Petition for Change of Name at the PSA Main Office
A comprehensive Philippine‐law primer (June 2025)
1. Why “change of name” matters and who handles it
In the Philippines, all vital events—birth, marriage, and death—are recorded by the Local Civil Registry (LCR) of the city or municipality where they occur, then transmitted to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) for national archiving and certification. When what is printed on your Certificate of Live Birth (COLB)—often called the “PSA birth certificate”—no longer reflects who you are or contains mistakes, you may petition to change or correct it. Where you file depends on what you want to change:
| Kind of change | Governing law/procedure | Office of filing |
|---|---|---|
| Clerical or typographical errors (misspellings, transposed letters, obvious copy-errors) | R.A. 9048 (as amended) | LCR or PSA Main |
| Change of first name/nickname | R.A. 9048 | LCR or PSA Main |
| Correction of day/month of birth or sex | R.A. 10172 | LCR or PSA Main |
| Substantial change of given name or surname (e.g., from Juan to Alfonso, from Reyes to Garcia) |
Rule 103, Rule 108 of the Rules of Court | Regional Trial Court (RTC) |
| Legitimation-related surname changes | R.A. 9858, R.A. 11222 | LCR, DSWD, or Court depending on facts |
This article focuses on petitions filed directly at the PSA Main Office in Quezon City instead of at a local civil registry.
2. Legal bases and evolution
Republic Act 9048 (2001) introduced an administrative alternative to the traditional court petition, covering (a) correction of clerical or typographical errors and (b) change of first name or nickname when the petitioner can show “proper and reasonable cause.”
Republic Act 10172 (2012) expanded R.A. 9048 to include administrative correction of the day and month of birth and the sex of a person if the error is obvious on the face of the record and supported by documentary evidence.
The 2016 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of R.A. 9048/10172 integrated the two laws, standardized fees, and expressly authorized the Civil Registrar General (CRG) at the PSA Main Office to accept petitions when:
- the petitioner was born abroad;
- the petitioner is a migrant worker or a Filipino residing overseas;
- the record is already archived at PSA but no longer exists or is incomplete in the originating LCR; or
- the petitioner, for meritorious reasons, elects to file centrally (e.g., security, disasters, or closed LCRs).
3. Who may file at PSA Main
| Eligible Petitioner | Statutory condition |
|---|---|
| Owner of the record if at least 18 years old | R.A. 9048 §3; R.A. 10172 |
| Parent, spouse, child, sibling, grandparent, or legal guardian | If owner is a minor, deceased, incapacitated, or otherwise unable |
| Duly authorized representative | Must present Special Power of Attorney (SPA) and valid IDs of both parties |
4. Changes allowed without going to court
Typographical/clerical mistakes Examples: “MAIRE” → “MARIE”; “FEBRURAY” → “FEBRUARY”. Requirements: at least two public or private documents showing the correct data (school records, baptismal cert, passport, etc.).
First name/nickname Proper and reasonable cause exists if:
- The name is ridiculous, tainted with dishonor, or extremely difficult to pronounce;
- The petitioner has habitually used another name and has been publicly known by it; or
- The change will avoid confusion.
Day or month of birth, or sex (R.A. 10172) Key test: the error is patently clerical—the entry is inconsistent with other documentary, clinical or visual evidence (e.g., ultrasound, medical certificate).
Important: Year of birth cannot be corrected administratively; nor can a change of surname (except very rare “clerical” spellings). These still require a judicial petition under Rule 103 or Rule 108.
5. Step-by-step guide to filing at PSA Main Office
| Stage | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1. Pre-evaluation | Proceed to the R.A. 9048 window (Ground Floor, PSA East Avenue). Show a copy of your PSA-issued birth certificate and preliminary supporting documents. A PSA litigation officer screens whether the petition is eligible and which rule applies. |
| 2. Form filling | You are given Petition Form CRG-CENOMAR-001 (for first name) or Form CRG-CE-001 (for clerical/sex/day-month). Fill in triplicate and have each copy notarized on-site. |
| 3. Documentary assembly | Typical core set: • Latest PSA birth certificate (SECPA) • At least two public or private documents bearing the correct entry • At least two valid government IDs • Affidavit of Publication later on • For R.A. 10172 sex corrections: certified medical certificate from a government physician attesting to phenotypic sex; sonogram if available. |
| 4. Payment of fees | ₱3,000 filing fee for change of first name; ₱1,000 for clerical/typographical errors; ₱3,000 for changes under R.A. 10172. Add ₱50 per page for any authentication. Official Receipt (OR) is issued. |
| 5. Posting and publication | (a) Posting: The PSA posts the petition for ten (10) consecutive days in a conspicuous place within the PSA premises. (b) Publication: For change of first name, you must cause publication once a week for two consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation (selected from PSA’s current list) and submit the notarized Affidavit of Publication and the newspaper clippings. No publication is required for mere clerical or R.A. 10172 corrections. |
| 6. Evaluation and decision | The Civil Registrar General (CRG) reviews the petition, usually within 60 calendar days after the posting/publication period, and issues either: • Decision/Authority to Correct — if granted; or • Denial stating the grounds (e.g., substantial change beyond administrative scope, inadequate proof). |
| 7. Annotation & release | If approved, the PSA annotates its central database. You may request a new PSA-issued birth certificate within 30–45 days showing “Note: Corrected by virtue of R.A. 9048/10172” at the left margin. |
Average total processing time—with complete papers and no opposition—runs 3–4 months. Complex cases (e.g., inconsistencies among supporting documents) can extend to six months or more.
6. Evidence that persuades the PSA
| Change sought | Highly persuasive documents |
|---|---|
| First name | Baptismal/confirmation cert, Form 137 or school ID cards, PhilHealth/SSS records, passport, PRC license, driver’s license, employment records. |
| Day or month of birth | Hospital or clinic certification, immunization records, Form 138, vaccination card, barangay/municipal health records. |
| Sex | Government doctor’s physical exam report (with photograph), ultrasound or sonogram taken before age seven, school Form 137 with sex column, old IDs. |
Tip: Ensure that the “chain of documents” shows consistent use of the data you want officially recorded. Affidavits alone, without corroborative records, seldom suffice.
7. Situations requiring court, not PSA
- Total change of given name where the new name bears no relation to the one on record and no “reasonable cause” exists;
- Change of surname for reasons other than legitimation, adoption, or clerical spellings;
- Cancellation of entries (e.g., duplicate birth record, double registration);
- Change of citizenship or civil status errors that are not clerical;
- Disputes involving paternity/maternity, filiation, or successional rights;
- Opposition filed during posting/publication.
Court petitions follow Rule 103 (change of name) or Rule 108 (cancellation/correction of entries) filed with the RTC where the petitioner resides. Publication in a newspaper for three consecutive weeks is mandatory, and hearings take place. After the RTC decision becomes final, you still present the decree to the PSA for annotation.
8. Costs snapshot (2025 rates)
| Item | Standard expense |
|---|---|
| Filing fee (PSA Main) | ₱1,000–₱3,000 |
| Newspaper publication (for 1st-name change) | ₱3,500–₱7,000 (Metro Manila) |
| Notarial fees | ₱300–₱500 |
| Certified supporting docs | ₱210 per PSA SECPA; ₱50–₱200 per doc for LCR or school records |
| PSA annotated copy (after approval) | ₱210 per copy |
| Optional courier forwarding | ₱150–₱300 |
Court petitions, by contrast, typically cost ₱25,000–₱60,000 inclusive of filing fees, publication, and counsel’s professional fees.
9. Frequently asked questions
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Can I file at PSA Main even if I live in the province? | Yes, if you fall under any of the IRR exceptions or can justify “meritorious reasons” (e.g., record loss in LCR, conflicting entries). Otherwise, the PSA officer may direct you to your LCR. |
| Will the PSA require personal appearance? | For first‐time petitioners, personal appearance (or that of an attorney-in-fact) is mandatory to sign and swear to the petition. Subsequent follow-ups can be done by a representative with SPA. |
| What if my supporting records also carry the wrong name? | You must first correct those “downstream” documents or gather alternative evidence. The PSA grants only when the documentary trail is clear. |
| Is DNA testing required for sex corrections? | No. The test is phenotypic (external anatomy), not genetic. R.A. 10172 specifically rejects changes grounded on gender reassignment or preference; only clerical errors are allowed. |
| Does the record mention that it was corrected? | Yes. The marginal annotation cites the law (R.A. 9048/10172), the decision number, and the date. The old entry stays visible but crossed out. |
| Can I appeal a denial? | Within 15 days of receiving the CRG’s denial, file a Motion for Reconsideration addressed to the CRG. If still denied, you may file a petition for review with the RTC under Rule 43 of the Rules of Court. |
10. Practical pointers
- Package your evidence chronologically; inconsistencies delay approval.
- Photocopy every original, have a spare PSA certificate, and keep the Official Receipt—a common oversight.
- Check all children’s and parents’ records; a change in your first name may ripple into their documents.
- Budget for publication early; a missed deadline restarts the clock.
- Track your reference number (found on the OR). The PSA now allows status checks through its CRS Query Kiosks and hotline.
- Adopt full legal citations in your petition (e.g., “pursuant to Sec. 4 of R.A. 9048 as amended by R.A. 10172”). This shows diligence and speeds legal review.
11. Conclusion
Filing a petition for change of name—or any permitted correction—directly at the PSA Main Office is a streamlined, paper-driven remedy created by Congress to spare Filipinos the cost and delay of court litigation for minor or clerical defects. Understand what is administratively actionable (first name, nickname, obvious errors, sex/day/month) and what still needs judicial approval (surnames, major identity shifts). Prepare robust evidence, follow the posting/publication rules, and keep copies of everything. When in doubt, consult a lawyer or the PSA’s Legal Division; doing so before you file can save months of corrective back-and-forth.
(All information current as of June 16, 2025; statutory citations: R.A. 9048, R.A. 10172, R.A. 9858, R.A. 11222, Rule 103 & Rule 108 of the Rules of Court, 2016 Revised IRR.)