Changing Surname as a PR

[benje84]

Hi guys,

Couldn't find any answers when I searched so hoping to get some advice on the following:

• Single British guy in his early 30s living in Oz on a 189 visa.
• British passport is almost full so needs replacing in the next year or so
• Eligible for citizenship in <12 months

I've been meaning to change my surname for a while for personal reasons, and given the above, it seems like a good time to do it, prior to getting potentially 2 new passports. However, I don't really know where to start:

• Am I best going through the process in the UK first, then doing it here, or will I need to do both simultaneously?
• Has anyone changed their name in the UK before without being physically there?

I realise my scenario is somewhat unconventional as I'm a guy, so have heard there is reluctance for institutions to go through a formal process, so particularly keen to hear about others who have been through this.

Thanks for any help,

[ali]

Hi and welcome to the forum - your IP suggests you're in NSW (not always accurate I know but hopefully this info will be helpful).

Here's a link to changing your name in NSW.  You can apply if you were born overseas and have been living in NSW for 3 consecutive years immediately prior to the application.

http://www.bdm.nsw.gov.au/Pages/change-of-name/change-of-name.aspx

[benje84]

Hi Ali,

Thanks, I had found that link, but was also looking  for people who had experience of changing their names in two countries simultaneously and the complications with any visas etc.

 

[Nemesis]

1 hour ago, benje84 said:

Hi Ali,

Thanks, I had found that link, but was also looking  for people who had experience of changing their names in two countries simultaneously and the complications with any visas etc.

 

Having done it for my first marriage, I can tell you that Oz was worse than the UK, wanting multiple copies of certificates and stat decs for changing bank accounts etc. There was also the issue of ensuring travel tickets matched assports whilst I was changing one, then the other. 

Australia being such a lover of forms and red tape then continuously wanted proof of both names, and why I changed my name, for everything from a fly-bys card to a mortgage. 

Then I got divorced and changing things back was sooooo much harder that when I married the second time I kept my maiden name - obviously that won't apply in your case.

Advice - Don't do it unless you REALLY  desperately need/want to. It complicates everything from this point forward. If you do go for it, keep ALL the paperwork. 

[benje84]

Thanks Nemesis,

It does seem like it has the potential to be a Pandora's box. I'm not sold on doing it yet, mostly for the reasons you alluded to in your response. It's weird, as some of the articles I read said that Australia was generally more relaxed with regards to the process, compared to many countries, but it sounds like that's not really the case?

1 hour ago, Nemesis said:

Australia being such a lover of forms and red tape then continuously wanted proof of both names, and why I changed my name, for everything from a fly-bys card to a mortgage.

• Just for my understanding, can you give an example of what certificates/declarations you required for a typical application?
• Also how long did the process take end to end? (It sounds like you did one country first, then another?)

[Nemesis]

1 hour ago, benje84 said:

Thanks Nemesis,

It does seem like it has the potential to be a Pandora's box. I'm not sold on doing it yet, mostly for the reasons you alluded to in your response. It's weird, as some of the articles I read said that Australia was generally more relaxed with regards to the process, compared to many countries, but it sounds like that's not really the case?

 

• Just for my understanding, can you give an example of what certificates/declarations you required for a typical application?
• Also how long did the process take end to end? (It sounds like you did one country first, then another?)

No hard and fast rule, and I am going back a few years so I can't remember all the details. One bank wanted me to go in, in person, with marriage certificate, birth certificate, passport, medicare card. One told me I would have to close the account and open a new one, so I just left it in the old name! I got my first oz passport in my married name, but to change it back required marriage cert, divorce cert, borth cert, and a stat dec to say why I wanted it changed back! UK passport was easy, just sent them the marriage cert and the old passport. 

Certainly an't gove you an end to end time as each bit got done separately and timelines have changed now for things like passport renewals.