Name Change After Marriage in India: Order, Documents and Fees (2026)
Name change after marriage: the order to update Aadhaar, PAN, bank, passport and voter ID, the documents and fees for each, and when you need the gazette.
Raj Patil · Founder, Vivah Swapn
Raj Patil is the founder of Vivah Swapn and writes about matchmaking, building strong matrimony profiles, and Maharashtrian marriage traditions.
A married woman in India does not have to change her surname. If she does, update the documents in this order: get the registered marriage certificate first, then Aadhaar, then PAN, then bank accounts, then the passport and voter ID. Each office accepts the marriage certificate as proof of the new surname. The Maharashtra Gazette is needed only if the first name is changing too, or if an office asks for it. As of October 2026 the fees are ₹75 for Aadhaar, ₹107 for a physical PAN card and ₹2,500 for a standard passport re-issue.
This guide gives the order, the documents each office asks for, the current fees and which steps can be done online. Every figure was checked against the official site in October 2026. Fees change, so check the portal once more before you pay.
Do you have to change your name after marriage?
No. No law in India requires a woman to take her husband's surname. Many women keep their maiden name, some add the husband's surname after their own, and some change it completely. All three choices are legal.
What matters is that every document shows the same name. Problems start when Aadhaar has the new surname, the passport has the old one and the bank account has a third spelling. The confusion usually shows up at the worst time: during a home-loan application, an insurance claim or a visa interview.
If you keep your maiden name, there is nothing to update. Keep the marriage certificate safe, because it is what links you to your spouse for a joint account, a nomination or a spouse visa. You can also add your spouse's name to your passport without changing your own. Passport Seva accepts the marriage certificate or an Annexure J joint photo declaration for that.
When the first name changes too
In many Maharashtrian families the bride is given a new first name at the wedding. Whether this is done varies a lot between families, and more couples now skip it or keep it only for use within the family. If the new first name is going to be your legal name, the marriage certificate alone is usually not enough. UIDAI's document list asks for a gazette notification for any change to the first name or full name. Passport Seva says that a full change of name after marriage follows its standard name-change procedure, which asks for newspaper notices or a state gazette notification. In that case, publish in the gazette before you go to any other office.
The right order to update documents after marriage
- Marriage certificate. Every other office asks for it. If you have not registered yet, start with our marriage certificate documents checklist.
- Maharashtra Gazette, only if needed. Needed if the first name is changing, or if an office will not accept the marriage certificate.
- Aadhaar. PAN, banks and mobile operators check your details against Aadhaar, so update it first.
- PAN. PAN is linked to Aadhaar. If the names on the two do not match, you will have trouble with income tax filing and KYC.
- Bank accounts, then insurance, demat, mutual funds and EPF. Each will ask for the updated Aadhaar or PAN.
- Passport. This is the costliest and slowest step, so do it once the other documents carry the new name.
- Voter ID. You can do this at any point, and it is free.
Documents and fees at a glance
| Document | Where to apply | Proof of the name change | Fee (October 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aadhaar | Aadhaar enrolment or update centre | Marriage certificate issued by the government | ₹75 |
| PAN | Protean or UTIITSL website | Marriage certificate (other accepted proofs listed below) | ₹107 for a physical card, ₹101 if paperless; e-PAN only ₹72 or ₹66 |
| Bank | Your branch, or the bank's own online process | Updated ID along with the marriage certificate or gazette | Set by the bank |
| Passport | Passport Seva, then a PSK or POPSK appointment | Marriage certificate or Annexure J | ₹2,500 for 36 pages, ₹3,500 for 60 pages |
| Voter ID | voters.eci.gov.in or the ECINet app (Form 8) | Proof of the new name | No fee |
| Maharashtra Gazette | Aaple Sarkar portal | Marriage registration certificate, ID, address proof, photo | ₹559, or ₹309 for reserved categories other than OBC |
Aadhaar name change after marriage
Where: An Aadhaar enrolment or update centre, such as an Aadhaar Seva Kendra or a bank or post office centre that does updates. The myAadhaar portal and the Aadhaar app handle some updates from home, but at the time of writing a name change still has to be done at a centre. Check the app before you go in case that changes.
Documents: UIDAI's list of accepted documents for updates includes a marriage certificate issued by the Central or State Government. If your certificate has no photograph, also carry a photo ID in your old name.
Fee: ₹75 for a name update on its own. It is free if you do it together with a biometric update, in which case only the biometric fee of ₹125 applies.
Limit: UIDAI allows a name to be updated only twice in a lifetime. A spelling correction counts as one of those two. Check the spelling on the screen before you approve the update.
PAN card name change after marriage
Where: Online on the Protean or UTIITSL website, using the option for changes or corrections in existing PAN data. You can also go to a PAN centre run by either of them. Your PAN number does not change; only the name on the card does.
Documents: Protean's guidelines list these as proof of a name change for married women: the marriage certificate, the marriage invitation card, a gazette notification of the name change, or a copy of the passport showing the husband's name. A certificate from a gazetted officer stating the name change is also accepted. The marriage certificate is the safest of these.
Fee (inclusive of taxes):
- Physical card to an Indian address: ₹107, or ₹101 through paperless e-KYC and e-Sign
- e-PAN only, sent by email: ₹72, or ₹66 if paperless
- Small additional charges apply for Aadhaar authentication and e-Sign
If you use the paperless Aadhaar e-KYC option, the details are taken from Aadhaar, so Aadhaar must already carry the new name.
Bank account name change after marriage
There is no common bank form. Each bank has its own request form, and many now let you start the request in the app. RBI's KYC rules say that an identity document still counts as valid after a name change if it comes with a marriage certificate issued by the State Government or a gazette notification. So a bank can update your name even before your passport has been re-issued.
Bring:
- The bank's name-change or KYC update form
- Updated Aadhaar and PAN (or the old ones along with the marriage certificate)
- The marriage certificate
- Your passbook or chequebook, and any debit card that will need to be replaced
Do the same for fixed deposits, lockers, insurance policies, mutual funds, demat accounts and your EPF account. If you change your signature too, tell the bank, so that cheques in the new signature are not returned.
Passport name change after marriage
Where: Apply on the Passport Seva portal for a re-issue of passport with a change in personal particulars. Then attend the appointment at a Passport Seva Kendra or Post Office Passport Seva Kendra. You will get a fresh booklet.
Documents: Passport Seva's document advisory lists, for a woman changing her surname after marriage, either the marriage certificate or a joint photo declaration signed by husband and wife (Annexure J). Take your current passport and its self-attested copies. A full change of name (first name included) follows the standard name-change procedure instead.
Fee: The fee table on Passport Seva was revised from 1 July 2026. A 36-page booklet with 10 years' validity now costs ₹2,500, and a 60-page booklet costs ₹3,500. The Tatkaal fee is an extra ₹2,500. Many older articles still give the pre-July figures of ₹1,500 and ₹2,000, which are no longer correct.
If you are travelling soon after the wedding, check with the airline and the destination country before travelling on a passport whose name differs from your ticket or visa. Passport Seva advises against travelling in your previous name once the name has changed.
Voter ID name change after marriage
Fill Form 8 (correction of entries) on voters.eci.gov.in or in the Election Commission's ECINet app. The same Form 8 also handles shifting your registration to the new address after marriage, so you can do both in one application. Upload proof of the new name, such as the marriage certificate. There is no fee. A replacement EPIC card is issued after the correction is approved.
Maharashtra Gazette name change: when and how
Most women who are changing only the surname do not need the gazette. Aadhaar, PAN, banks and Passport Seva all accept the marriage certificate. The gazette is worth doing when:
- the first name or full name is changing
- the marriage certificate shows a spelling different from what you want, or
- an office has refused the certificate.
How to apply (from the Directorate of Government Printing, Stationery and Publications FAQ):
- Register on Aaple Sarkar and create your user profile with OTP verification.
- Choose the Industries, Energy and Labour Department, then the service for the Maharashtra Government Gazette Part II (change of name, age and religion).
- Download the application format, fill it in, and upload it along with:
- proof of identity: PAN, passport, Aadhaar or voter ID
- proof of address: Aadhaar, ration card or electricity bill
- the marriage registration certificate, for a change of name after marriage
- a passport-size photograph
- Pay the fee: ₹559 for the general category, or ₹309 for reserved categories other than OBC (taxes included).
The notice is normally published within about 15 days of the application. The gazette part comes out weekly, so there is no same-day option. You cannot edit the details after you submit, so check every letter before paying. Common Service Centres can file the application for you if you prefer.
For the rules on name change under a civil marriage, see our guide to the Special Marriage Act and name change.
Frequently asked questions
Is it compulsory to change my surname after marriage? No. It is your choice. If you keep your maiden name, the only thing to do is keep the marriage certificate safe for joint accounts, nominations and visas.
Can I change my name on Aadhaar after marriage without a marriage certificate? UIDAI's list also accepts a gazette notification or other government documents that already show the new name, such as a passport. In practice, most women do not have any of these until Aadhaar is updated, which is why the marriage certificate comes first.
Will my PAN number change? No. Only the name on the card changes. The number stays the same for life.
Do I need a new passport just because I got married? No. A passport in your maiden name stays valid. You need a re-issue only if you change the name, or if you want your spouse's name added.
How long does all of this take? It varies by office. UIDAI's FAQ says an Aadhaar update can take 30 to 90 days. The gazette notice is normally published within about 15 days. For the passport, it depends on appointment slots at your Passport Seva Kendra and on police verification where it applies. Plan for two to three months from the marriage certificate to the last document. Do not book international travel in the new name until the passport is in your hand.
Read next
- Marriage certificate documents checklist for Maharashtra
- Special Marriage Act and name change
- Marriage registration in Maharashtra, step by step
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