Change of (Sur)name/Renewal of Passport & BRP - Best practice?

Hi All,

My wife's BRP is valid until early October 2021 (First 2.5 year FLR(M), following 6-month Fiancee Visa). Her current PI passport (in her maiden (Sur)name) expires February 2022.

From what I have read, there is no OBLIGATION to change her name on either the passport or BRP, but if we change 1, we have to change the other to match - I guess, in a 'reasonable' time? She wants to adopt my Surname, so I'm wondering if there is a preferred sequence to achieve this? Should we change the passport name first (any idea of costs to do this?), or the BRP first (I believe there is a cost for this also?)?

We obviously have our UK Marriage certificate and we have a 'stamped' signed original copy of the form, sent to the PI Embassy in London, registering our UK marriage with the Philippines 'authorities'. What else - if anything - do we need to provide, in particular to get her new PI passport in her married name? We would like to follow the Philippines tradition when a woman marries, of her 'dropping' her Middle Name (Mother's maiden name) and her Maiden Surname (Father's Surname) becoming her Middle Name, followed by her married Surname - are there any problems with this?

I guess we COULD wait until we need to apply for her second 2.5 year FLR(M), then change the passport to match afterwards, but changing her name now just seems to make sense for things like joint accounts, etc.

Any thoughts, suggestions or alternatives I have not considered would be appreciated. TIA.

Congratulations on the marriage and hope all is well!
Change the passport first because when you apply for a new BRP they ask for the passport number,cost is about £60 see this link https://londonpe.dfa.gov.ph/consular-matters/passport will take about 6 to 8 weeks to get back, then do BRP see this link https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/change-of-name-guidance

Thanks, @Mattecube

- Just wondering ...

On the Passport link you gave, in the Requirements (when including a Change of Name), under Supporting documents in case of name change the second bullet-point says 'If married abroad (I guess they mean outside the Philippines?), PSA-issued Report of Marriage or Philippine Embassy-issued Report of Marriage (in case PSA MC is not yet available; the Report of Marriage must be issued by the Philippine Embassy in London)'.
We have the certified Philippine Embassy-issued Report of Marriage - how do we find out if/when our PSA Marriage Certificate is 'available'? I've sent an email to an address I found on the site, but don't hold out much hope of a reply...

I'm sure you ladies are aware of the Filipino tradition of using your maiden surname as your middle name when you get married.
My wife's passport has her maiden name as XXXX YYYY ZZZZ but when we renew her passport we would like to change her name to my name XXXX ZZZZ WWWW i.e. her christian name, her surname before marriage and then my surname.
Our marriage certificate only shows my wifes maiden name.
Will we be OK to go ahead as planned? Will the embassy allow the name change with only our marriage certificate as evidence?

yes you are ok to proceed!


are you sure she is happy with a maiden name of XXXX YYYY ZZZZZ

HAHA, it's her choice!
Thankyou a million

@UKDJ. Did you proceed with Passport and BRP name change, how's it going? We are in pretty much same situation. Went to Phil Embassy in London to get new passport for her in her married name, now waiting 6 - 8 weeks to get it back. From what I understand once we get it we have a certain time limit to inform Gov of name change on BRP, did you find exact form we need to do that? Is it done on line or face to face? What is the fee for doing that, I saw the sum £161 floating around?

There you go
https://www.gov.uk/change-circumstances-visa-brp/youre-in-the-uk-and-dont-have-a-brp

You're doing better than us, @markallanwainwright...!

In this day and age - using the link provided by @ChrisTina in this related Post - we hoped to be able to do what was needed online!
We have been waiting a month (so far!) to get the info needed from our RoM, via the DFA!!! Will be following up with the Embassy via email this/next week...

Shortly after we married in Phil and my wife came to Spain, we went to the Philippines´ Consulate in Madrid. They changed my wife’s name, keeping her first name but showing her surname as her maiden surname and mine (double barrelled) . The amendment was made in ink in here existing passport and officially stamped. In Spain the Spanish have two surnames so her new name `looked right´ here.

However, when she went alone to the passport office in Manila to renew it, they insisted she can have only one surname (mine) and her maiden surname was shown as her middle name. Had I been there I may have persuaded them to do as their consulate had done !

In Spain she has the two surnames on her paperwork and in 14 years she has lived here the variation between her passport and other legal paperwork has not been a problem. It has also not been a `problem when we have travelled visa free to UK, producing her R o P Passport and her Spanish Residencia.

Of course in UK anyone can change their names, first and surname, by Common Law. No legal documentation or authority is required. I did it 40 years ago. My son did at the same time. Except for our birth certificates, all our other paperwork was changed to our new names

We (the UK) do like to make things as complicated - and expensive - as possible! With the Philippines, I think it's just a lack of organisation!

UKDJ

Actually I think U.K. are pretty straightforward compared with many other countries.

As is said, “Of course in UK anyone can change their names, first and surname, by Common Law. Women ‘traditionally’ have done it forever when they have married. No legal documentation or authority is required. I did it 40 years ago. My son did at the same time. Except for our birth certificates, all our other paperwork was changed to our new names.”

In spain for example one can never change their name without the approval of a judge and ever then in most circumstances it is impossible. That applies to women who get married too. Born Mrs Smith, smith forever.

What a game, unless I've done it wrong.
We've just applied for an updated BRP as my wife's passport is my name now.
We still have to submit her biometrics again, the application was the same as when we got her FLR.
£180 too!
I thought I read somewhere we didn't need to submit the biometrics again?

thats why we didnt do it

Hi, do you have to apply in person for BRP? I'm going to change my passport name too, update BRP, take Life in the UK test and then renew to ILR visa in October (not too much time left I think). I just don't know how and where to start because of this pandemic. Xx

Worth checking rules as may be able to avoid updating the BRP if get timing right. If I remember no need to change BRP if has less than three months to expiry although not sure what rules are if change before ILR submission. Woukd save on the cost and hassle of getting replacement BRP.

That said tight timescale to get new passport and change BRP in time for Oct ILR submission.

Why are you looking to change the name now on both passport and BRP your just giving yourself headaches on a tight timescale.
I would do the lot in requirement order.
1. Life in the UK test
2 ILR application get new BRP
3.if not applying for British Citizenship then change passport and BRP.
If you are applying for British Citizenship do name change then and you don't need a BRP.
If your going for duel citizenship do Filipino passport after British passport as you won't need to change your BRP as you won't need it as you will be a British passport holder also.

Hi, I think you are right I'm just giving myself a headache! I now decided not to do it but I'm thinking that some of my documents (ie HRMC, bank, GP...)were already changed into my husband's name and it might needed as supporting documents. Anyway, thank you for the very helpful advice!

Dont worry about certain documents you maybe asked to present being in your married name UKBA are OK with this, my wife is at a similar stage to you (applying for ILR in October) and she is yet to change her passport into her married name.