Name Change by Gazette Notification
A name change gazette notification is the official public record that you have changed your name. It is published in Part IV of the Gazette of India by the Department of Publication, Delhi. We prepare the affidavit, newspaper notice and application, and follow it through to publication.
What it is
In India you can change your name, your surname or the spelling of either. A name change gazette notification makes proving it easy: the change is published in the Gazette of India. Say your Class 10 certificate shows only a first name while your PAN carries a surname too. The gazette copy ties the two together, and banks and the passport office treat it as the final word.
The process has three legs: a signed affidavit or undertaking stating the old and new name, a notice in a leading daily newspaper, and an application to the Controller of Publications, Department of Publication, Civil Lines, Delhi-110054. The notification appears in Part IV of the weekly Gazette of India, which carries notices by private individuals. The government fee is paid online through the BharatKosh portal.
Who it applies to
You want a new name or spelling
Anyone who wants a new first name or surname, has adopted a different spelling, or uses a name that does not match their school or birth records.
You are changing a child’s name
A minor’s name can be changed through an application made by the parent or guardian, who swears the affidavit on the child’s behalf.
You live outside India
Non-resident Indians can apply too, at a higher fee. The affidavit is attested abroad in a form the Department accepts.
Why it matters
Ties every record to one proof
The gazette copy links your old name to your new one. You can then update PAN, Aadhaar, passport, bank accounts and property records against one document.
Clears KYC mismatches
A name that differs across PAN, bank and Aadhaar trips KYC checks. A Faridabad family preparing visa files for a move abroad, for instance, needs every document to tell the same story. The notification explains the difference on paper.
Leaves a permanent public record
Gazette notifications stay searchable and can be downloaded later, which helps when you need proof years after the change.
Documents required
From you
- Self-attested copy of identity proof
- Self-attested copy of address proof
- Two recent passport-size photographs
- Documents in the old name, such as a school certificate
Prepared by us
- Name change affidavit on stamp paper, notarised
- Text of the newspaper notice, with your father’s or husband’s name and address
- Application in the Department’s format, with two witnesses
- Soft copy of the notice text in MS Word, on a CD
Before dispatch
- The original newspaper copy carrying the notice
- BharatKosh receipt for the government fee
- For a minor: parent’s ID and the child’s birth certificate
How it works
Draft and notarise the affidavit
We draft the affidavit with your old name, new name, address and reason. You sign it before a notary on stamp paper.
Publish the newspaper notice
We place the notice in a leading daily newspaper of your area, with your father’s or husband’s name and address as the Department asks, and collect the original copy.
Pay the fee and send the application
We pay the fee on BharatKosh, prepare the application and CD, and send the set to the Department of Publication in Delhi.
Track publication and update records
Once the notification appears in Part IV, we download the copy and help you update PAN, bank and other records.
Timelines
Prepare the affidavit and notice
The affidavit is ready in a day or two. The newspaper notice depends on the paper’s booking slot.
Wait for publication
For a name change gazette entry, the Department’s guidelines give no fixed time. Published 2026 guidance commonly reports about 25 to 45 days after it receives a complete application.
Update your records
PAN, Aadhaar and bank updates follow after publication. Each body has its own form and timeline.
What happens if you skip the gazette
Skip it and records stay mismatched
Some offices accept an affidavit alone. Others ask for the gazette notification before they change a name.
Applications get stuck
Here is the catch: a passport renewal or a property sale can stall over one mismatched letter.
A typo costs a second round
If the newspaper notice or affidavit has a spelling error, the Department can return the application. Documents sent in are not returned, so you pay for a fresh notice and wait again.
Frequently asked questions
Is a gazette notification compulsory to change my name?
No law makes it compulsory in every case, but it is the strongest proof you can have. An affidavit and a newspaper notice record the change. The notification in Part IV of the Gazette of India makes it an official public record. Many authorities, including banks and the passport office, prefer or ask for it. For one document that settles the question everywhere, choose the gazette.
What is the government fee for a name change in the gazette?
The Department of Publication’s guidelines list ₹1,100 for an adult and ₹1,700 for a minor, with ₹3,500 and ₹5,100 for Indians living abroad. The fee is paid online through BharatKosh, and the receipt goes with the application. In practice, you also pay for the newspaper notice, stamp paper and the notary. We confirm the current fee on the day we pay it.
How long does the gazette name change take?
Plan for about six to eight weeks from start to finish. The affidavit and newspaper notice take about a week, depending on booking slots. Processing at the Department of Publication is commonly reported at 25 to 45 days after it receives a complete application, though the Department sets no fixed time. A missing paper sends the whole set back, so we check it line by line before it leaves our office.
Can I apply for a gazette name change online?
Partly. The fee is paid online on BharatKosh, and published notifications can be downloaded from the e-Gazette website, egazette.gov.in. The application itself, with the affidavit, newspaper copy and CD, still goes to the Department of Publication in Delhi by post or by hand. We handle the dispatch and tracking, so you do not have to travel to Delhi.
How do I change the name of a minor child?
The parent or legal guardian applies on the child’s behalf. The parent swears the affidavit, signs the application and attaches the child’s birth certificate and their own ID. The newspaper notice carries the guardian’s details. The Department’s fee for a minor is ₹1,700. Once published, school and Aadhaar records can be updated against the gazette copy.
Which newspaper should carry the name change notice?
One leading daily newspaper, preferably one circulating where you live. The Department’s guidelines ask for the notice to state your father’s or husband’s name and your residential address. Send the original newspaper copy with your application. We book the notice and check the printed text against the affidavit before the papers go to Delhi.
Can an NRI change their name through the Gazette of India?
Yes. A non-resident Indian follows the same three steps: affidavit, newspaper notice and the application. The affidavit is attested abroad in a form the Department accepts. The Department’s fee for Indians abroad is ₹3,500 for an adult and ₹5,100 for a minor. We prepare the papers, place the notices in India and send the application for you.
Is this the same as changing a company’s name?
No. A company changes its name through a special resolution and filings with the Registrar of Companies on the MCA V3 portal, not through Part IV of the Gazette. We handle that too, through our company name change service. If you are a director changing your personal name, the gazette copy also helps you update your DIN and your digital signature certificate.
What should I update after the gazette is published?
Start with PAN, then Aadhaar, bank accounts and your passport. After that, update employer records, insurance policies, property papers and your DSC if you hold one. Each authority has its own form, and the gazette copy is the proof you attach. We give you a checklist and help with the tax-side updates, so your income tax return carries the right name.
What it costs
Our fee plus the government fee that applies to your case, quoted before you commit. Tell us the situation and we will price it exactly.
The Department of Publication’s guidelines list a fee of ₹1,100 for adults and ₹1,700 for minors (₹3,500 and ₹5,100 for Indians abroad), paid on BharatKosh. The newspaper notice, stamp paper and notary charges are extra at actual cost.
Ready to begin?
Tell us your old and new name, and we will prepare the affidavit, notices and gazette application in one go.