U.S. Passports
The process to change your name on a U.S. passport varies, depending on your situation, such as your age or when your previous passport was issued.
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You must apply in person using Form DS-11 if at least one of the following is true:
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You are applying for your first U.S. passport
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You are under age 16
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Your previous U.S. passport was issued when you were under age 16
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Your previous U.S. passport was lost, stolen, or damaged
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Your previous U.S. passport was issued more than 15 years ago
If none of the above statements apply to you, you may be eligible to apply by mail to:
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Update name on a passport issued less than 1 year ago using Form DS-5504
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Renew a passport issued more than 1 year ago using Form DS-82.
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Children under 16 must apply using Form DS-11 and appear in person with both parents or legal guardians (see Section 4 of Form DS-11 for additional parent / guardian information).
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Passports for children under 16 are valid for 5 years.
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Most applicants age 16 and 17 must apply in person using Form DS-11.
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Some may be eligible to Renew a Passport by Mail if they meet certain criteria .
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Passports for applicants 16 and older are valid for 10 years.
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The process to change your name on a U.S. passport varies by your situation.
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You will need a certified court order to change your name on your passport.
On November 6, 2025 the U.S. Supreme Court granted the federal government's request to pause a federal court order (Orr v. Trump) that allowed individuals to select gender markers (M,F, or X) to match their gender identity.
For now, this means new passports issued by the State Department will show a person's sex assigned at birth, with no choice for an X gender marker.
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This applies to new passports, renewals, and replacements for lost or damaged passports. Existing passports with M, F, or X gender markers will remain valid until they expire.
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As of November 7, 2025 the State Department's guidance for selecting a gender marker has not been fully updated to reflect this change, but we will continue to monitor the situation and update this page as cases continue to move through the courts.​
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​Please note: In a recent update on the
U.S. Passports and Consular Reports of Birth Abroad that have already been issued (including those with the X gender marker) remain valid until replaced or expired, per the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICA) policy.
Lambda Legal is an excellent resource for additional information and updates. Click here to learn more.