Changing your name on your U.S. passport after marriage isn’t automatic — and using the wrong form, or timing it around an existing trip, is the most common way people delay their own paperwork. Here’s exactly which form applies to your situation, what it costs, and how long it takes in 2026.
Which Form You Need
The correct form depends entirely on how old your current passport is:
- Form DS-5504 — if your passport was issued less than one year ago.
- Form DS-82 — if your passport was issued more than one year ago (and you meet standard renewal-by-mail eligibility).
- Form DS-11 — if your passport was issued more than 15 years ago, has been expired for more than five years, or you don’t meet mail-in renewal eligibility. DS-11 requires an in-person appointment.
Documents You’ll Need
- Your valid, unexpired U.S. passport
- An original or certified copy of your marriage certificate (not a marriage license — it must show the official seal)
- The completed application form for your situation
- A recent 2×2 inch color passport photo
Fees and Processing Times (2026)
| Form | Routine Fee | Expedited Fee | Processing Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| DS-5504 | Free | +$60 | Standard: up to 6 weeks. Expedited: up to 3 weeks |
| DS-82 | $130 | +$60 | Standard: up to 6 weeks. Expedited: up to 3 weeks |
| DS-11 | $130 | +$60 | Standard: up to 6 weeks. Expedited: up to 3 weeks |
Applications are mailed via USPS only, to a processing center determined by your state and the service level you choose.
Timing: Don’t Do This Right Before a Trip
The name on your plane ticket must exactly match the name on your passport. If you already have flights booked under your maiden name, hold off on submitting your name change until after that trip — a mismatch between your ticket and passport can prevent you from boarding. Once your name change is filed, your old passport is cancelled and any visas in it may no longer be valid (with some exceptions), so plan the timing around your travel calendar, not just your wedding date.
Quick Checklist
- Confirm which form applies based on your passport’s issue date
- Get a certified copy of your marriage certificate (with seal) — not the license
- Take a new passport photo meeting the 2×2 inch requirement
- Check your upcoming travel plans before submitting
- Mail via USPS to the correct processing center for your state
If your name change coincides with other travel planning — a honeymoon abroad, a move, or an upcoming visa application — it’s worth checking your destination’s entry requirements early. See our 2026 passport strength rankings for how far your passport goes visa-free right now.
Sources: NewlyNamed, ItsEasy.
You Cannot Change Your Name Through Online Renewal
The State Department now lets some travelers renew online, but that option is only for people who are not changing any personal information. Its eligibility rules say plainly that you cannot renew online if you are changing your name. A marriage name change therefore has to go through one of the paper routes: DS-5504 by mail if your passport is less than a year old, DS-82 by mail if it is older and eligible for renewal, or DS-11 in person if you do not qualify for mail renewal. The Department lays out each scenario on its change or correct a passport page, and the current fee table is in its passport fee calculator and form guide.
What Counts as Proof of Your Name Change
The document that proves your name change must be an original or a certified copy issued by the government office that recorded the marriage, usually the county clerk or a state vital records office. The decorative certificate handed out at a ceremony does not count, and neither does a photocopy or a marriage license that was never recorded. If your certificate is in a language other than English, expect to include a certified English translation. Send only the documents the form asks for, and keep scans of everything before it goes in the mail.
A Sensible Order for Updating Your Name
Passport rules do not require you to update other records first, but banks, employers and motor vehicle offices tend to check against Social Security records, so many people work in this order:
- Order two or three certified copies of the marriage certificate.
- Update your name with the Social Security Administration, which does not charge for a name change.
- Update your driver’s license or state ID.
- Submit your passport application, using the new name on the form and matching ID.
- Update airline profiles, frequent flyer accounts and any trusted traveler accounts so every booking matches the new passport.
If you have international travel coming up, you can file the passport application in parallel, but leave enough time. The old passport is sent in with a DS-5504 or DS-82 and will not be with you while the application is processed, and a fee of $35 is charged separately for DS-11 applicants at the acceptance facility.
Common Mistakes That Delay a Name Change
- Using DS-5504 when the passport is more than a year old, or DS-82 when your passport does not qualify for mail renewal.
- Sending a photocopy of the marriage certificate instead of an original or certified copy.
- Booking flights in the new name before the new passport arrives, or keeping a ticket in the old name after the passport has changed.
- Assuming a visa stamped in the old passport carries over automatically. Check with the issuing country before you travel.
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