> Source: https://instantdeedpoll.co.uk/change-name-foreign-nationals/ — updated 24 September 2026. This Markdown mirror is generated at build time from the same content the page serves. The practical guide · Visas & foreign nationals # Changing your name in the UK as a foreign national Plan a name change around your own passport, your UKVI account and right-to-work checks, and see how a UK deed poll is legalised for use abroad. Quick answer If you are not a British citizen, check first whether your own country will issue a passport in your new name. GOV.UK says you need an identity document proving the change to update your name in your UKVI account, and you cannot change your name there while waiting for a visa decision. A UK deed poll does not update your eVisa by itself. Passport first Check your country will issue one in the new name ID document Needed to update your name in your UKVI account Not while waiting No name change during a pending visa decision £45 / £35 FCDO paper apostille / e-Apostille, checked 24 September 2026 Updated 24 September 2026 · 6 min read · [Official sources linked](#guide-sources) **Before you start** This is general information for people with UK immigration permission. It is not immigration advice: GOV.UK says immigration advisers must be registered with the Immigration Advice Authority or be a member of an approved professional body. Rules and fees were checked on GOV.UK on 24 September 2026. Optional document preparation [Preview my deed poll](https://instantdeedpoll.co.uk/start/) [Use the free DIY template](https://instantdeedpoll.co.uk/free-deed-poll-template/) One payment · PDF delivery · Printing and witnessing completed by you ## Why should you check your own country’s rules first? Your passport comes from your own country, not the UK. GOV.UK says you need an identity document proving your name has changed before you can update your name in your UKVI account. Ask your embassy or passport authority whether it will issue a passport in the new name, and what evidence it needs, before relying on a UK deed poll. Each country decides what it accepts for its own passports and civil records. Some may ask for a legalised UK document, a translation or their own local procedure. Ask these questions before you buy or sign anything: - Will you issue a passport or identity card in my new name? - Do you accept a UK deed poll, and does it need an apostille, a notary’s certificate or a translation? - Does my name need to be recorded in my country first? GOV.UK’s deed poll guidance also says that if you are a permanent resident overseas, you cannot change your name by deed poll. This guide is for people living in the UK. Source: [GOV.UK change your name by deed poll](https://www.gov.uk/change-name-deed-poll). ## How do you update your name in your UKVI account? Use GOV.UK’s update service once you have an identity document that proves your name has changed. You cannot change your name, or your passport or travel document, while you are waiting for a visa application decision. If you do not have an identity document showing your new name, GOV.UK links a different way to update your details. GOV.UK says you should keep your personal details and passport or travel document information up to date so that your eVisa details are correct, you can travel with your current passport and UK Visas and Immigration can contact you. It warns that if your UKVI account is not up to date, you might experience delays when you travel or when waiting for a visa decision. The update service only changes your UKVI account details. It cannot change immigration details, such as a visa or citizenship application. If your eVisa shows the wrong name after an update, GOV.UK has a separate route to [report an error with your eVisa](https://www.gov.uk/evisa/report-error-evisa). Timing matters: if you have an application waiting for a decision, get advice before changing any name on your documents. Source: [GOV.UK update your details in your UKVI account](https://www.gov.uk/evisa/update-ukvi-account). ## What happens with right-to-work and right-to-rent checks? Employers and landlords can check your status with a share code. GOV.UK says you should update your UKVI account before you get a share code if you have changed your name. A share code lasts for 90 days, and you can get a new one whenever you need one. GOV.UK says that if you are not a British or Irish citizen, you can prove your right to work with a share code or with your eligible immigration documents. You can choose which option you use, and your employer cannot reject your application because you gave them an eligible immigration document instead of a share code. After your name changes, tell your employer so payroll uses the same name, and read our [HMRC name-change guide](https://instantdeedpoll.co.uk/change-name-hmrc/) for your tax record. The person who uses your share code will see some of your personal details, so check the name they see matches the documents you give them. Source: [GOV.UK view your eVisa and get a share code](https://www.gov.uk/evisa/view-evisa-get-share-code-prove-immigration-status). Source: [GOV.UK prove your right to work](https://www.gov.uk/prove-right-to-work). ## Can you use a UK deed poll for other UK records? Many UK organisations accept a deed poll as change-of-name evidence, including DVLA for driving licences. Ask each organisation what it needs before you apply. DVLA also asks deed poll applicants for one document showing the new name, and its list includes a visa or residence permit issued in the last 12 months and a non-UK passport. DVLA says that document must still be valid and have been issued after your deed poll or statutory declaration. That can make the order of your applications matter. Read the [driving licence guide](https://instantdeedpoll.co.uk/change-name-driving-licence/) for the full list. Banks set their own evidence rules; see [changing your name with your bank](https://instantdeedpoll.co.uk/change-name-bank-account/). The [free name change organiser](https://instantdeedpoll.co.uk/name-change-organiser/) includes a UKVI account card you can add to your checklist. Source: [GOV.UK driving licence evidence for a name change](https://www.gov.uk/id-for-driving-licence). ## How do you get a UK deed poll legalised for use abroad? The FCDO Legalisation Office can attach an apostille to documents certified by a UK public official, such as a UK notary or solicitor. A deed poll you sign before ordinary witnesses is not one of the court, registry or government documents GOV.UK lists, so it would need that certification first. FCDO charges £45 per document for a paper apostille and £35 for an e-Apostille (checked 24 September 2026). FCDO apostille fees, checked 24 September 2026 | Service | Fee per document | How long it takes | | --- | --- | --- | | Standard (paper-based) apostille | £45, plus courier or postage costs | Usually up to 25 working days, plus courier or postage time | | e-Apostille | £35 | Up to 2 working days | An e-Apostille needs PDF files electronically signed by a UK notary or solicitor. Before paying, ask the person who asked for the document whether they need the original or a certified copy, whether a notary must sign it, and whether they accept an e-Apostille. The Legalisation Office checks that signatures, stamps or seals match its records; it does not decide whether a foreign authority will accept the document’s contents. Notary or solicitor certification is a separate cost. GOV.UK links to the official lists of notaries and solicitors in each part of the UK. Source: [GOV.UK get your document legalised](https://www.gov.uk/get-document-legalised). ## When should you get immigration advice? Get advice before changing your records if a visa application is waiting for a decision, if your names differ across passports, or if your country will not issue a passport in the new name. GOV.UK says to check an adviser is registered, and whether they charge a fee, before you use them. Use GOV.UK’s [find an immigration adviser](https://www.gov.uk/find-an-immigration-adviser) page to search the Immigration Advice Authority’s adviser finder or find a solicitor through the relevant law society. Immigration advisers can help with forms and represent you at a tribunal, but they do not make immigration decisions. InstantDeedPoll.co.uk is a document service. We cannot advise on your immigration status, update your UKVI account or contact an embassy for you. Source: [GOV.UK find an immigration adviser](https://www.gov.uk/find-an-immigration-adviser). When you need the paperwork ### Checked your passport route first? If your own country and the UK organisations you need accept a UK deed poll, you can prepare a personalised adult deed poll with Instant Deed Poll for £14.99 and preview it before paying. We cannot update your UKVI account, eVisa or foreign passport. [Preview my deed poll](https://instantdeedpoll.co.uk/start/) [Use the free DIY template](https://instantdeedpoll.co.uk/free-deed-poll-template/) One payment · PDF delivery · Printing and witnessing completed by you A few more answers ## Frequently asked questions ### Can I change my name while my visa application is being decided? GOV.UK says you cannot change your name, or your passport or travel document, in your UKVI account while you are waiting for a visa application decision. Get advice if the timing affects your application. ### Will a UK deed poll update my eVisa? Not by itself. GOV.UK says you need an identity document that proves your name has changed to update your UKVI account, and links a different route if you do not have one. Check with your own country’s passport authority first. ### Do I need a new share code after changing my name? GOV.UK says you should update your UKVI account before you get a share code if you have changed your name. A share code lasts for 90 days, and you can get a new one whenever you need one. ### How much does an apostille cost? FCDO charges £45 per document for a standard paper apostille, plus courier or postage, and £35 for an e-Apostille (checked 24 September 2026). Certification by a notary or solicitor is a separate cost. ### Can my embassy refuse a UK deed poll? Yes. Each country decides what it accepts for its own passports and records. Ask the embassy or passport authority before you buy, sign or legalise any document. ### Can I use a deed poll if I live permanently abroad? GOV.UK’s deed poll guidance says that if you are a permanent resident overseas, you cannot change your name by deed poll. Check the process in the country where you live. ## Related guides - [How to change your name in the UK](https://instantdeedpoll.co.uk/how-to-change-your-name-uk/) - [Change your driving licence name](https://instantdeedpoll.co.uk/change-name-driving-licence/) - [Bank name-change requirements](https://instantdeedpoll.co.uk/change-name-bank-account/) - [Build your free checklist](https://instantdeedpoll.co.uk/name-change-organiser/) ## Sources and further reading Sources last checked on 24 September 2026. Follow the receiving organisation’s current instructions for your own application. - [GOV.UK — update your details in your UKVI account](https://www.gov.uk/evisa/update-ukvi-account) - [GOV.UK — view your eVisa and get a share code](https://www.gov.uk/evisa/view-evisa-get-share-code-prove-immigration-status) - [GOV.UK — report an error with your eVisa](https://www.gov.uk/evisa/report-error-evisa) - [GOV.UK — prove your right to work](https://www.gov.uk/prove-right-to-work) - [GOV.UK — get your document legalised (FCDO)](https://www.gov.uk/get-document-legalised) - [GOV.UK — find an immigration adviser](https://www.gov.uk/find-an-immigration-adviser) - [GOV.UK — change your name by deed poll](https://www.gov.uk/change-name-deed-poll) - [GOV.UK — driving licence identity evidence](https://www.gov.uk/id-for-driving-licence) Spotted something that needs correcting? [See our corrections log](https://instantdeedpoll.co.uk/corrections/) or [contact us](https://instantdeedpoll.co.uk/contact/). [Back to the top ↑](#guide-top)