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Reviewed August 1, 2026

Change a name or correct an error on a U.S. passport

The correct form depends on what changed, when the passport was issued, and whether you qualify to renew.

Direct answer

Use Form DS-5504 by mail for an eligible recent name change or a data or printing error. If the name-change route does not qualify for DS-5504, use Form DS-82 if eligible to renew or Form DS-11 in person.

Choose the correct route

  • Name change within one year: When both the passport and legal name change are less than one year old, mail Form DS-5504, the current passport, one photo, and an original or certified name-change document. The Department of State charges no application fee; optional expedited service costs extra.
  • Name change outside that window: Use Form DS-82 by mail if the passport meets every renewal condition and you can document the change. Otherwise apply in person with Form DS-11.
  • Department of State error: For a valid passport with a data or printing error, mail Form DS-5504, the passport, one color photo, and evidence showing the correct information. There is no correction fee.

Prepare the evidence

For a legal name change, use an original or certified marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order that shows the change. Photocopies and notarized copies are not substitutes for an original or certified record unless the Department of State instructions specifically permit them. For a data error, send evidence that establishes the correct information, such as a U.S. birth certificate for a misspelled birth name.

Complete and mail Form DS-5504

  1. Confirm on the official change-or-correct page that DS-5504 fits the exact reason.
  2. Complete the current form, sign it, and attach one compliant color photo.
  3. Include the current passport and the required original or certified evidence.
  4. Use the mailing address printed in the current form instructions. Do not reuse an address from an older copy.
  5. Keep a copy of the form and a trackable mailing record.

Validity of a corrected passport

For a data or printing error reported within one year after issuance, the corrected passport receives the normal full validity for the holder's age. If reported after one year, the corrected passport expires on the same date as the incorrect passport.

Important limits

Do not use this route for a lost, stolen, or damaged passport. A change of address alone does not require a new passport. If an application is already in process and the mailing address changes, contact Passport Services using its current instructions.

Official sources

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