Combining Last Names After Marriage

Hi all,

I have a question regarding name change after the wedding. My partner and I will combine our last names after the wedding. This is what I think I need to do, but not sure how....I did a basic Google search but I am assuming a few of you have gone through this process!
Any insight will be helpful, thank you!

- change US passport
- change UK visa and BRP card
- change US and UK driver's licenses
- change US and UK bank cards
- *I am a naturalized US citizen --> does this mean I need to send this document to DC to get this changed as well?


Thanks for your help!

I'm not entirely sure on Naturalized citizens, but don't forget to update you social security card as well. That was the first thing I did and used as evidence of the name change everywhere else!


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Just a warning that changing your name on your BRP is time consuming (up to six months) and several hundred pounds.

It's unlikely you will be able to change your name on your US license and bank accounts unless you go in person.  But not really necessary as you don't live there anymore.   

We recently did this and it looks like you're on the right track!

After our wedding we had planned to go over to the states for a month, which gave us plenty of time to get things sorted. We began by changing his social security card because, as Margo said, it could then be used as evidence elsewhere. Once we got that back we went to the DMV (who didn't much like our UK marriage certificate) and after that we sorted the bank.

We didn't change the passport until we were back in the UK, but this was an easy process. Be sure to remember that once you have changed your passport you're required to update your BRP within 3 months. As KFdancer said, it's expensive and takes a while to process, so bear in mind you may not be able to travel for a while once you've set the ball rolling.

Thanks for your comments so far!

I know in the UK you don't need to update your passport after marriage until it expires...is that the same for a US passport? With this logic, would it be okay to keep my current last name on my passport and BRP until it expires (I recently renewed my passport so there is a long validity date, even cover until I apply for British citizenship) and use my new last name elsewhere (workplace?)


Thanks again!

Thanks for your comments so far!

I know in the UK you don't need to update your passport after marriage until it expires...is that the same for a US passport? With this logic, would it be okay to keep my current last name on my passport and BRP until it expires (I recently renewed my passport so there is a long validity date, even cover until I apply for British citizenship) and use my new last name elsewhere (workplace?)

Yes, it's fine... in fact, I was going to suggest that you just leave your passport and BRP card in your current name, as it's a major hassle to change your name on your visa.

Quite a few people on the forum have used their married name for everything else in the UK, and then just kept their passport and visa in their old name until either they apply for a new visa (i.e. change the passport within 3 months of applying for the next visa so you don't have to change the BRP card as well), or until after they have UK citizenship.