Passports
Change of Legal Name
There are two types of applications for change of legal name with different specifications. Both types of applications require a by-mail procedure. A. You current passport is less than one year old. If the change of name is requested within one year after issuance of the current passport (your passport is still valid) submit a U.S. Passport Re-Application form DS-5504 as well as the documentation required below. There will be no charge for routine processing in this case. Please send the following: 1. Current valid passport; 2. Completed, signed and dated form DS-5504; 3. Two recent U.S. passport size photographs; 4. Include a self-addressed a self-addressed Chronopost envelope for the return of your new and cancelled old passports. Processing and receipt times are 10 days to two weeks. 5. You must submit documentary evidence such a court order, marriage or divorce certificate, or other satisfactory evidence to support a change of name. Only originals or certified copies of these documents will be accepted. (We accept documentary evidence issued by the country of origin, however, certificates not issued by either the United States or France must be accompanied by a certified translation.) B. Your current passport is more than one year old. If the change of name is requested more than one year after issuance of the current passport (your passport is no longer valid) submit an Application for Passport By Mail DS-82, and the required documents below. 1. Completed, signed and dated form DS-82; 2. Expired passport (damaged or mutilated passports are not accepted); 3. Two recent U.S. passport size photographs; 4. Pay the fee ($75) using the by mail instructions and credit card authorization form, or a French “mandat cash” available at all French post offices. See exchange rate for consular services to determine the euro equivalent. 5. Include a self-addressed Chronopost envelope for the return of your new and cancelled old passports. Processing and receipt times are 10 days to two weeks. 6. You must submit documentary evidence such a court order, marriage or divorce certificate, or other satisfactory evidence to support a change of name. Only originals or certified copies of these documents will be accepted. (We accept documentary evidence issued by the country of origin, however, certificates not issued by either the United States or France must be accompanied by a certified translation.) If you reside in the Paris Consular District area: Paris, Bordeaux, Lyon, Rennes or Strasbourg, you must send your application to the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Paris. Send your complete application by registered mail or Chronopost to: U.S. Embassy American Citizen Services Passport Unit 4, avenue Gabriel 75382 Paris Cedex 08 If you reside in the Marseille Consular District area: Marseille, Nice or Toulouse, you must send your application to the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Marseille. You may follow this link for further information including processing times. Tips to Expedite Your Passport Application Forms You may also submit a typewritten or printed form. Please print legibly using black ink and make sure that all of the entered information is complete and correct. Illegible applications may delay application processing times. Note that the online version of the application form includes instructions on the back side written for use in the U.S. only. These instructions do NOT apply to your application in France. Please follow specific instructions provided on this webpage. Passport Photographs U.S. passport photos are significantly different from other types of passport photos. French photo booth photographs are NOT acceptable for U.S. passport issuance. We recommend you obtain photos per the indications on the list of photographers. Computer scanned images may not be accepted. All photos must have a white background.
You will be required to pay the regular passport fee in this case.
Where To Send Your Passport Application
For faster service, we recommend you complete all passport application forms online and print them out for your signature. When printing out the form, please note that only one-sided pages of the application form are accepted.