They won't even look at the truncated names (I still can't believe they have to deal with people called 7 and Sm1th!).

CheeseWisely · 08/05/2025 22:38

I work in travel, selling flights, and we never take any passengers middle name. They’re not relevant. We pass first name, surname and date of birth to the airlines and border control and that’s what needs to match.

Original poster
ElectricShoe · 08/05/2025 22:58

@samarrange apologies! I didn’t know that. I stand corrected.

There definitely are some odd names out there! I remember reading a while back that a registrar had refused a couple when they wanted to name their baby Superman 🙄

@CheeseWisely Thanks, well in that respect we’re covered also. Only the first and last names are on the tickets.

OP posts:
CamillaMacauley · 08/05/2025 23:08

It’ll be valid. So I forgot to put my middle name on my passport about 20 years ago….no idea how it wasn’t picked up. I actually have not been able to add my middle name back to my passport as the passport office said when I got my subsequent passport that I’d need to provide proof I’d changed my name. They won’t believe i haven’t changed my name and i can’t give them a deedpoll certificate.

you just need to make sure when you book flights don’t put the missing middle name on the ticket.

the only issue I’ve found is once when buying a house the solicitor refused to accept my passport as ID as the name on the form included my middle name and my passport didn’t.

I have thought about changing my name by deedpoll to something random for a day and then back to my actual name inc middle name just for a certificate but it’s too much hassle. Guess I’ve kind of lost my middle name now.

Original poster
ElectricShoe · 08/05/2025 23:50

CamillaMacauley · 08/05/2025 23:08

It’ll be valid. So I forgot to put my middle name on my passport about 20 years ago….no idea how it wasn’t picked up. I actually have not been able to add my middle name back to my passport as the passport office said when I got my subsequent passport that I’d need to provide proof I’d changed my name. They won’t believe i haven’t changed my name and i can’t give them a deedpoll certificate.

you just need to make sure when you book flights don’t put the missing middle name on the ticket.

the only issue I’ve found is once when buying a house the solicitor refused to accept my passport as ID as the name on the form included my middle name and my passport didn’t.

I have thought about changing my name by deedpoll to something random for a day and then back to my actual name inc middle name just for a certificate but it’s too much hassle. Guess I’ve kind of lost my middle name now.

That’s crazy. How can they want deedpoll proof when they’ve seen your birth certificate? The mind boggles. In my case, if I had known this was going to happen we would have chosen a shorter name. It literally doesn’t fit by 1 character! 😩

I think you’ll have more hassle if you deedpol as you then have to fill out all the “previous name” stuff and provide proof for everything (more than once if you’re married). My cousin changed her name because she wanted Mum’s name not Dad’s (they’re long divorced) and she has to provide proof for loads of stuff. Seems like an additional faff to me. I’m not particularly fond of my middle name, but not enough to do anything about it lol

OP posts:
Original poster
ElectricShoe · 10/05/2025 11:59

The letter arrived 😊I would feel a lot better if it had the passport number on it too but I think it’s more than sufficient as I can’t see a manager writing a letter with incorrect information. It’s one thing to say it over the phone and pretend it didn’t happen, it’s totally different to put it down on paper.

A massive thank you to everyone who chimed in and gave advice (and it such a speedy manner too!) much love xx

Valid passport without all middle names? Advice please!
OP posts:
CamillaMacauley · 10/05/2025 12:55

ElectricShoe · 08/05/2025 23:50

That’s crazy. How can they want deedpoll proof when they’ve seen your birth certificate? The mind boggles. In my case, if I had known this was going to happen we would have chosen a shorter name. It literally doesn’t fit by 1 character! 😩

I think you’ll have more hassle if you deedpol as you then have to fill out all the “previous name” stuff and provide proof for everything (more than once if you’re married). My cousin changed her name because she wanted Mum’s name not Dad’s (they’re long divorced) and she has to provide proof for loads of stuff. Seems like an additional faff to me. I’m not particularly fond of my middle name, but not enough to do anything about it lol

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Because my current passport supersedes my birth certificate so apparently my passport name is my new name! Even though it isn’t, it’s my passport that’s incorrect. But they can’t believe that my passport can be incorrect. I’ve no idea how it didn’t get picked up on decades ago when I forgot to include it to be honest. At one time I had a passport with my middle name in it.

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