Requirements for a legal name change in New Zealand in 2026

Changing your name legally in New Zealand is a formal process managed by the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA). Whether you are changing your name after marriage, following a divorce, for personal reasons, or to correct a registration error, the process involves registering the change with Births, Deaths and Marriages (BDM), which is a service of the DIA.

The process is straightforward but requires specific documents and attention to detail. Once your name change is registered, you will receive an updated birth certificate (if you were born in New Zealand) or a Change of Name certificate, which you can then use to update your passport, driver licence, IRD number, bank accounts and other records.

What this procedure is and what it’s for

A legal name change in New Zealand is the formal registration of a new name with Births, Deaths and Marriages (BDM), a service of the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA). It creates an official record that your name has changed and gives you a legal document — either an updated birth certificate or a Change of Name certificate — that you can use to update all other identity documents.

Who needs this procedure

This procedure applies to:

• New Zealand citizens or permanent residents who want to change their given name, surname or both
• Adults (18 and over) applying for themselves
• Parents or guardians applying to change the name of a child under 18
• People who were not born in New Zealand but are ordinarily resident here and want a Change of Name certificate

Note that a name change after marriage or civil union is handled separately: your marriage or civil union certificate already serves as legal proof of your new name, and you do not need to register a separate name change with BDM unless you want to update your birth certificate.

Official body responsible

The Department of Internal Affairs (DIA), through its Births, Deaths and Marriages service, is the official body responsible for registering name changes in New Zealand. Their website is www.govt.nz/births-deaths-marriages-and-citizenship.

Documents required

The exact documents depend on your situation. Below is a breakdown by applicant type.

For an adult changing their own name (born in New Zealand)

• Completed Change of Name application form (available from the DIA website or a BDM office)
• Your current New Zealand birth certificate (original or a certified copy issued by BDM)
• Proof of identity — a current New Zealand passport or a current New Zealand driver licence issued by Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency
• Statutory declaration signed before a Justice of the Peace, solicitor or other authorised person, stating the reason for the change and that you are not changing your name to commit fraud

For an adult not born in New Zealand

• Completed Change of Name application form
• Proof of New Zealand residency — a current New Zealand residence visa or evidence of New Zealand citizenship (e.g. a New Zealand passport or citizenship certificate)
• Your overseas birth certificate — if not in English, it must be accompanied by a certified translation by a NAATI-accredited or DIA-accepted translator
• Proof of identity as above
• Statutory declaration as above

For a child under 18

• Completed Change of Name application form signed by a parent or guardian
• The child’s current New Zealand birth certificate (original or BDM-certified copy)
• Proof of identity of the applying parent or guardian
• Consent of the other parent or guardian — written consent is required unless the applying parent holds sole guardianship; evidence of sole guardianship (e.g. a court order) must be provided if consent cannot be obtained
• Statutory declaration by the applying parent or guardian

General notes on documents

• Submit originals where possible; certified copies are accepted for birth certificates issued by BDM
• Overseas documents not in English require a certified translation
• The statutory declaration must be witnessed and signed — an unsigned declaration will cause your application to be rejected

Steps to complete the procedure

1. Download or collect the application form. The Change of Name application form is available on the DIA website at www.govt.nz or from a BDM office. You can also request a form by post.

2. Complete the application form. Fill in all sections carefully. Incomplete forms are a common reason for delays.

3. Prepare your statutory declaration. Take the unsigned declaration to a Justice of the Peace, solicitor, notary public or other person authorised to witness statutory declarations in New Zealand. They will witness and sign it. Do not sign it before you appear before the witness.

4. Gather all supporting documents. Collect your birth certificate, proof of identity and any other required documents listed in the section above.

5. Submit your application. You can submit:

   • Online: through the DIA’s SmartStart or BDM online portal where available
   • By post: send the completed form and supporting documents to the BDM postal address listed on the form
   • In person: at a BDM office or a participating agency (availability varies by location — check the DIA website for your nearest option)

6. Pay the application fee at the time of submission (see the Fees and timelines section below).

7. Receive your updated certificate. Once approved, BDM will issue an updated New Zealand birth certificate (if you were born in New Zealand) or a Change of Name certificate. You can then use this document to update your passport with the Department of Internal Affairs, your driver licence with Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, your IRD number with Inland Revenue (IRD), and your bank and other records.

No appointment is required for postal or online applications. If applying in person, check the DIA website for office hours and whether walk-ins are accepted at your chosen location.

Estimated total time from submission to receiving your certificate: typically 10–15 working days for standard applications, though this can vary during busy periods.

Fees and timelines

• Application fee: approximately NZD $33 for the name change registration (this fee is set by the DIA and is subject to change)
• Certificate fee: an additional fee applies if you want a printed birth certificate or Change of Name certificate at the time of application — approximately NZD $33 per certificate as of 2026
• Processing time: typically 10–15 working days from receipt of a complete application; urgent processing is not generally available for name changes
• Validity of the resulting certificate: a New Zealand birth certificate or Change of Name certificate does not expire — it remains a permanent legal record
• Subsequent documents: updating your passport (DIA) or driver licence (Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency) after a name change involves separate fees and processing times for those agencies

Always confirm current fees on the DIA website before submitting, as fees are reviewed periodically.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

• Submitting an unsigned or unwitnessed statutory declaration. The declaration must be signed in front of an authorised witness — never sign it beforehand. An unsigned declaration will result in your application being returned.

• Providing a photocopy of your birth certificate that was not issued or certified by BDM. A standard photocopy is not accepted. You must provide the original certificate or a certified copy obtained directly from BDM.

• Not including consent from the other parent when changing a child’s name. Both parents or guardians must consent unless one holds sole guardianship. Missing consent documentation is one of the most common reasons child name change applications are delayed or declined.

• Leaving sections of the application form blank. Every required field must be completed. Incomplete forms are returned, which adds weeks to the process. Read the form instructions carefully before filling it in.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to change my name with every government agency separately after registering the change with BDM? Yes. Registering your name change with BDM gives you the legal document (updated birth certificate or Change of Name certificate), but you must then contact each agency individually. This includes Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency for your driver licence, the DIA for your passport, Inland Revenue (IRD) for your tax records, and your bank and employer.

Can I change my name to anything I want? Not entirely. The DIA can decline a name change if the proposed name is offensive, unreasonably long, or could be confused with an official title or rank. Names that consist only of numbers or symbols are also not permitted. The DIA assesses each application on its merits.

I was not born in New Zealand — can I still register a name change here? Yes, if you are ordinarily resident in New Zealand. You will receive a Change of Name certificate rather than an updated birth certificate, since BDM does not hold your original birth registration. You may also need to notify the relevant authority in your country of birth, as New Zealand’s registration does not automatically update overseas records.

How do I change a child’s name if the other parent refuses to consent? If the other parent or guardian refuses to consent and you cannot obtain a court order granting sole guardianship, you may need to apply to the Family Court for an order permitting the name change. BDM cannot override the requirement for consent without a court order.

Will my old name still appear on any official records after the change is registered? Your new name becomes your legal name once registered. However, historical records (such as older certificates or documents) will retain the previous name. You are responsible for updating records with individual agencies. Some agencies may keep a record of your former name for identity verification purposes.

What to do next

The most important documents to have ready are your current birth certificate (or proof of residency if born overseas), a valid proof of identity, and a correctly witnessed statutory declaration. Your first concrete step is to download the Change of Name application form from the Department of Internal Affairs website at www.govt.nz, read the instructions carefully, and arrange for your statutory declaration to be witnessed before you submit.

Requirements, fees and processing times can change. Before you submit your application, verify the current requirements directly with the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) at www.govt.nz or by calling the BDM contact centre. Do not rely solely on third-party sources or information that may be out of date.