The legal framework
A change of name is effected by an application to the Department of Home Affairs under the Births and Deaths Registration Act. A married person may assume a spouse's surname, revert to a previous surname, or use a double-barrelled form without a full application. As everywhere, the legal act is the easy part: the work is aligning every identity document afterwards.
Key points
| Procedure | An application to the department of home affairs under the births and deaths registration act |
|---|---|
| Authority | Department of Home Affairs |
| Children | Consent of parents or guardians required |
| Marriage | A spouse's surname may usually be adopted on production of the marriage certificate |
| Documents to update | National identity document, passport, bank records, employer, qualifications |
| Proof | Keep the original instrument permanently — it links the old and new identities |
| Births and Deaths Registration Act | Governs changes of forename and surname |
| Married names | A spouse may assume, revert to or join surnames |
| Home Affairs | Processes applications, with long delays a recurring problem |
In practice
- Get several certified copies of the deed, order or certificate — every institution wants its own.
- Update in a sensible order: passport or national ID first, then bank, employer, licences, insurers and qualifications.
- Keep the old and new documents together permanently: proof of the link between the two names is sometimes needed years later.
- Tell credit reference agencies, or a name change can look like an identity mismatch.
- Apply at Home Affairs and keep the reference number; follow up in person.
- Verify that the change reflects on the national population register before updating other records.
Cost and coverage
Administrative and publication fees are generally modest.
Recent changes
Mismatches between educational certificates and identity documents are the most common practical problem, and are easier to fix soon after the change than years later.
Where to go
- Department of Home Affairs for the formal change.
- Passport authority for travel documents.
- Educational institutions and professional bodies for qualification records.
Worth knowing
Update qualifications and professional registrations at the same time as identity documents. A degree in a former name with no documentary link is a recurring obstacle for jobs and visas. Delays at Home Affairs are the main practical obstacle. Confirm the change appears on the population register before assuming it has taken effect.
Official sources and links
- gov.za — official government portal
- South African Human Rights Commission — constitutional rights body