Change Your Name in Northern Ireland
An unenrolled deed poll is the fast and simple way to legally change your name in Northern Ireland.
Guaranteed Acceptance in NI & UK
All Done in Days, Not Weeks
All Done in Days, Not Weeks
Guaranteed Acceptance in NI & UK
Change Your Name in Northern Ireland
An unenrolled deed poll is the fast and simple way to legally change your name in Northern Ireland.
How to Change Your Name by Unenrolled Deed Poll in NI
Changing your name sounds like a lengthy process. In practice, it isn't. You simply sign a deed poll, a short legal document stating your old name, your new name, and that you'll use the new one from now on. It's how people in Northern Ireland have done it for over a hundred years.
Your deed poll, printed on parchment paper and embossed with a seal, arrives in the post within days, ready to sign at home.
You then show your deed poll to your bank, your employer, and anyone else who holds your records, and they update your name. You can also use it to update your official documents like your driving licence and passport. It's guaranteed to be accepted in Northern Ireland and throughout the United Kingdom.
A deed poll costs £23, with nothing else to pay. From application to signing, most people have their name changed within the week.
Northern Ireland also has a government name change service, run by the General Register Office for Northern Ireland (GRONI). Both routes legally change your name, but deed polls are much more popular. Our comparison of the two explains the differences in full.
You don't need a reason to change your name, and you don't need to explain your choice to anyone. If you're ready, your new name is a few days away.
How it Works
Change your name legally in 3 steps.
Apply Online
Apply online in minutes. Your deed poll will be drafted and delivered to your door by Royal Mail within days.
Sign & Witness
Sign your deed poll in front of two people who know you, such as friends, neighbours or work colleagues.
Use Your New Name
Your name is now legally changed. Use your deed poll to update your passport, driving licence, bank accounts and other records.
Frequently Asked
Questions
Will my deed poll be accepted?
Yes. A deed poll from NI Deed Poll Office is guaranteed to be accepted by every organisation in Northern Ireland and throughout the UK, including HM Passport Office, the DVA, banks and employers.
Do I need to register my name change?
No. There is no register of names in Northern Ireland or anywhere in the UK. Your deed poll is itself the legal proof of your new name, and you use it to update your records with each organisation directly.
What can I change my name to?
Almost anything you choose. Your new name cannot include numbers or symbols, apart from hyphens and apostrophes, and it cannot be offensive or chosen to mislead. Beyond that, the choice is yours.
How long does it take?
Your deed poll arrives within days, and your name is legally changed the moment you and your witnesses sign it. Updating your documents afterwards depends on each organisation's processing times.
Can anyone change their name?
Anyone who is 16 or over and lives in Northern Ireland can change their name by deed poll, whatever their nationality or citizenship. To change a child's name, everyone with parental responsibility must consent.
Ready to Change Your Name?
Apply online and receive your deed poll within days, ready to sign.