How to Change Name on Pakistan Passport

Quick Answer

Visit a passport office with your updated CNIC (with new name), current passport, legal basis for name change (Nikah Nama, court order, or gazette notification), and fee receipt. The name on your passport must match your CNIC — so update CNIC at NADRA first, then apply for passport name change.

When Passport Name Changes Are Required

A name mismatch between your passport and CNIC creates problems at every checkpoint — immigration, visa applications, bank transactions, and international travel. After marriage, divorce, or legal name correction, updating your passport ensures consistency across all identity documents.

Update CNIC name first: CNIC name change after marriage. For general renewal: passport renewal guide. Lost passport with old name? replacement process.

Name Change Application Steps

The process for this passport service follows DGIP's standard workflow. Visit the DGIP portal or your nearest passport office to initiate. Always verify current requirements on the official DGIP website as procedures can change.

Verify current fees and timelines. DGIP updates passport fees and processing times periodically. The figures in this guide are based on the latest available information — always confirm on the DGIP portal or Passport Asaan App before paying.

What Triggers Delays in Name Changes

  • Applying for passport name change without updating CNIC first — DGIP requires CNIC and passport names to match. Update CNIC at NADRA, then change the passport.
  • Not bringing the legal basis document — a Nikah Nama for marriage name change, court order for other changes, or gazette notification for official name corrections.
  • Expecting the old passport to remain valid — your old passport is cancelled when the new one is issued. Plan accordingly if you have active visas in the old passport.
  • Assuming online processing — name changes typically require in-person visits for document verification.

Passport Name Change — Process Questions

First update your name on your CNIC at NADRA. Then visit a passport office with the updated CNIC, current passport, legal basis document (Nikah Nama, court order), and fee receipt. A new passport is issued with the updated name.

For marriage-related changes, a registered Nikah Nama is sufficient — no court order needed. For other changes (spelling corrections, personal preference), a court order or gazette notification may be required depending on the nature of the change.

Active visas in the cancelled passport may still be usable if you carry both old and new passports when traveling. Check with the specific country's embassy about their policy on transferred visas.

Same processing times as regular renewal — 21-30 days (normal), 7-12 (urgent), 3-5 (fast track). The name change is processed as a new passport issuance.