Gazette Name Change Online in India
A gazette name change is the official publication of your old and new name in the Gazette of India, Part IV, issued by the Department of Publication. For an adult the government fee is ₹1,100, paid online through Bharatkosh. You publish your change of name in a daily newspaper, then send the signed application, original newspaper and a CD to the Controller of Publications, Civil Lines, Delhi-110054.
We prepare that whole file for you: the undertaking, typed proforma, MS Word CD, newspaper notice and fee guidance. Then we check it against the official guideline before you post it, so it isn’t sent back.
- Follows Department of Publication guidelines
- Adults, minors & NRIs
- Government fee paid directly by you
Last reviewed 22 October 2026 against the Department of Publication’s change-of-name guidelines. See sources
SAMPLE
GAZETTE OF INDIA · PART IV
Change of Name
I hitherto known as ANITA KUMARI, daughter of Ramesh Kumar, employed as Accountant in ABC Traders, residing at 12, Model Town, Delhi-110009, have changed my name and shall hereafter be known as ANITA SHARMA.
It is certified that I have complied with other legal requirements in this connection.
Signature (in existing old name)
ANITA KUMARI
Illustrative example with a fictional name, written in the Department of Publication’s specimen wording for an adult.
On this page: At a glance · Is it online? · Do you need it? · 6 steps · Documents · Fees · Timeline · Rejections · States · Download · How it works · FAQ
Gazette name change at a glance
The key facts from the Department of Publication’s guideline for adults, in one place.
PUBLISHED IN
Gazette of India, Part IV
Weekly, dated on Saturdays
PUBLISHER
Department of Publication
Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
FEE PAID THROUGH
Bharatkosh
The government’s Non-Tax Receipt Portal (NTRP)
WHERE TO SUBMIT
Controller of Publications, Civil Lines, Delhi-110054
In person, or by post or courier
NEWSPAPER NOTICE
One daily local leading newspaper
Send the original newspaper with your file
DOCUMENT AGE
Not older than one year
Documents are not returned
YOUR FINAL COPY
Free PDF from egazette.gov.in
Needs no further certification
PUBLIC DEALING HOURS
10:00 am–1:00 pm, 2:00–4:00 pm
Closed Saturdays, Sundays and gazetted holidays
Can you do a gazette name change online?
Gazette name change is only partly online. For the Central Gazette, you pay the fee online on Bharatkosh and download the published notice free from egazette.gov.in. However, the signed application, original newspaper and CD must reach the Department of Publication in person or by post or courier. Some states, such as Odisha, accept name-change applications fully online on their own e-Gazette portals.
| Step | Online? | What it involves |
|---|---|---|
| Undertaking | Offline | Signed by you on paper. Many people also get a notarised affidavit for banks and other offices. |
| Newspaper notice | Partly | Often bookable online, but it must appear in print, and you send the original newspaper. |
| Government fee | Online | Paid on Bharatkosh; keep the receipt for your file. |
| Proforma, CD, certificate | Partly | Typed on a computer, but signed by hand with two witnesses and sent physically. |
| Submission | Offline | In person or by post/courier only. Agents and advocates are not a permitted channel. |
| Publication & download | Online | Search the weekly Part IV on egazette.gov.in and download the PDF. |
Read this before you pay anyone. The Department of Publication accepts change-of-name applications only when submitted personally or sent by post or courier. Its guideline states that no other channel, such as agents or advocates, is permitted.
A private service can prepare your documents, but you remain the applicant who signs and sends the file. We’re upfront about that: we do the paperwork, and you post it.
Do you need a gazette, and is it enough?
You don’t need a gazette for every name change, but it is the proof offices expect for a complete change of name. For a married woman’s surname change, Passport Seva, UIDAI and the PAN rules accept a marriage certificate instead. And the gazette alone doesn’t change anything: it’s your proof, and Aadhaar, PAN, your passport and your bank each update their own record only when you apply to them.
| Your situation | Gazette needed? | Official basis |
|---|---|---|
| Changing your first name or whole name | Yes | UIDAI asks for a gazette notification for a full name change |
| Married woman taking or adding her spouse’s surname | Usually not | Passport, Aadhaar and PAN accept a marriage certificate; Passport also accepts Annexure J |
| Anyone else changing a surname, including men | Yes, for PAN | PAN asks for a gazette or a gazetted officer’s certificate |
| Child: surname or spelling change, first name unchanged | Often not for Aadhaar | UIDAI accepts a birth certificate showing the revised name |
| Child: complete name change | Yes | UIDAI asks for a gazette; Passport accepts a gazette or two newspaper clippings |
Gazette, affidavit, notary and newspaper: what’s the difference?
| Document | What it is | Official public record? |
|---|---|---|
| Affidavit | Your own sworn statement of the change, attested by a notary public or magistrate. A notary attests documents; a notary isn’t a gazette. | No |
| Newspaper notice | A public announcement you place in a newspaper | No, but it is public |
| Gazette notification | Your notice published by the Department of Publication in the Gazette of India, Part IV | Yes, permanent and downloadable from egazette.gov.in |
Most people end up with all three: the affidavit or undertaking and the newspaper notice are part of the gazette application, and banks and other offices often ask to see them alongside the gazette. After marriage: when you need the gazette
How to change your name in the Gazette of India: 6 steps
This is the process for an adult (18+) publishing in the Central Gazette. Minors, NRIs and government employees follow the same path with a few extra documents, listed below.
-
Prepare your undertaking
Sign an undertaking showing your old and new name, your father’s or husband’s name and your residential address, and declaring that these facts are true to the best of your knowledge. If you work for the Central Government, you can submit a deed for change of name instead, in the format set by a Ministry of Home Affairs office memorandum of 12 March 1987. Banks, universities and other offices often ask for a notarised affidavit as well, so most people make one at this stage. Affidavit and undertaking formats
-
Publish the newspaper notice
Advertise the change in a daily local leading newspaper, stating your father’s or husband’s name and residential address. Keep the full original newspaper, because it goes into your file. Many applicants publish in two papers (one English, one regional language) because some offices ask for both. Newspaper notice format
-
Pay the fee on Bharatkosh
Pay the printing charge (₹1,100 for an adult) through Bharatkosh, the government’s Non-Tax Receipt Portal, and print the receipt. The Department’s payment procedure uses the purpose “Sale of Gazette (PAO Printing, New Delhi)”. Pay it in your own name; we never collect government fees on your behalf. Bharatkosh payment steps
-
Prepare the proforma, CD and certificate
Type the notice in the prescribed specimen format on plain paper. Sign it in your old name and get two witnesses to sign, in duplicate. Then put the same text in MS Word on a CD, without the witness portion and with your old name typed where the signature goes. Finally, sign a certificate stating that the hard copy and soft copy are the same.
-
Submit the file to the Department of Publication
Send the request letter, undertaking, original newspaper, both proformas, CD, certificate, two self-attested passport photos, self-attested photo ID and fee receipt to the Controller of Publications, Department of Publication, Civil Lines, Delhi-110054. Submit it in person or by post or courier. Documents aren’t returned, so keep a full set of copies.
-
Download your gazette
Once your notice is published, find it in the weekly Gazette of India, Part IV on egazette.gov.in and download the PDF. The Department of Publication says this downloaded copy needs no further certification. Step-by-step download guide
Documents required for gazette name change
The Department of Publication lists seven items for an adult’s change of name in Part IV. Every document must be less than one year old.
| Proof of old name or identity | Proof of address |
|---|---|
| Passport | Passport |
| Aadhaar card | Aadhaar card |
| Ration card | Ration card |
| Voter ID card | Voter ID card |
| Driving licence | Driving licence |
| Electricity, water, telephone or gas bill (not older than 3 months) | Electricity, water, telephone or gas bill (not older than 3 months) |
| ID card issued by the Central or State Government | ID card issued by the Central or State Government |
| PAN card | Birth certificate |
| Birth certificate | Parent’s ID proof (for a minor) |
| Class 10 or 12 certificate | Rent agreement (with the landlord’s PAN card copy) |
Source: Department of Publication, “List of acceptable documents as proof of old name and proof of address”.
Extra documents for special cases
Minor (under 18)
The father or mother applies and signs. The newspaper notice must state the child’s age, and you add photographs of both the guardian and the child.
Central Government employee
You may submit a deed for change of name in the format under the Ministry of Home Affairs office memorandum of 12 March 1987.
Indian living abroad
Submit the deed (or declaration, for a minor) attested by the Indian Embassy or High Commission, in original. The fee is also higher.
Name of another religion
If you adopt a name or surname of another religion without converting, your undertaking must confirm you are not changing your religion. The fee is ₹1,350.
Change of religion
Declare it in both the newspaper notice and your undertaking, with a conversion certificate from a mandir, masjid, monastery, gurudwara or church. The fee is ₹1,700.
Different or added surname
Using a surname different from your father’s or mother’s, or adding one, needs an affidavit attested by a First Class Magistrate.
Back to your maiden surname
Add a copy of the divorce decree, or your husband’s no-objection certificate with his ID and mobile number. It can’t be processed while a court case is pending.
Everything in one checklist
A printable checklist with formats for the undertaking, proforma, request letter and hard/soft-copy certificate.
Gazette name change fees
The government’s printing charge depends on who is applying. You pay it yourself through Bharatkosh.
| Applicant | Government fee |
|---|---|
| Adult (18 or older) | ₹1,100 |
| Minor (applied by father or mother) | ₹1,700 |
| Adult living abroad | ₹3,500 |
| Minor living abroad | ₹5,100 |
| Adopting a name or surname of another religion, without changing religion | ₹1,350 |
| Change of religion | ₹1,700 |
| Public notice (for example, change of name and gender) | ₹1,400 |
| Adoption of a child | ₹1,700 per party |
Source: Department of Publication office order of 19 September 2023 (rates in force from 14 June 2021) and its change-of-name guidelines. ₹1,350 is ₹1,100 plus ₹250. Fees are paid through Bharatkosh (NTRP).
Other costs to budget for
- Newspaper advertisement: varies with the newspaper, edition and city.
- Affidavit: stamp paper and notary charges, if you make a notarised affidavit.
- Small items: CD, passport photos, printouts and courier charges.
- Our service fee: see our packages. It’s separate from the government fee, which you always pay directly.
How long does a gazette name change take?
The Department of Publication does not publish a fixed processing time. Once a complete application is accepted, it is sent to the Government of India Press, and the notice appears in a Saturday issue of the weekly Gazette of India, Part IV. Private providers’ estimates range from about four weeks to more than ten weeks.
The part you control (undertaking, newspaper notice, fee and file) can usually be finished within a week. The most common cause of delay is a file that’s incomplete or inconsistent, which is exactly what our pre-submission check is for.
If something is missing, the Department contacts only the applicant, by phone, speed post or email. Its guideline for change of name and gender gives six months from that first contact to send what’s missing, quoting your file number. After that the case is cancelled and you have to apply again with a fresh fee.
Who needs a gazette name change?
Anyone who wants an official, public record of a new name. The Department of Publication publishes separate guidelines for many of these cases.
After divorce
Returning to your maiden surname. There is a separate guideline for a minor’s name after divorce.
Spelling mistakes
Making one spelling official when your documents don’t match.
Central Gazette or State Gazette?
You can publish in the Gazette of India or, in many states, in the state’s own gazette. They work differently.
| Gazette of India (Central) | State Gazette | |
|---|---|---|
| Published by | Department of Publication, Delhi | The state’s printing and stationery department |
| Who can apply | Its change-of-name guidelines don’t restrict applicants by state | Usually residents of that state |
| How you apply | In person or by post/courier; fee online on Bharatkosh | Varies. Odisha is fully online; Tamil Nadu takes applications at its government presses |
| Where it’s published | Weekly Gazette, Part IV, on egazette.gov.in | The state’s own e-Gazette portal |
Many applicants choose the Central Gazette because it is a national publication. If a specific office asks for a particular gazette, follow its instructions. State portals include Odisha e-Gazette and Gujarat e-Gazette. Compare Central and State gazettes
State gazette portals
If you publish in your state’s gazette rather than the Gazette of India, use the state’s official site. We checked each of these on 23 October 2026. Processes and fees differ by state, so read the portal’s instructions before you apply.
| State | Official site | What we found |
|---|---|---|
| Odisha | egazette.odisha.gov.in | Name-change applications are fully online; the fee is paid after approval |
| Kerala | compose.kerala.gov.in | Kerala’s e-Gazette system; citizens register on the portal to publish |
| Gujarat | egazette.gujarat.gov.in | Has a dedicated change of name/surname page |
| Haryana | egazetteharyana.gov.in | Haryana Government eGazette |
| Maharashtra | egazzete.mahaonline.gov.in | View and download Maharashtra government gazettes |
| Rajasthan | reams.rajasthan.gov.in | Printing and Stationery department’s gazette instructions for citizens |
| Tamil Nadu | stationeryprinting.tn.gov.in | Stationery and Printing Department; applications are taken at its government presses |
Not listed? Check your state government’s printing and stationery department, or use the Gazette of India, whose guidelines don’t restrict applicants by state.
Why gazette name change applications get rejected
The Controller of Publications can reject any request that is incomplete, vague, unlawful or misleading. These are the problems we check every file for:
Rules and limits to know before you apply
These come straight from the Department of Publication’s guidelines and rate order, and few guides mention them.
How to download your gazette notification from egazette.gov.in
Printed copies of the Gazette stopped on 1 October 2015, so the PDF on egazette.gov.in is your copy.
- Open Search Gazette. Go to egazette.gov.in and choose Search Gazette.
- Choose Weekly Gazette. Set the search category to Weekly Gazette.
- Select Part IV. In Select Part and Section, choose Part IV.
- Pick Saturday dates. Set the from and to dates to Saturdays around when your file was accepted.
- Download and search. Download each PDF and press Ctrl + F to find your old or new name.
- Save the whole gazette. Keep the complete, unedited PDF. It needs no certification from the Department, which isn’t responsible for tampering in downloaded copies.
How our service works
From your first message to the published gazette, in five steps.
- Tell us your case. Message us on WhatsApp: whose name is changing, why, and which records you need to update.
- Get your checklist and quote. We tell you which guideline applies, exactly which documents you need, the government fee, and our package price before we start.
- Approve your drafts. We send the undertaking, proforma, CD text, certificate, request letter and newspaper notice for you to check, spelling by spelling.
- Sign and send. You sign in your old name, get two witnesses, pay the government fee on Bharatkosh, and post or hand in the file. We check the complete file before it goes.
- We track your gazette. We check the weekly Part IV and send you the PDF as soon as your notice is published.
Why people choose us
What we do, and what only you can do
The rules say the applicant must sign and send the file. Our gazette name change online service takes on everything else, and makes sure what you send is complete.
We prepare
- Check your case: adult, minor, NRI, government employee or religion
- Draft your undertaking or deed, plus an affidavit if you need one
- Type the proforma exactly to the specimen format
- Prepare the MS Word CD and the hard/soft-copy certificate
- Draft your newspaper notice and help you book it
- Walk you through the Bharatkosh fee payment
- Check the full file against the latest guideline
- Track Part IV each week and send you the PDF
You do
- Sign the undertaking and proforma in your old name
- Get two witnesses to sign the proforma
- Self-attest your photos and ID copy
- Pay the government fee in your own name
- Post or courier the file yourself, or hand it in at Civil Lines
Document Kit
₹— + government fee
- Undertaking and proforma drafted
- MS Word file for your CD
- Hard/soft-copy certificate
- Request letter
MOST CHOSEN
Complete File
₹— + government fee
- Everything in the Kit
- Newspaper notice drafted and booked
- Bharatkosh payment guidance
- Pre-submission check of the whole file
Complete File + Tracking
₹— + government fee
- Everything in Complete File
- Weekly Part IV checks
- Gazette PDF sent to you
- Help updating Aadhaar, PAN and passport
Tell us about your case
We’ll reply on WhatsApp with the exact documents and fee for your situation. Your details come only to us.
After publication: update your records
The gazette is your proof, but each office updates its own record only when you apply to it. Keep the gazette PDF, newspaper copy and undertaking or affidavit together. This is what each office asks for:
| Record | What the office asks for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Aadhaar | For a full or first-name change: the gazette notification plus an old proof of identity showing your previous name. For a surname change after marriage: a government-issued marriage certificate. | UIDAI says the address in the gazette should match your Aadhaar. A name can be updated twice; after that, only through a regional office. |
| PAN | Married women: a marriage certificate, marriage invitation card, gazette publication, gazetted officer’s certificate, or passport showing the husband’s name. Everyone else: a gazette publication or a gazetted officer’s certificate. | Married women still give their father’s name, not their husband’s. |
| Passport | Apply for a re-issue. Name-change proof: a gazette notification or newspaper clippings. After marriage: a marriage certificate or Annexure J. | For a minor, Annexure D should ideally be signed by both parents. |
| Bank and others | Each bank and institution sets its own rules, so ask what they need. | Update Aadhaar and PAN first, because banks check against them. |
Sources: UIDAI list of supporting documents and update FAQ; NSDL and UTIITSL PAN instructions; Passport Seva document advisor and compendium. Check each office’s current list before you apply.
Gazette office in Delhi: address, timings and NCR visits
The Department of Publication is at Civil Lines, Delhi-110054, behind the Old Vidhan Sabha and near Vidhan Sabha Metro Station, so if you live in Delhi NCR you can hand in your file yourself. Public dealing hours are 10:00 am to 1:00 pm and 2:00 to 4:00 pm; the office is closed on Saturdays, Sundays and gazetted holidays. Bring photo ID and a full set of copies, because nothing is returned. If you live elsewhere in India, or abroad, post or courier works just as well.
Gazette name change FAQs
How can I change my name in the Gazette of India online?
You can pay the ₹1,100 fee online on Bharatkosh and download your published notice from egazette.gov.in. The application itself is not online for the Central Gazette. You sign the undertaking and proforma, publish a newspaper notice, and submit the file in person or by post to the Controller of Publications, Civil Lines, Delhi-110054.
Is a gazette notification valid for a name change?
Yes. A Gazette of India notification is the government’s official public record of your name change. The Department of Publication states that a copy downloaded from egazette.gov.in needs no further certification, and it is widely used as proof when updating Aadhaar, PAN, passport and bank records.
How much does it cost to change my name in the Gazette of India?
The government fee is ₹1,100 for an adult and ₹1,700 for a minor, paid through Bharatkosh. Indians living abroad pay ₹3,500 (adult) or ₹5,100 (minor). On top of that you pay for the newspaper advertisement, any affidavit, and courier charges.
Can I change my name in the Gazette online in Tamil Nadu?
Tamil Nadu residents have two options. They can publish in the Tamil Nadu Government Gazette through the Department of Stationery and Printing, which takes change-of-name applications at its government presses. Or they can apply to the Central Gazette of India, whose change-of-name guidelines don’t restrict applicants by state.
Do I need to publish in two newspapers?
The Department of Publication’s guideline asks for the change to be advertised in one daily local leading newspaper. Many people publish in two (one English and one regional language) because some banks and offices ask for both.
Is a notarised affidavit compulsory for the gazette?
For a standard adult change of name, the Central Gazette guideline asks for an undertaking signed by the applicant, not a notarised affidavit. The exception is adopting a surname different from your father’s or mother’s, or adding a surname, which needs an affidavit attested by a First Class Magistrate. A notarised affidavit is still worth making, because many banks, universities and other offices ask for one.
Can an agent or lawyer submit my gazette application?
No. The Department of Publication accepts applications only when submitted personally or sent by post or courier, and states that no other channel, such as agents or advocates, is permitted. A service can prepare your documents, but you must sign and send them.
How long does a gazette name change take?
There is no official timeline. After a complete application is accepted, it goes to the Government of India Press and appears in a Saturday issue of the weekly Gazette Part IV. Private providers’ estimates range from about four weeks to more than ten weeks.
Can NRIs change their name in the Gazette of India?
Yes. An Indian living abroad submits a deed attested by the Indian Embassy or High Commission, in original, along with the other documents. The fee is ₹3,500 for an adult and ₹5,100 for a minor.
How do I change my child’s name in the Gazette?
The father or mother applies. The newspaper notice must include the child’s age, the guardian signs the undertaking and proforma, and the file includes photographs of both the guardian and the child. The fee is ₹1,700.
How do I check whether my name has been published?
Search the Weekly Gazette, Part IV on egazette.gov.in using Saturday dates, download each issue and press Ctrl + F to look for your old or new name.
Will the Department return my original documents?
No. The Department of Publication does not return documents once submitted, neither originals nor photocopies. Keep a complete set of copies before you post your file.
What is a gazette certificate for name change?
There’s no separate certificate. “Gazette certificate” usually means the downloaded PDF of the Gazette of India issue that carries your notice. The Department of Publication says this downloaded copy needs no further certification.
Where can I find the gazette name change list?
There’s no separate list. Every change-of-name notice is printed in the weekly Gazette of India, Part IV, and each issue is a PDF on egazette.gov.in. Search the Saturday issues and press Ctrl + F to find a name.
What’s the difference between the weekly and the extraordinary gazette?
Individuals’ change-of-name notices appear in the weekly Gazette of India, Part IV. Extraordinary issues carry government notifications published outside the weekly schedule, so searching them won’t find your notice.
How do I check the status of my gazette application?
The Department of Publication contacts the applicant directly by phone, speed post or email if anything is missing, and its guidelines say status enquiries need about a month. To see whether your notice is out, search the weekly Part IV on egazette.gov.in.
Is there a tatkal or urgent gazette name change?
No. The Department of Publication’s rate order lists one fee for each type of notice and has no tatkal or urgent category. Publication time depends on the Department and the Government of India Press.
Is a gazette the same as a notary affidavit?
No. A notarised affidavit is your own sworn statement, attested by a notary. A gazette notification is the government’s official public record of the change, published in the Gazette of India. Most applicants have both.
How we keep this page accurate
Reviewed by
[Reviewer name], Advocate, [Bar Council of State], Enrolment No. [—]
Last reviewed: 22 October 2026. We re-check fees and rules against the official guidelines every quarter, and whenever the Department of Publication updates them.
Get your gazette file right the first time
Send us your details on WhatsApp. We’ll tell you exactly which documents and fee apply to you, then prepare the file for you to sign and post.