Yes. A legal name change in India generally involves an affidavit and, depending on your situation, a newspaper notice and Gazette publication. The exact requirements depend on your case and the relevant authority.

It typically involves preparing an affidavit, and where relevant, a newspaper notice and Gazette publication, followed by updating individual records such as Aadhaar, PAN and your passport. See the “How the Process Works” section above for the full sequence.

Common categories include identity proof, address proof, existing name documentation, photographs and, depending on your case, marriage, divorce or guardian-related documents. The exact list depends on your situation.

In most cases, yes. An affidavit is generally the starting document for a name change, stating your existing name, intended name and the reason for the change.

Not always. It’s commonly used as supporting evidence and may be requested by certain authorities, but it isn’t mandatory in every case. Whether it applies to you depends on your specific situation.

Total cost depends on your documentation, whether Gazette publication applies, and applicable government fees. The published Central Government Gazette fee is ₹1,100 for an adult; our own service fees are quoted separately after understanding your case.

Processing time depends on the applicable authority and how complete your documentation is. It generally ranges from a few weeks to a couple of months. We don’t control government processing timelines and won’t promise a fixed date.

Yes, a surname-only change follows the same general name-change route as a full name change.

Yes, both adding and removing a surname are treated as a name change, and follow the applicable documentation process.

Yes. Depending on your situation, a registered marriage certificate may be enough for some records; a formal name change process may be relevant for others, particularly your passport.

Yes. If you’re reverting to a previous name, a certified copy of your divorce decree is typically the key supporting document, provided it records the name you’re reverting to.

Yes, a parent or legal guardian applies on the child’s behalf, and the process is generally handled through the Central Gazette route rather than any state-level portal.

Usually yes, and usually without a full name-change process. A spelling error made by an issuing office, such as on a birth certificate, is typically corrected directly with that office.

Name correction generally applies when there’s a typing or spelling error in an existing record. Name change generally applies when you’re intentionally adopting a different name or surname. See the comparison section above for examples.

Parts of the process can be started and managed online, but certain steps, such as signing an affidavit, typically require an in-person action before the relevant official.

Depending on your case, some steps may require an in-person visit (for example, notarising an affidavit), while others, like posting a file or downloading a published notification, don’t require a visit.

Generally yes, particularly through the Central Gazette route, which isn’t restricted by state. Some state-specific portals may have their own residency conditions.

Yes, though the process and applicable fees can differ slightly for Indians living abroad. We can help you understand what applies to your situation.

By visiting an Aadhaar Seva Kendra with your name-change documentation and identity proof. UIDAI limits the number of name updates allowed over a lifetime, so it’s worth finalising your intended spelling first.

Through a correction request to your existing PAN, not a fresh application. Your PAN number itself doesn’t change.

A passport name change is handled as a reissue, which means a new passport number as well as a new name entry.

Often yes, though each board or university sets its own correction process and may have a limited window in which to apply.

You use the published notification as supporting documentation to request updates to individual records, such as Aadhaar, PAN, passport and bank accounts, one at a time.

This is a common mismatch. The right fix depends on which document has the correct name and whether the difference is a simple spelling issue or a genuine name difference. See the mismatch section above.

There’s no absolute legal limit on the number of name changes, but individual authorities, like UIDAI for Aadhaar, do cap how many updates they’ll process over a lifetime. It’s best to be certain of your final name before you begin.

We help you understand what applies to your specific case, explain the relevant documentation and process, and guide you through it step by step, while being upfront about what stays within your control or the government’s.