Affidavit for Name Change Format

When and how to use this letter

Type or write the affidavit on stamp paper of the denomination required in your region, and get it signed before a notary public or oath commissioner. The affidavit must state your old name, your new name, your parentage, your address, and the reason for the change, all matching your existing IDs.

After notarisation, publish the change in two newspapers, one in the local language and one in English, where required by your region's rules. Keep the original newspaper cuttings; passport offices and banks often ask for them as proof of public notice.

The crucial step is gazette notification. Apply to the official gazette office with the affidavit and newspaper cuttings. The gazette publication is what makes the name change legally bulletproof; an affidavit alone is frequently rejected by banks, passport offices, and employers.

A non-obvious tip: update your documents in a specific order to avoid circular rejections. Start with the CNIC or national ID, then the passport, then bank accounts, then educational certificates. Each office wants to see the previous document already updated, so this sequence prevents being sent in loops.

Keep certified copies of the affidavit, newspaper cuttings, and gazette notification permanently. You will need them years later whenever an old document surfaces with your former name, from property papers to pension records.

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