The Gazette—whether the Gazette of India or a State Gazette—serves as an official government publication recording laws, notifications, and public notices like name changes. Once your name change appears in it, you gain legally recognized proof accepted nationwide by banks, passport offices, UIDAI (Aadhaar), schools, and other authorities.

A Gazette name change notification is an official government-published entry documenting your old name alongside your new one. Once published, it makes your new name publicly verifiable and legally binding throughout India.

A name change Gazette notification provides final, conclusive legal proof of your identity change. It's essential for seamlessly updating key records like Aadhaar, PAN, passport, bank accounts, property papers, and employment documents—without disputes or hurdles.

For critical updates like Aadhaar, PAN, passports, visas, immigration, and property transactions, authorities strongly require or insist on a Gazette notification. Informal changes may accept just an affidavit or local documents, depending on institutional policy.

Any adult Indian citizen can apply for a Gazette name change for reasons like spelling correction, numerology, or rebranding. Minors apply through parents or guardians. Name changes due to marriage, divorce, adoption, religious conversion, or gender transition are also permitted with valid documents.

A State Gazette mainly serves residents and records within that state, useful for state jobs and local records. The Central Gazette (Gazette of India) provides nationwide recognition, suitable for central government jobs, immigration, and multi-state requirements.

Prepare a notarized affidavit, publish two newspaper ads (one English, one regional), and submit the application with ID/address proofs, ad clippings, photographs, and fees. Applications can be filed online or offline, and professional services can manage documentation and submission.

Common reasons include marriage, divorce, religious conversion, adoption, gender transition, spelling corrections, numerology or astrology beliefs, and removing negative or embarrassing associations. Some also adopt professional or stage names.

Gazette name change publication usually takes 15–30 days after submission, depending on department workload and the completeness and accuracy of documents.

You can change your name multiple times, but each change requires a fresh affidavit, new newspaper advertisements, and a separate Gazette notification. Frequent name changes may be subject to closer scrutiny by authorities.

Once issued, a Gazette notification remains permanently valid as the official government record of your name change.

If a spelling or detail error appears in the Gazette, promptly contact the Gazette or Publication Department to request a correction or fresh notification by submitting supporting documents and applicable fees.

In most cases, publishing your name change as a public notice in two newspapers—one in English and one in the regional language—is mandatory before the Gazette will process your application.

The notarized affidavit is the core legal document declaring your old name, new name, reason for change, and voluntary intent. It forms the primary basis for newspaper advertisements and the Gazette notification.

Gazette name change fees vary by Central or State Gazette and the type of change. For individuals, total costs typically range from ₹1,100 to ₹3,650, excluding affidavit charges (₹100–₹250) and mandatory newspaper ads (₹500–₹3,000).

In Uttar Pradesh, costs usually include ₹100–₹200 for a notarized affidavit, ₹395–₹3,000 for two newspaper ads, and approximately ₹1,100–₹3,650 for Gazette publication, depending on the notification type.

Gazette fees can be paid online through the e-Gazette or state portals, or offline via demand drafts or challans in favour of the concerned department. Always keep payment receipts for reference.

Gazette publication fees are non-refundable, even if the application is rejected, withdrawn, or resubmitted with corrections.

After publication, use the Gazette copy to update Aadhaar, PAN, passport, voter ID, driving licence, bank KYC, employment records, education certificates, and property documents.

You can download the Gazette PDF from the Central e-Gazette or relevant State Gazette portal using your name, publication date, or notification number. Printed copies may also be obtained if required.

A valid Gazette notification is widely accepted as strong legal proof of name change by government departments, banks, insurers, educational institutions, and most private organizations across India.

Yes, NRIs can apply for Gazette name change in India. Additional documents such as overseas address proof, OCI/PIO details, and embassy-attested passport copies may be required.

Yes, the Central Government and many states provide online name change applications via portals like egazette.gov.in or state e-Gazette sites. However, some regions may still require physical submissions, so always verify your jurisdiction’s options.

If rejected, the department specifies reasons such as missing documents, format errors, or mismatched details. You must correct the issues, prepare fresh documents, and reapply through the same process with new fees.

Yes, name changes based on numerology or astrology are permitted. Clearly mention these personal reasons in your affidavit and follow the standard process of affidavit, newspaper publication, and Gazette notification.

Yes, the Gazette can be used to correct spelling errors or adopt a preferred spelling. The corrected spelling then becomes the official version for all future document updates.

If there is a spelling error, you must apply for correction or re-publication with a new affidavit, corrected newspaper advertisement or text, and applicable fees. The correction process usually takes 25–45 days.

There is no fixed age limit for Gazette name changes. For minors, parents or legal guardians must apply on their behalf, sometimes with additional approvals.

Yes, reverting to your old name or adopting a new one requires completing the full process again—fresh affidavit, newspaper notice, and Gazette publication—creating a new official record.

There is no single mandate, but it is strongly recommended to update PAN, Passport, Aadhaar, banks, RTO, and Election Commission to avoid record mismatches and verification issues.

For the Gazette of India, the complete process usually takes 25–45 days from submission, depending on scrutiny and publication schedules.

Central Gazette fees for adult name changes generally start around ₹1,100 and increase based on category and notice size as prescribed by the Directorate of Printing.

Gazette entries appear in weekly or periodic eGazette issues. You can track status using your application reference number and download the PDF once published.

Visit egazette.gov.in, access the Weekly Gazette search, select the relevant Part or Section and issue date, then open and download the PDF containing your name change entry.

The eGazette is a digitally generated PDF without physical stamps or handwritten signatures, yet it holds full legal validity as an official government document.

The Central eGazette provides a downloadable PDF which can be printed multiple times. Physical dispatch is generally not available unless offered as a separate service.

Gazette fees are generally non-refundable once processing begins. Private agencies or intermediaries may have separate cancellation or refund policies.

After marriage, prepare an affidavit stating marriage as the reason, attach the marriage certificate, publish two newspaper ads, apply for Gazette publication, and then update all official records.

Required documents include a notarized affidavit, prescribed proforma and declaration, recent photographs, newspaper clippings, and the Gazette fee receipt or challan.

Yes, residents of any Indian city can apply via the Central Gazette or their respective State Gazette, depending on eligibility and preference.

Central Government employees usually need a department-approved name change deed or NOC, in addition to the standard affidavit, newspaper ads, and ID proofs.

A name change does not affect ownership or legal rights to property or assets, but updating records is recommended to prevent future disputes.

Gazette notifications are accepted for updating names on passports and visas, though certain foreign authorities may require apostille, consular attestation, or supplementary local documents.