subject: Applying for a Passport Renewal After Marriage [print this page] Applying for a Passport Renewal After Marriage
Congratulations, newlyweds! Now that you've joined yourselves together in holy matrimony, it's time to deal with the practical implications of getting hitched. One of these is applying for your first passport renewal as a married person. Here are some tips to help:
Wait Until the Honeymoon is Over
If one or both partners will be changing their name, it's a good idea to wait until the honeymoon is over to do so. Current security regulations require that the name you book your tickets under matches the name on your travel ID, and if you're going out of the country for your honeymoon, that means your passport. So, unless you plan to wait several weeks from the time you get married and your honeymoon, leave the name change until you get back.
Changing Your Name on Your Passport Renewal
These days, couples have several different options for changing their last names after marriage. Having the woman take the husband's last name is still the most popular, but some couples choose to take each other's last names and hyphenate them. Other couples just keep the names they were born with, while still others choose to create a whole new family name just for them.
If both partners are keeping their own names, obviously you don't have to do anything at all. Just apply for your passport renewal by mail using form DS-82, about 9 months before your current passport expires. Enclose your old passport, a check or money order to pay the fees and 1 new passport photo.
If you're changing your name, check the date your passport was issued. If it was issued less than a year ago, you can change the name without charge by using Form DS-5504. Just fill out the form and send it in with your passport, 1 new photo and a copy of your marriage certificate (or court order for the name change, if you decided to create a new family name).
If it's been more than a year, you'll have to apply for a passport renewal and pay the renewal fees. Enclose form DS-82, your current passport, 1 passport photo and legal documentation to support your name change request.
