Passport Name Change Atlanta

Editor's Note (UPDATED February 25, 2022) -- U.S. passports are taking up to seven weeks to process using the government's expedited service.  It is possible to get a passport in less time by scheduling an appointment with the Passport Agency by calling 877-487-2778 and appearing in person at their office.

Atlanta area residents who need to change the name on their U.S. passport have several options to prepare for their next international trip.

Whether you’re recently married, recently divorced, had your name changed through court proceedings, or the name on your current passport is simply incorrect, the process for changing the name on your passport is the same.  However, there are variations depending on how old your passport is and whether it is still valid.

The most important consideration is that the name on your ticket matches the name on your passport.  Airlines will not let you board the plane for an international flight if those two names do not exactly match.  So, for example, if you booked tickets for a honeymoon in Greece using your maiden name, wait until you return from your trip to update your passport.

If you have an undamaged passport issued within the last 15 years, you can update the name on your passport by mail.  However, if your passport expired more than five years ago, you will need to apply for a new passport in person at a passport acceptance facility.  For more details about obtaining a new passport, please see https://www.visasupply.com/passports-and-visas-101/post/how-to-obtain-a-new-passport-in-atlanta.

Option 1: Submit Your Forms by Mail

Atlantans with passports issued within the last 15 years can fill out the forms listed below and mail them to the National Passport Processing Center in Philadelphia at the address listed on the form.  Please note that you can only mail the forms through the U.S. Postal Service: carriers such as UPS, FedEx, and DHL cannot deliver to a post office box.

If your passport was issued less than one year ago, you can change your passport name without paying a fee. (However, if you choose expedited service, there is an additional charge.) You must mail the following documentation to the Philadelphia center: 

Georgia residents with a passport issued from one to 15 years ago may be able to use Form DS-82.  To be eligible, you must have an undamaged passport (only normal wear and tear, no missing pages) issued in your current name when you were at least 16 years old.  The form is available online at https://pptform.state.gov/?Submit2=Complete+Online+%26+Print.  You can also obtain the DS-82 from your local library or post office, and fill it out by hand.

Submit Form DS-82 along with the same documentation listed above (current passport, documentation of name change, and one photo) to the Philadelphia address on the form.  You will also need to submit the standard renewal fees ($130 for an adult and $100 for a child). 

The normal turnaround time for renewals by mail is eight to eleven weeks.  Expedited service within seven weeks is available for an additional fee.  You can also pay extra for return delivery in two days (rather than the normal first class mailing).  Fees for additional delivery options are shown at https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/how-apply/fees.html.

Option 2: Apply in Person

If you are not eligible to update your passport by mail, you will need to appear in person at the Passport Agency in downtown Atlanta or at a Passport Acceptance Facility.  The most common way to obtain another passport is visiting a passport acceptance facility.  This link allows you to find the closest facility to your home or office: https://iafdb.travel.state.gov.  For those located in Metro Atlanta, we recommend using the Dekalb County Clerk of Superior Court: https://dksuperiorclerk.com/passports/. (Do NOT sign the passport form in advance, as a government agent must witness your signature.) No appointment is required there.  You may also fill out the forms by hand at the passport acceptance facility. 

Bring the following documentation with you:

  • Form DS-11
  • Your most recent U.S. passport.
  • Proof of U.S. citizenship and a photocopy of that evidence.
  • Original or certified documentation of your name change, as outlined above. (NOTE: If your name changed due to marriage and you have an ID with your new name, you do not need to submit this documentation.)
  • Valid ID and a photocopy of the ID (such as driver’s license).
  • One color passport photo.
  • A check or money payable to the U.S. Department of State for the basic passport fee ($130) plus any additional charges for expedited service.
  • A separate $35 payment via check, money order, cash or debit card, payable to the passport acceptance facility for the identity verification process. (Check with the specific facility for the exact forms of payment they accept.) 

If you need to travel within the next month, you can apply in person at the U.S. Passport Agency in downtown Atlanta (230 Peachtree St #1000, Atlanta, GA 30303).  You can ONLY apply in person here if you can prove you need to travel within the next two weeks (or if you are traveling to a country that requires a visa, within four weeks).  You must call the Atlanta Passport Agency to schedule an appointment using their automated system.  Give yourself plenty of lead time: the agency is busy during the summer travel season and around the holidays, so it might not have appointments available when you need them.

Please bring the following for your appointment:

  • Your appointment confirmation number.
  • Your old passport.
  • Proof of travel plans, such as your flight itinerary, hotel reservation, or cruise tickets.
  • Documentation of name change (such as marriage certificate or divorce decree).
  • One passport photo.
  • A method of payment.  The agency takes major credit cards, debit cards, cash, checks and money orders. In addition to normal costs, there is a $60 fee to have your passport expedited. 
  • A check or money payable to the U.S. Department of State.  The basic passport fee is $130 for an adult, as outlined above.

If you are already using a different name but cannot document that name change, you may also need to submit Form DS-60 (https://eforms.state.gov/Forms/ds60.pdf ).  This is an affidavit witnessed by two people who know you by both names.  You will submit three original or certified public records showing you have used your new name for at least five years.  While you can take these forms to a passport acceptance facility, we recommend using the Passport Agency downtown.

Appearing at the Passport Agency is more expensive and less convenient, but remains a popular option when you need a passport quickly.  The agency will typically issue you a new passport the same day or by the next day.  It is also less expensive than using a private firm to handle your application.

Option 3: Use a Private Passport Service

The third option is to use a private passport expediter such as Visa Supply.  Our office is conveniently located in Sandy Springs, which is easier for some folks to visit instead of going downtown or to the post office.

Since Visa Supply is a private company, we charge a fee for our services (in addition to the government’s $190 expedite fee for a passport book).  Beyond the convenience of using our office, we make sure your application form is filled out correctly.  We also take your passport photo and will ensure that it meets the government’s specifications.  Our basic service starts at $100.  Customers receive their new passport (along with the old one) within seven weeks; for additional fees we can also get passports renewed in as fast as one week.  Please call us for the latest details.

Atlanta and Georgia residents with questions about changing their name on their U.S. passport -- or who would like Visa Supply to handle their application -- can schedule a telephone call through our website.  Our free consultation will guide you each step of the process.

Helpful Hints

  • When you book airline travel, always make sure the name on your ticket exactly matches the ID you will use at the airport.  Most airlines give you 24 hours to correct any online entry errors.  But after a day, you’ll probably have to pay a fee for making changes.
  • TSA will only match your ticket and passport (if you are flying internationally).  They will not ask for your driver’s license, Social Security card, or marriage license, so it does not matter if those are still under your previous name. 
  • If you’re going to fly domestically without a passport, make sure the name on your driver’s license or other ID you will use matches the airline ticket.  Also, be aware that after May 7, 2025, you will only be able to use state-issued IDs that meet the REALID law (signified by a star at the top of the license).  Georgia and most states are already compliant, but several are still pending approval. 
  • You can travel internationally under the name on your passport in most countries if the passport will not expire until at least six months upon entry of your destination. (Some countries require 12 months, so verify requirements in the nations you will visit.)
  • Resort reservations, plus tickets for any connecting flights or cruises during your trip, also need to be in your passport name.


Complete details about how to change your name on your passport are available at https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/have-passport/change-correct.html.  For more tips on passport name considerations when traveling, please see this TSA blog (https://www.tsa.gov/blog/2018/08/02/four-tips-remember-when-checking-your-id-airport-security), as well as this post (https://www.travelluxuryvacations.com/travel-blog/need-change-last-name-passport-married).