Change of Name Regarding Third Country Nationals
All third-country nationals who hold a long-term visa, long-term residence permit or a permanent residence permit must report a change of name.
LONG-TERM VISA
LONG-TERM & PERMANENT RESIDENCE
What is the time limit to report the change?
You must report a change of name within 3 working days. Report the change only after it has taken place.
How and where can you report the change?
You can report a change of name personally at a Ministry of the Interior office, send it by post, Data Box or by e-mail with an advanced electronic signature, or you can submit it through an authorised representative.
What is the administrative fee?
If you hold a long-term visa, you do not pay an administrative fee for reporting a change of name.
STEPS TO FOLLOW IN ORDER TO REPORT A CHANGE OF NAME:
1. Prepare the necessary documents
In order to report the change you will need:
- Travel document with the new name on it
- Form for notification of changes
Please review the formal requirements that the documents must meet.
2. Fill in the form for notification of changes
You can fill in the form for notification of changes online. Then print out the filled-in form and sign it.
You can also download a blank form, print it out and fill it in by hand, or you can collect the form free of charge at one of the offices of the Ministry of the Interior. The form must be filled in legibly, in block capitals and in Latin characters.
3. Send the form or make an appointment at a Ministry of the Interior office
You can report a change of name personally at a Ministry of the Interior office, send it by post, Data Box or by e-mail with an advanced electronic signature, or you can submit it through an authorised representative.
For procedural reasons, you must always go to a Ministry of the Interior office personally. So, you can report the change in person and it will be made right away (you will receive a new visa). In this case, please make an appointment online or by phone beforehand. If the offered appointment slot is after your time limit for notification of the change expires, send the form by post, Data Box or by e-mail with an advanced electronic signature, or visit a Ministry of the Interior office during opening hours without an appointment. With no appointment reservation, you have to wait your turn. If you fail to report the change within the time limit, you can be fined.
If you report the change by post, never send your original travel document – only attach a copy. When reporting a change by post, it usually takes several days to process the filing. After registering the change, the Ministry employees will prompt you by phone or in writing to come to receive the visa in your travel document. If you are not prompted within 30 days, call the hotline. The hotline employees will check if the change has been made and will schedule an appointment for you to come and receive the visa in your new travel document.
4. Go to a Ministry of the Interior office
Come to a Ministry of the Interior office to receive the visa in your travel document.