Determine what form you will be required to complete by visiting the Department of State passport website at travel.state.gov/passport. If you received your passport with a misprinted name or you have changed your name within one year since the passport was issued, you will be required to complete form DS-5504. If your passport was issued more than one year ago, you will need to complete form DS-82 for a name change. Form DS-11 will be required if you cannot legally document your name change. For additional visa pages, form DS-4085 is required.
Complete the required form with all requested details and supplementary paperwork. Each form includes a yes or no questionnaire to determine if you are eligible to use that form. You can complete the form online or by hand. If you complete the form by hand, use blue or black ink and fill out the form in its entirety. You will also be required to submit two recent, color passport photos. You will also need to submit paperwork that documents your legal name change. The form, photographs and all supplementary paperwork including you current passport should be mailed to the address listed on the form. Be sure to copy all documentation before mailing, and send by certified mail if possible.
Contact the nearest U.S. Consular office if you are already overseas. The U.S. Department of State will not mail an amended passport to an address outside the United States. You can locate the nearest consular office at usembassy.gov. U.S. Consulate offices generally follow normal business hours as observed in the local country. The phone number for the consulate office will have an option to connect you to an after-hours operator if you require an amended passport for a life or death emergency.
