Name Change After Marriage

I know i asked a question relating to this before but our situation is so confusing...

Me and my wife got married last week, on the marriage certificate she took my surname... Her passport and other identification are still under her maiden name... Which name should we use for the online spouse visa application? do we need to change her passport to reflect the name change per the marriage certificate or is it okay to keep the passport as her maiden name? we are conscious of time with our application and just how long changing a passport may take/cost.

I feel like with our situation added a definite answer can be given this time! This visa stuff just makes our heads hurt!

Her visa will only be issued in the name on her passport, so you must use that name when you apply for the visa.

In terms of changing the name on her passport, that's completely up to her. She can keep her passport and visa in her maiden name if she wishes, and can just use her married name for everything else in the UK.

So, if she is happy to have her visa issued in her maiden name then she doesn't need to change her name on her passport. However, she will need to remember to always book travel in her maiden name as the name on her ticket must match her passport and visa.

If she would prefer her visa to be issued in her married name, then you'll need to change the name on her passport first, before applying for the visa.

If there is any chance she may want to change her name on her passport in the next 2.5 years, I would change it now, before she gets the visa... Because it's a pain to change it on the visa after it has been granted (it costs £223 to do it later).


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Totally agree with KSand. We had the same situation earlier this year after we married, and were strongly advised to change the name on passport BEFORE applying for the visa, as to change it after the visa is issued is a big pain. I think the name change on the USA passport took less than 3 weeks to get back (in July).

If she wants to change her name - honestly EVER - change it before applying.  You can fast track it from within the US and have it back in about a week.

Otherwise, it will be very tricky and expensive to do while on the visa path.  If she waits until after she has UK citizenship, she'll have two passports to wait on and change.