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Change of name before citizenship

A section for posts relating to applications for Naturalisation or Registration as a British Citizen. Naturalisation

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malikforfuture
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Posts: 2
Joined: Sun Oct 27, 2019 7:25 pm
Poland

Change of name before citizenship

Post by malikforfuture » Sun Oct 27, 2019 7:59 pm

Hello! I've been having some trouble with this matter because I can't find much about this topic.

So, I want to take the British Citizenship test, but not under my current name. There are a few ways to go about changing my name, and many problems that go with them.

Apparently, because I'm a Polish Citizen, to change my name I would have to go back to Poland, which would be difficult given my current circumstances. Moreover, because my Polish fluency is limited, I wouldn't know what to do; researching this topic has been difficult thus. Another problem that arises is that my 'new name' won't be in Polish, not even close. Also, even if I get my British Citizenship under my current name, apparently, I still would need to change my name on my Polish passport first; that's to say, I can't use a Deed Poll on my British passport first and then change it in my Polish passport second, I have to do my Polish passport first. So I hear.

Would it be possible to change my name whilst not leaving the UK? Would the Polish Embassy in the UK accept a Deed Poll, more so given that the name isn't Polish? If my name is rejected by them, what would I need to do to actually change my name? If I finally get my British passport in my current name (or even in my new name), would the Polish one be 'dominant'? If so, how do I change that, if I can?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. As you can see, I'm quite confused here.

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Djsuccess
Diamond Member
Posts: 1161
Joined: Wed Jun 22, 2016 6:37 pm
United Kingdom

Re: Change of name before citizenship

Post by Djsuccess » Sun Oct 27, 2019 9:02 pm

Your British passport will be issued using the same name as on your current Nationality passport. In your case, your Polish passport must be same as your British Citizenship/ passport application.
Why would the Polish embassy/ Government refuse to accept your new name?
Is there any reason why you want to change your name? Marriage ? Etc
Whatever the case is, I don’t think it should be hard to change your name at the Polish embassy, as long as you meet their requirements. I am not Polish so I cannot tell how it’s done. But check with the Polish embassy and read their requirements.
I am not a lawyer and do not claim to be one. All my comments here are based on my opinions, experience and interpretation of the appropriate UKVI guidance documents and immigration rules.

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Djsuccess
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Posts: 1161
Joined: Wed Jun 22, 2016 6:37 pm
United Kingdom

Re: Change of name before citizenship

Post by Djsuccess » Sun Oct 27, 2019 9:13 pm

Djsuccess wrote:
Sun Oct 27, 2019 9:02 pm
Your British passport will be issued using the same name as on your current Nationality passport. In your case, your Polish passport must be same as your British Citizenship/ passport application.
Why would the Polish embassy/ Government refuse to accept your new name?
Is there any reason why you want to change your name? Marriage ? Etc
Whatever the case is, I don’t think it should be hard to change your name at the Polish embassy, as long as you meet their requirements. I am not Polish so I cannot tell how it’s done. But check with the Polish embassy and read their requirements.
I will suggest that you change your name on your Polish passport before applying for British citizenship.

Here are some cases
british-citizenship/passport-refused-un ... 83170.html
I am not a lawyer and do not claim to be one. All my comments here are based on my opinions, experience and interpretation of the appropriate UKVI guidance documents and immigration rules.

malikforfuture
Newly Registered
Posts: 2
Joined: Sun Oct 27, 2019 7:25 pm
Poland

Re: Change of name before citizenship

Post by malikforfuture » Sun Oct 27, 2019 11:00 pm

Thanks for the response. I've also heard to sort out my Polish passport first before doing anything with the future British one, so I'll do as you say.

It seems that Poland may be stingy when it comes to name changes. For example, from (https://www.msz.gov.pl/pl/p/monachium_d ... _nazwiska/) and (https://pl.aleteia.org/2019/03/21/czy-m ... ko-a-imie/), "The Act indicates that an administrative change of first or second name can be made for important reasons, in particular when:"
1. first or last name is ridiculing, vulgar, or not in line with human dignity;
2. another first or last name is used;
3. the surname is non-Polish, or has the form of a first name;
4. first or last name has been unlawfully changed;
5. in accordance with the law of the country whose nationality you also have, you have a different first or last name.
Also,
"It is enough to submit an application to the head of the registry office, properly justify it and paying a stamp duty in the amount of PLN 37. Does this mean, however, that anyone can change their personal data? No, you must have a good reason."

(1.) I've come to hate my Polish name, but even though I have an emotional reason for disliking it, I side more on how its literally my name so why is someone else responsible for it. My 'new name' isn't offensive in any way, to clarify.
(2.) While I do use it, it's not often because I've only come to the initiative to do something about it 2 years ago, and thus no documents hold that name; it is only known informally so far. How would I go about justifying that.
(3.) Since the 'new name' isn't Polish... you know. I'm not sure if they allow non-Polish name changes; I don't fully understand the context of these rules. They might be saying that "it's fine to change your name because it's not Polish", but would they say "it's fine to change your name even though it's not Polish"? I don't know.
Rule (5.) seems to be rule (2.).

As you can see, I'm not sure; this is written in Polish. Moreover, these are the two only sites I could find on the rules of for a name change in Poland, so even more confusion. For Brits, it's "nothing rude and that's it", pretty much.

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Djsuccess
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Posts: 1161
Joined: Wed Jun 22, 2016 6:37 pm
United Kingdom

Re: Change of name before citizenship

Post by Djsuccess » Mon Oct 28, 2019 10:54 am

malikforfuture wrote:
Sun Oct 27, 2019 11:00 pm
Thanks for the response. I've also heard to sort out my Polish passport first before doing anything with the future British one, so I'll do as you say.

It seems that Poland may be stingy when it comes to name changes. For example, from (https://www.msz.gov.pl/pl/p/monachium_d ... _nazwiska/) and (https://pl.aleteia.org/2019/03/21/czy-m ... ko-a-imie/), "The Act indicates that an administrative change of first or second name can be made for important reasons, in particular when:"
1. first or last name is ridiculing, vulgar, or not in line with human dignity;
2. another first or last name is used;
3. the surname is non-Polish, or has the form of a first name;
4. first or last name has been unlawfully changed;
5. in accordance with the law of the country whose nationality you also have, you have a different first or last name.
Also,
"It is enough to submit an application to the head of the registry office, properly justify it and paying a stamp duty in the amount of PLN 37. Does this mean, however, that anyone can change their personal data? No, you must have a good reason."

(1.) I've come to hate my Polish name, but even though I have an emotional reason for disliking it, I side more on how its literally my name so why is someone else responsible for it. My 'new name' isn't offensive in any way, to clarify.
(2.) While I do use it, it's not often because I've only come to the initiative to do something about it 2 years ago, and thus no documents hold that name; it is only known informally so far. How would I go about justifying that.
(3.) Since the 'new name' isn't Polish... you know. I'm not sure if they allow non-Polish name changes; I don't fully understand the context of these rules. They might be saying that "it's fine to change your name because it's not Polish", but would they say "it's fine to change your name even though it's not Polish"? I don't know.
Rule (5.) seems to be rule (2.).

As you can see, I'm not sure; this is written in Polish. Moreover, these are the two only sites I could find on the rules of for a name change in Poland, so even more confusion. For Brits, it's "nothing rude and that's it", pretty much.
I guess all you can do is to initiate the name change process with the Polish embassy or the appropriate office and then wait to see the outcome.
I am not a lawyer and do not claim to be one. All my comments here are based on my opinions, experience and interpretation of the appropriate UKVI guidance documents and immigration rules.

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