New India passport rule: Name change after marriage made easy

Dubai: In a bid to ease passport formalities, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) now allows Indian citizens to add their spouse’s name to their passport without a marriage certificate. Instead, applicants can submit a self-declared joint photo affidavit, known as Annexure J.

This change benefits many, especially in states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, where marriage registration is less common. Until now, couples without a registered marriage certificate often faced delays or rejection when applying to update their marital status on their passports.

Annexure J is a signed joint declaration by both spouses, confirming their marital status. It must include:

Pune’s Regional Passport Officer, Dr. Arjun Deore, said Annexure J will now serve as a valid alternative to the traditional marriage certificate requirement. “This move will ease the burden for applicants who struggle with documentation,” he added.

To remove or change a spouse’s name on the passport, applicants still need to provide one of the following:

This reform is part of the MEA’s ongoing efforts to streamline passport-related processes and make them more accessible across India.

Earlier this year, the Indian government introduced significant updates to the passport application process to streamline documentation, enhance privacy, and improve overall efficiency.

Among the key changes is the requirement for individuals born on or after October 1, 2023, to submit a birth certificate as the only valid proof of date of birth. Applicants born before this date may continue to use alternate documents like PAN cards or school certificates.

Residential addresses will no longer be printed on the last page of passports; instead, a scannable barcode will be used to strengthen data security and reduce identity theft. The government has also launched a colour-coded passport system—white for government officials, red for diplomats, and blue for ordinary citizens—to simplify identification and expedite immigration processes.

To boost accessibility, especially in remote areas, the number of Post Office Passport Seva Kendras (POPSKs) will be increased from 442 to 600 by 2030. Additionally, parents’ names will be removed from the last page of passports, a move aimed at supporting privacy for individuals from diverse family backgrounds.