# Travel >> Travel Preparation >> Travel Paperwork

How Do I Update My Passport if I Changed My Name and Social Security Number?

Changing your name on all of your documents can be an arduous process. While your Social Security number may never be changed, you will be issued a new one if you are becoming a new citizen of the U.S. There are several steps that need to be taken to update a passport with new information. Fortunately, the State Department makes the process relatively smooth.

Instructions

- 1
  Obtain your current U.S. passport. You will need to return this to the State Department in order to exchange for a new one. If you do not yet have a passport, you can include that information in your document submission.
- 2
  Complete form DS-5504 if you have no passport or it is less than one year old. Complete form DS-82 if your passport is more than one year old. Download the form from the State Department website. The two page form includes all of your critical contact and identification information. It can be used for corrections or updates to any of this identifying data.
- 3
  Include a government issued document certifying the reason for the change in information. This could be a marriage certificate, citizenship papers or other legal documents.
- 4
  Include a recent color photo in passport size.
- 5
  Package all of the information and mail to the address on the second page of the form you are using. Include the fee based on whether you are expediting the return or not. Wait several weeks for an updated passport to be returned to you.