Name Change Before Naturalisation

[MissusB]

I have had my IDL for 2 years and am about to apply for Naturalisation to the UK. My IDL Residence Permit and my current (Canadian) passport are in my maiden name. I would like to get my Naturalisation and my British Passport in my married name, as I go by this name in all other documentation (driving license, bank accounts, etc...). The application guide recommends changing my other travel documents to reflect my married name prior to applying for Naturalisation. This is reasonable to do for the Canadian passport. My question is, do I also need to do this for the IDL Residence Permit? From what I can see, this would cost over £600, which seems silly as it will no longer be required once I get a British Passport.

Many thanks.

[CR001]

Should be fine just to update your Canadian passport.

[JohnnyZee]

When you say IDL, do you mean indefinite leave? I assume so and give my response based on that.

What I would do is to apply for naturalisation first. Use NCS so you can keep your canadian passport. In the AN application form, make sure you write you want to be referred to by your married name going forward. Also mention you will get your canadian passport changed to that married name. Send along a deed poll (or other name change document) to certify name change. Sign two deed polls. Only send one to them. This will ensure Home Office do not come back saying you may have issue with HMPO issuing British passport with new name (given canadian passport has maiden name).

Once you have done your biometrics at post office, you will have at least a month/two months before you get your naturalisation approval. In that time, start getting your canadian passport name changed. You may have to send them a deed poll here. Send the second one you signed. Hopefully this name change will not take too long.

Once you have naturalisation approval, time your citizenship ceremony so that your canadian passport with the new name is ready. After ceremony, apply for British passport with married name. Your canadian passport with married name will need to be sent along. Don't do ceremony without having new canadian passport. This will keep your ILR residence permit valid/travel-able!

This should suffice. And this way, you won't have to change name on your residence permit. All the best.

[MissusB]

I just spoke to the Home Office and they said the following:

Both documents, my Canadian passport and my Biometrics Residence Permit, must be in my married name to apply for naturalisation in that name. Otherwise, the naturalisation document will be in my previous name, and then it becomes quite complicated to change the name on a British passport, as this is the main document they go by.

[JohnnyZee]

Well, I wouldn't believe everything I hear from the Home Office hotline! These people are only following a script.

But obviously, you need to make decision yourself. If I were you, I would not change name on biometric card. It is waste of money especially since you will apply for naturalisation straight after which will void the biometric card anyway.

All the best.