To update your passport and driving licence after marriage, you normally only need your marriage certificate - not a deed poll - provided you are simply taking your spouse’s surname or reverting to your maiden name. Update your passport first (£102 online), then your driving licence (free at the DVLA). A deed poll is only required if you want a combination the certificate doesn’t prove, such as a double-barrelled surname using both of your existing names.
This guide covers the marriage-specific route for both documents: which evidence each one accepts, when a marriage certificate falls short, how double-barrelling works, the fees, and the order that saves you posting your only certificate twice. If you haven’t walked down the aisle yet, see our separate guide to the PD2 form for getting your passport in your married name before the wedding.
Marriage certificate or deed poll - which do you need?
This is the single most important decision, because it determines what evidence you send and whether you need to buy anything. UK government departments treat a marriage certificate as proof of a name change in three specific scenarios:
- Taking your spouse’s surname - e.g. Sarah Jones becomes Sarah Smith.
- Reverting to your maiden name after the wedding (still allowed on the strength of the marriage certificate).
- Double-barrelling by joining both surnames - e.g. Jones becomes Jones-Smith. HM Passport Office and the DVLA generally accept this on a marriage certificate because both names appear on it.
You need a deed poll for a married name change when the result isn’t something the certificate proves on its own. Common examples:
- Creating an entirely new surname (a “meshed” name like Smones from Smith and Jones).
- Both partners adopting a brand-new shared surname that belongs to neither of them.
- Changing your first or middle name at the same time - a marriage certificate only ever proves a surname change.
- The husband taking the wife’s surname - technically a marriage certificate can support this, but some institutions process it more smoothly with a deed poll, so it’s worth having one to hand.
If you fall into the deed poll camp, there’s no need to pay a solicitor £150-£300. An unenrolled deed poll is legally valid and accepted by HM Passport Office, the DVLA, HMRC, banks and the NHS - it’s how roughly 98% of UK name changes are done. UK Name Change produces a professionally printed deed poll from £14.49, with same-day dispatch on orders placed before 3pm and free Royal Mail Tracked delivery.
The order to do it in
The order matters for one practical reason: you only have one original marriage certificate (or one set of certified copies), and several organisations want to see an original document. Doing things in sequence - or buying extra certified copies from the register office - stops you being stranded without proof halfway through.
- Sort your honeymoon travel first. Your passport name must exactly match the name on your flight booking. If you booked in your maiden name, travel on your current passport and change it when you get home. If you booked in your married name, you’ll need the passport updated before you fly - or use the pre-wedding PD2 route linked above.
- Update your passport. Send the application with your marriage certificate (and deed poll, if you’re double-meshing). You can use the same certificate again afterwards once it’s returned.
- Update your driving licence. This is free and can run in parallel if you have certified copies.
- Then everything else - bank, HMRC, employer, GP, utilities. These are all free to update and most accept a marriage certificate or your new passport as proof.
Pro tip: order two or three certified copies of your marriage certificate from the register office (a few pounds each). With copies in hand you can update your passport and driving licence at the same time instead of waiting weeks for one document to bounce between offices.
Updating your passport after marriage
Apply online at GOV.UK and post in your supporting documents, or use a paper application. The fees in 2026 are:
- £102 - standard online application.
- £115.50 - standard paper application by post.
- £192 - 1-week Fast Track.
- £239.50 - 1-day Premium service.
Send your marriage certificate as proof. If you’re changing more than your surname allows under the certificate, include your original wet-ink deed poll - HM Passport Office needs the original, not a photocopy. Your new passport is issued in your married name and your maiden-name passport is cancelled and returned. For the full renewal process, including photo and timing rules, see our guide to renewing a UK passport with a name change in 2026.
A note on titles
Becoming “Mrs” isn’t a legal name change at all. A title (Mr, Mrs, Ms, Mx, Dr) is not legally part of your name, so you never need a deed poll just to switch from Miss to Mrs - the marriage certificate covers it, and many people keep “Ms” regardless of marital status.
Updating your driving licence after marriage
Updating your DVLA driving licence to your married name is completely free. You change the name on your licence using a paper application (form D1, available from the Post Office or by post) and send it with your marriage certificate or deed poll. There is no online route for a name change - the DVLA needs to see original supporting evidence.
You are legally required to keep your driving licence details up to date. Driving with the wrong name on your licence can lead to a fine of up to £1,000, so don’t leave it sitting in the drawer once you’re back from honeymoon. Your old photocard licence is cancelled and a new one issued in your married name; your driving entitlements and licence number carry over unchanged.
Double-barrelling: the detail that trips people up
Double-barrelling is the most common reason married couples reach for a deed poll - but it isn’t always needed. If you’re joining your two existing surnames (Jones + Smith = Jones-Smith), both names already appear on your marriage certificate, so a passport and licence update on the certificate alone is usually accepted.
You’ll want a deed poll if: the hyphenated name uses a surname that isn’t on the certificate; you and your spouse want both partners double-barrelled in a way the certificate doesn’t spell out; or you want to lock in the exact spelling and order across every institution to avoid mismatches. A deed poll removes any ambiguity and is accepted everywhere.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a deed poll to change my name after marriage?
Usually not. If you’re taking your spouse’s surname, reverting to your maiden name, or joining both of your existing surnames, your marriage certificate is sufficient proof for your passport and driving licence. You only need a deed poll for a combination the certificate doesn’t prove - such as a meshed surname or changing your first name too.
How much does it cost to update my passport and driving licence after marriage?
A new passport in your married name costs £102 online or £115.50 by post. Updating your driving licence at the DVLA is free. If you need a deed poll for double-meshing, UK Name Change supplies one from £14.49.
Should I update my passport or driving licence first?
Update your passport first, especially if you’re travelling, then your driving licence. Better still, buy two or three certified copies of your marriage certificate so you can update both at once without waiting for one document to be returned.
Can I double-barrel my surname after marriage without a deed poll?
Yes, if you’re joining your two existing surnames, because both names appear on your marriage certificate. You’ll need a deed poll only if the hyphenated name includes a surname that isn’t on the certificate, or to guarantee a consistent spelling across every organisation.
How long do I have to change my name after getting married?
There’s no legal deadline to update your passport - you can do it whenever you like. However, your driving licence must legally reflect your current name, and failing to update it can mean a fine of up to £1,000, so do that promptly.
Do I need to enrol my deed poll for a married name change?
No. Enrolment at the Royal Courts of Justice (£53.05) is optional, publishes your name in the London Gazette, and adds no legal validity. An unenrolled deed poll is fully accepted by HM Passport Office and the DVLA.
Ready to make your married name official?
If your new name needs more than a marriage certificate - a meshed surname, a new first name, or a guaranteed consistent spelling everywhere - get a professionally printed, legally valid adult deed poll from £14.49. Same-day dispatch before 3pm, free tracked delivery, and trusted by over 160,000 customers across the UK. Start your married name change today.
