AMENDMENTS OF PERSONAL PARTICULARS
This amendment is in terms of Section 26(2) of the Births and Deaths Registration Act, 1992.
Application for corrections, re-registration of a birth, insertion of the biological father’s particulars, change of forenames, change of the surname of a minor, change of forenames Major, Change of Forenames minor, Change of Gender, Alteration of date of birth are different and the applicable guidelines should be consulted.
On submission of the applications, they are referred to the Department of Home Affairs in South Africa for processing.
Legislation prescribes that the change of a surname of a Major must be gazetted in South Africa. The publication will be done by Home Affairs
The normal processing time for such application is on average is 36 months.
A woman may assume her husband’s surname or revert to her maiden surname or also join her surname with that of her husband’s as a double-barrelled surname without applying for the change of surname.
No application to the Department of Home Affairs is necessary in these instances. Person’s whose surnames have changed through marriage/divorce, may apply for a passport and/or identity document, reflecting the married/maiden surname. She may do so by just submitting her marriage certificate/her divorce decree and a written confirmation of change of surname.
Once the application is successfully lodged, do not contact the office until the turnaround time of 36 months have passed.
The outcome will be confirmed only on receipt of the confirmation from the Department in South Africa.
Consult our webpage for applicable guidelines for the following:
Change of forenames for major and minor
