How to Renew a Philippine Passport With a Name Change

Executive summary

If you’re renewing a Philippine passport and your legal name has changed (because of marriage, annulment/nullity, recognition of foreign divorce, death of spouse, adoption, or a court/administrative name change), the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) will only print the name that appears in your most recent PSA-issued civil registry record (or PSA-transmitted consular record, e.g., a Report of Marriage). The golden rule is: fix the name in the civil registry first, then renew your passport with the supporting proof.

Legal framework (Philippine context)

Philippine Passport Act of 1996 (R.A. 8239) and its IRR: the DFA issues passports and sets evidentiary requirements.
R.A. 10928 (2017): regular passports are valid for 10 years for applicants 18+; 5 years for minors.
Civil Code & Family Code rules on names and marriage (e.g., Art. 370, Civil Code on optional use of the husband’s surname by a married woman; jurisprudence has upheld DFA’s authority to require proof before reverting to a maiden name).
R.A. 9048 (as amended) & R.A. 10172: administrative correction of clerical errors; change of first name/nickname; limited administrative corrections to day/month of birth and sex entry when due to clerical error (not a change of gender identity).
Article 26(2) of the Family Code and related cases: recognition in the Philippines of a foreign divorce obtained by the foreign spouse; requires Philippine court recognition to affect civil records.

When a “renewal with name change” applies

Common scenarios and the proof DFA expects at the time of renewal:

Marriage (Philippines)
- If you choose to adopt your spouse’s surname (optional), present:
  - PSA marriage certificate showing the marriage, and
  - Your current valid passport and standard IDs.
- If you prefer to keep your maiden name, you may do so; renew normally. (No name change—no extra proof.)
Marriage (abroad)
- Present the PSA-issued Report of Marriage (ROM) (or PSA marriage record if already consolidated).
- If PSA ROM isn’t available yet, DFA commonly requires proof that the ROM has been filed/transmitted. Best practice: wait for PSA ROM.
Annulment or Declaration of Nullity (Philippines)
- Present the PSA-annotated marriage certificate reflecting the decree (or DFA-accepted combination of the final court decision + certificate of finality + proof of transmittal/annotation, as locally practiced), plus IDs.
- After annulment/nullity, you may resume your maiden name.
Foreign divorce of a mixed-nationality couple
- If your foreign spouse obtained a valid foreign divorce, you need a Philippine court order recognizing that divorce and the PSA-annotated marriage record before DFA will reflect your status/name change.
Death of spouse (widowed)
- To resume maiden name, present PSA death certificate of spouse and PSA marriage certificate.
Court-ordered change of name/surname
- Present the final and executory court decision and your PSA birth certificate with annotation showing the new name.
Administrative change of first name / clerical error correction (R.A. 9048/10172)
- Present the PSA birth certificate with annotation and the Local Civil Registry authority’s approval of the petition.
Adoption / Legitimation / Use of the father’s surname (R.A. 8552 / R.A. 9255, etc.)
- Present the PSA amended/annotated birth certificate and, where applicable, the final decree of adoption or recognition/legitimation instrument.

Key principle: DFA prints the name that appears on PSA (or PSA-transmitted consular) records. If the PSA still shows your old name, DFA will not change the passport name.

Name format notes (Philippine practice)

Married women: adopting the husband’s surname is optional. If you adopt it, your maiden surname typically becomes your middle name in common Philippine usage and many government records. If you keep your maiden name, your names remain as before marriage.
No “alias” or “also known as” on passports: only one legal name appears.
Hyphens, spaces, and special characters: DFA follows ICAO standards. Diacritics may be omitted in the machine-readable zone.
Middle name rules depend on civil status/legitimacy and PSA records. If PSA shows no middle name (e.g., certain illegitimacy cases), DFA will follow PSA.

Step-by-step: Renewal with name change (in the Philippines)

Update civil registry first Ensure your PSA document already reflects the name change (or the civil event has been properly registered/transmitted for PSA issuance).
Book an online passport appointment Choose RENEWAL and indicate that some data will change (name). Select your DFA site, date, and pay the applicable fee (regular or expedite), plus any service/convenience charges.
Prepare the documents (originals + photocopies)
- Old passport (and photocopy of the data page).
- Valid IDs consistent with your new name/status (where possible).
- PSA document(s) proving the name change, per scenario above.
- For foreign-language documents: provide official English translation and the proper Apostille/authentication as applicable.
- If you recently changed your signature, bring specimen signature on plain paper plus IDs for comparison.
Personal appearance at DFA
- Data verification: DFA checks your forms and supporting documents.
- Biometrics & photo: no eyeglasses/tinted lenses; avoid heavy makeup, colored contacts, or headwear (religious head coverings allowed; face must be fully visible).
- E-signature capture.
Claim or courier delivery
- Keep the official receipt and tracking details. Inspect the passport upon release for accuracy (name spelling, dates).

Step-by-step: Renewal with name change (at a Philippine Embassy/Consulate)

Check post-specific rules (forms, fees, payment methods, mail-in vs in-person).
Ensure PSA-level compliance: bring PSA ROM/annotated PSA certificates or proof of transmittal to PSA.
Submit your application with originals/photocopies; have biometrics taken.
Delivery/collection: passports are printed in the Philippines; expect longer lead times than domestic applications.

Document checklists by scenario

Always bring:

Old passport + photocopy of data page
Accomplished application form (renewal)
Government-issued ID(s)

Plus the scenario-specific proof:

Adopt spouse’s surname (married in PH): PSA marriage certificate
Adopt spouse’s surname (married abroad): PSA Report of Marriage (or proof of PSA transmittal)
Resume maiden name (annulled/null & void): PSA-annotated marriage certificate; (and, if asked, the court decision + certificate of finality)
Resume maiden name (foreign divorce recognized): Philippine court recognition of foreign divorce and PSA-annotated marriage record
Resume maiden name (widowed): PSA death certificate of spouse + PSA marriage certificate
Court-ordered name change: Final & executory decision + PSA birth certificate with annotation
R.A. 9048/10172 changes: PSA birth certificate with annotation + LCR approval/related papers
Adoption/Legitimation/R.A. 9255: PSA amended/annotated birth certificate; decree/instrument, if required

For minors:

Minor’s PSA birth certificate (amended/annotated, if name changed)
Both parents present with IDs (or parent + notarized SPA/consent per DFA rules); proof of sole parental authority/guardianship if applicable

Fees, timing, and delivery (what to expect)

Validity: 10 years (18+); 5 years (under 18).
Fees & timelines: Regular vs expedited processing fees apply; convenience fees for e-payments/courier may be added. Processing times vary by site/season and are longer for foreign service posts. Plan well ahead of travel.

Reversion to maiden name while marriage subsists

Using your husband’s surname is optional, but if your current passport already uses it, the DFA generally requires proof of a legal basis (e.g., annulment/nullity with PSA annotation, death of spouse, or other competent court order) before allowing reversion to maiden name in the new passport. Bring supporting PSA records.

Special/edge cases & practical tips

No PSA annotation yet? The passport cannot reflect the new name until the civil record is updated or properly transmitted to PSA.
Foreign documents must be Apostilled or authenticated and translated if not in English.
Consistency across IDs: After the passport is issued in the new name, update your PhilID, UMID/SSS, TIN, PRC, LTO, bank records, etc., to avoid mismatches.
Courtesy lanes (walk-ins): Typically available for seniors, PWDs, pregnant women, solo parents (with ID), and minors seven (7) and below accompanied by a qualified adult; practice varies by site and capacity—bring proof of eligibility.
Travel soon? Renew early. Airlines and foreign embassies often require 6 months’ passport validity on the date of travel/visa application.
Check the printout at release: Report any typographical error immediately.

Frequently asked questions

1) Do I have to change my passport name after marriage? No. Adopting your spouse’s surname is optional. You may continue using your maiden name; just renew normally.

2) My marriage was celebrated abroad. Can I change my passport name now? Yes—after your marriage is reported to and reflected by PSA (via ROM). Present the PSA ROM (or acceptable proof of PSA transmittal per post practice).

3) I have a foreign divorce. Will DFA print my maiden name? Only after a Philippine court recognizes the foreign divorce and PSA annotates your civil record accordingly.

4) Can I change my first name via passport renewal alone? No. First correct it through R.A. 9048 (administrative change) or a court proceeding; when the PSA birth certificate shows the annotation/new name, renew your passport with those papers.

5) What name will appear if I was adopted? The passport will follow your PSA amended birth certificate post-adoption.

6) What if my PSA record has a typo? Fix the PSA record first (R.A. 9048/10172). DFA will not override PSA.

Bottom line

To renew a Philippine passport with a name change, synchronize your civil registry documents with PSA first, then apply for renewal bringing the exact PSA proof of that change. The DFA will mirror your PSA-recorded legal name—nothing more, nothing less.