On various websites and forums for travelers, the question often arises: is it necessary to change your passport when changing your last name? Without knowing the intricacies associated with replacing foreign passports as a result of a change of surname, you can find yourself in an unpleasant situation. Many people do not know that changing a foreign passport when changing their surname, patronymic or first name is mandatory.

Most often, replacing a foreign passport when changing a surname is necessary for women after marriage or divorce. As a rule, in Russia most women take their husband's surname. In addition, an adult Russian citizen can change his full name for personal reasons.

Regardless of the reasons for changing this data, Russian laws require replacement of identification documents. According to the “Regulations on the passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation” (clause 12), a citizen of the Russian Federation is obliged to change his internal passport if the basic information changes. Changing a foreign passport when changing your surname, patronymic or first name is also necessary, as it becomes invalid.

The general passport of a Russian citizen must be replaced within a month after the change of surname. If this is done later, then, according to the Code of Administrative Offenses, you will have to pay a fine.

To replace an internal passport, a citizen must provide the following list of papers:

  1. Application form. .
  2. Passport that needs to be replaced.
  3. Two photos 35x45 mm.
  4. A paper confirming the need to replace your passport.

After receiving an internal passport, a new international passport is issued, and here the timing of replacement is not so important. A foreign passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation is valid for 5/10 years (depending on its type).

If a trip was planned immediately after the wedding, then there will be no problems with an internal or international passport. After returning, the general civil document is changed, and then the foreign document.

Otherwise, it is better to change both passports and then go on a trip. Entry into visa-free countries - Egypt, Brazil, Cuba, etc. - is possible with an old travel document throughout its validity period. But even on such trips it is better to go with the passport where the new surname is indicated.

It happens that a tourist loses his passport and has to contact the Russian consulate for a certificate. If it turns out that the old passport data is invalid, then difficulties will arise.

Changing your passport if you have a visa

After changing the surname, those who are going on a trip to countries where a visa is required will have to change their international passport. A visa will be denied if the last name in Russian and foreign documents differs. If your old passport contains open visas, the situation is slightly different.

If desired, a traveler can visit visa countries with an old passport if they have a valid visa. An internal Russian passport is not valid in foreign countries. Therefore, even if a different surname is indicated there, this does not play any role when crossing the border of a foreign state.

But if the old passport has already been cancelled, then the visas in it automatically become invalid. After all, the visa always indicates the surname of its owner.

The only solution here is to travel with the old and new documents at the same time, taking with you a notarized translation of the marriage certificate (or name change certificate). But this can only help when traveling to the USA. To travel to the Schengen countries you will need to apply for a new visa.

Replacement procedure

You can apply for a foreign passport in person through a branch of the Federal Migration Service or MFC, or use the government services portal. The procedure and list of documents for this are approximately the same.

Registration at the Main Administration for Migration and Migration (FMS)

Before visiting the branch, you should visit the regional website of the organization, make an appointment and come at the exact appointed time with a complete set of papers. In this case, you will not need to stand in line, and the whole procedure will take about 10-15 minutes. On the day appointed by the FMS employee, you need to come for the finished document.

Registration at the multifunctional center (MFC)

Here you can submit papers only for an old-style passport. Before visiting the MFC, you should visit the center’s website, check the list of papers and make an appointment. Arriving at the appointed time with a receipt paid in advance, hand in the documents - this will take 15-20 minutes. Information about readiness will be sent by SMS. You should pick it up at your local FMS office.

Registration on the public services portal

A foreign passport is issued in your personal account. Here you should fill out a form and select the FMS office where you will receive the document. Next, you need to upload a photo for the application form (all the requirements are on the portal website), check everything and send it for processing.

If everything was done correctly, then in a few days you will receive an invitation by e-mail to the selected FMS office to take a digital photo and submit the documents listed in the letter. As a rule, there is a separate queue for those who submitted documents online. On the day appointed by the FMS employee, you need to come to pick up your completed passport.

List of documents

The set of papers for replacing a passport after a change of surname does not differ from that provided upon its initial receipt. The only addition is that you need to bring a document confirming your last name change.

  • Fill out the form in one copy. The form can be downloaded on the Internet or filled out there (if submitted through the government services portal). You need to select the appropriate questionnaire - or. In the first paragraph, indicate the previous surname (first name, patronymic), date and place of change (for example, Petrova, until December 12, 2012, Ryazan). In paragraph 9 - “Instead of used”. In 15-16 points - indicate the details of your previous passport.
  • Photos 3.5×4.5 color or black and white on matte paper. For the old sample you need 3 photos. For the application form for a new one, you need 2 photographs, and the passport itself is photographed at the FMS office when submitting papers.
  • Internal passport with a new surname and its copy.
  • Previously issued passport.
  • Certificate of marriage/divorce and its copy.

  • If full name changed by a man aged 18 to 27 years, he is required to provide a military ID or a certificate from the military registration and enlistment office. Military personnel (except conscripts) must have permission from their command.
  • Receipt for payment of state duty. The annual fee for obtaining a biometric passport (for 10 years) is 5,000 rubles, for minor citizens - 2,500 rubles. For the issuance/replacement of a passport with a validity period of 5 years, you need to pay 2,000 rubles, for citizens of the Russian Federation under 14 years old - 1,000 rubles. Until 2019, when paying the fee through State Services, a 30% discount is provided.

Residents of the Kaliningrad region do not pay state duty for issuing a foreign passport, as stated in the FMS order No. 320 dated October 15, 2012 (paragraph 40).

Deadlines for replacing a passport when changing your last name

When applying for a new passport at the place of registration, you can receive it within a month. If the application is submitted to the FMS office at the place of residence, the period increases to 2 months or more.

In exceptional cases (urgent travel for treatment outside the Russian Federation or serious illness/death of a relative abroad), an application for a new passport can be considered within 3 days. To do this, you need to submit the relevant documents.

There can be only one answer to the question: is it necessary to change a foreign passport when changing your last name? Necessarily. This will save travelers from possible problems, both when crossing the border and on vacation. But if there are many open visas in your old passport, then you can simply wait to change your last name.