Gazette Name Change: Who Is Eligible and What Documents Do You Need?

Ensure a smooth approval process by preparing your gazette name change application according to established legal protocols. Submit accurate, verified identity documentation solely for legitimate personal transitions. Strict adherence to legal requirements eliminates delays and secures your Official Gazette notice without hassle.

How to Legally Change Your Name: A Simple Guide

• The individual must be an Indian citizen.
• An identity document (such as an identity card, PAN, Passport, Voter ID, or Driving License) is required.
• There must be a clear and genuine reason for the name change, and the request must not be made with any malicious intent.
• If applying for a minor (under 18 years of age), the application must be submitted by the parents, and the child's birth certificate and proof of identity are required.
• In the case of a minor, the parents or guardians may be required to visit the concerned office if asked to do so.

Documents Required for Gazette Notification: The Full Checklist

Additional Documents Needed for Special Cases

Step-by-Step Guide for Name Change Gazette in Goa

Update your legal identity seamlessly with a proven three-step workflow. A successful Gazette name change publication delivers nationwide legal validity for your new name. Use this recognized public record to quickly update your PAN card, passport, and essential identity documents.

Step 1: Prepare a Name Change Affidavit

Take the first step in updating your legal name by preparing a statutory declaration on non-judicial stamp paper. Clearly state your old and new names alongside your reason for the update. Once you obtain an official seal from a notary public, your notarized affidavit is ready for Central Gazette submission.

This includes:

• Old name
• New name
• Address
• Age
• Father's/husband's name
• Reason for change

The affidavit must:

• Be printed on stamp paper
• Be notarized
• Have correct spelling

The affidavit is the most important proof for the name change process that you have officially decided to change your name.

Step 2: Newspaper Publication

Publish your name change newspaper ad to complete a crucial legal step. Presenting the original clipping to the Department of Publication validates your new name and guarantees a seamless Central Gazette release.

• 1st Newspaper: This should be a local/regional language newspaper (common to your state/city, such as Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Tamil, etc.).
• 2nd Newspaper: This should be an English daily newspaper (with circulation in the rest of the country or the rest of the state).

General Requirements:

Ads should be in two newspapers:

• One should be a local newspaper in your state, which should be in the local language.
• The second newspaper should be in English, with coverage across the country.

The ad must include:

• Old name
• New name
• Address
• Father's/husband's name
• One Local/Regional Newspaper
• One National Newspaper

Sample Newspaper Ads for Name Change Gazette:

Step 3: Gazette Notification Submission

Establish total legal proof for your name change through the Official Central Gazette notification. Issued by the Government of India, this public record eliminates administrative delays when updating your identity documents, bank records, and professional qualifications.

Process for Publishing a Gazette Notification for a Name Change in Goa:

1. Prepare a name change affidavit and have it notarized.
2. Publish a name change advertisement in the 2 newspapers.
3. Prepare the necessary IDs and documents.
4. Fill out the name change request form in the Gazette.
5. Produce a digital CD (soft copy) of the name change.
6. Fee receipt issued in Bharatkosh.
7. Two recent passport-size photographs.

Collect all these documents in a file and submit it to the Publications Department via post or courier.

Secure nationwide legal recognition for your new name through the Central Gazette. Easily download your verified Gazette notification online from the official portal at egazette.gov.in. Use this official name change documentation to update all your primary identity records without hassle.

Required checklist for the Gazette name change file:

• Affidavit
• Copy of 2 newspaper
• ID proof
• Passport-size photo
• Gazette application form
• Bharatkosh receipt
• Digital CD/MS Word file
• Covering letter

Gazette Name Change Fee (Bharatkosh)

Complete your Central Gazette name change by paying a non-refundable fee between ₹1,100 and ₹1,700. Applicants can make this payment securely through the official Bharatkosh portal (bharatkosh.gov.in), which ensures fast and safe government transactions.

Important notes regarding your fee payment:

• Deduct the fee in the correct category.
• Government Fee by Bharatkosh under prescribed Ministry category.
• Download the receipt after deducting the fee.
• Attach the fee receipt with the file.

CD / MS Word Format Requirement

Submit your application files to the Department of Publication using a soft copy (CD or MS Word file). Format the text precisely as a legal affidavit. Following these submission guidelines ensures seamless processing and stops unexpected rejections.

The CD must contain the following information:

• Old name
• New name
• Address
• Age
• Father's/husband's name
• Reason for change

Note: Often, when creating a soft copy for a CD, people do not provide complete information—or provide no information at all.