Changing Your Child’s Name at Home Affairs — Consent Rules, Forms & What to Expect

Last Updated: March 5, 2026|Reviewed By: Home Affairs Editorial Team|Fact-checked against official DHA and Other Official Sources|Not affiliated with the DHA

Changing a child’s name in South Africa is governed by the Births and Deaths Registration Act, 1992 (BDRA) and the Children’s Act, 2005. The process differs depending on whether you are changing a forename or surname, and whether both parents are available and willing to consent. A child is a minor until the age of 18 under South African law.

This guide covers name changes for minors only. If you are changing your own name as an adult, see How to Change Your First Name or Surname at Home Affairs.

Forename Change vs Surname Change

	Forename change	Surname change
Legal basis	Section 24(1) BDRA	Section 25 BDRA
Form	BI-85 (DHA-85)	BI-193 (DHA-193)
Fee	R70	R70
Government Gazette	Yes	Yes
Director-General approval	Yes	Yes
Processing time	3 to 6 months	3 to 6 months
Both parents consent required	Yes	Yes

Who Can Apply

The application must be made by a parent or legal guardian. The child cannot apply on their own behalf while under 18. A child aged 16 or 17 may in some circumstances apply independently using the adult process — consult your DHA office directly for this edge case.

Consent Rules

This is the most critical part of a minor name change. The requirements depend on the child’s circumstances.

Child born in wedlock: Both parents must provide written consent. If the marriage has since dissolved, the father must still consent in writing unless a court has granted exemption.

Child born out of wedlock, registered under mother’s surname: Both natural parents must consent in writing. The natural father’s written consent is a statutory requirement under Section 25 BDRA, unless waived by a court.

Child born out of wedlock, registered under father’s surname: The natural father must consent in writing for the surname to be changed. If he refuses, a court order is required.

Mother remarried, wants child to take new husband’s surname: The new husband must also provide written consent in addition to both natural parents. All three parties must consent.

Child under care of a guardian: The guardian may apply and must provide written consent and proof of legal guardianship.

One parent deceased: Provide the death certificate in place of that parent’s consent.

One parent cannot be located: DHA will not proceed without consent or a court order. You must apply to the High Court for an order dispensing with the absent parent’s consent.

Critical: DHA head office has set aside name changes made without the other parent’s consent even years after processing. A 2018 De Rebus court case confirmed that a mother who changed a child’s surname without the father’s consent was ordered to restore the original surname. Consent or a court order is non-negotiable.

What You Need Before You Go

For a forename change (BI-85):

Completed Form BI-85 (do not pre-sign)
Vault copy of child’s unabridged birth certificate (both parents’ details)
Certified copies of both parents’ ID documents
Written motivation for the change
Written consent from the other parent (if not applying jointly)
Form DHA-529 (fully completed, not signed)
Form DHA-24A (for children aged 7 to 15) — collected at DHA on the day
Form DHA-9 (fingerprints) — for children 16 and older; not downloadable, collected at DHA or police station
Form DHA-24 (x2, barcoded) — collected at DHA on the day

For a surname change (BI-193):

Completed Form BI-193 (do not pre-sign)
Vault copy of child’s unabridged birth certificate (both parents’ details)
Certified copies of both parents’ ID documents
Certified copy of new husband/stepparent ID (if child is taking their surname)
Written motivation for the change
Written consent from all required parties (see consent rules above)
Marriage certificate (if applicable)
Divorce decree — final decree only (if applicable)
Death certificate (if one parent is deceased)
Court order (if one parent’s consent has been dispensed with by court)
Form DHA-529 (fully completed, not signed)
Form DHA-24A (for children aged 7 to 15) — collected at DHA on the day
Form DHA-9 (fingerprints) — for children 16 and older; not downloadable
Form DHA-24 (x2, barcoded) — collected at DHA on the day

Bring originals and two certified copies of every document. All forms must be signed in the presence of a DHA official — do not pre-sign.

Not sure what documents to take to Home Affairs? Click Here To Use our free checklist and walk in fully prepared.

Step-by-Step: How to Apply

Step 1: Confirm consent is in place Before going to DHA, ensure written consent has been obtained from all required parties. If the other parent refuses, you must first obtain a High Court order — DHA will not process without it.

Step 2: Book your appointment Use BABS at services.dha.gov.za to book at your nearest DHA branch. Name changes must be submitted at a DHA branch — bank branches cannot process them.

See: How to Book a Home Affairs Appointment Online

Step 3: Collect your forms Collect BI-85 or BI-193 from your DHA office. DHA-24, DHA-24A, and DHA-9 are issued at the office on the day and are not downloadable.

Step 4: Complete forms and prepare documents Complete all forms in black ink, block letters. Write your motivation clearly. Organise originals and two certified copies of each supporting document.

Step 5: Submit at DHA Submit completed forms and documents. Pay the R70 fee. You will receive a reference number — keep it.

Step 6: Processing at Pretoria Your local branch submits the application to DHA head office in Pretoria. Processing includes Government Gazette publication and a 30-day public objection period before Director-General approval.

Processing Time

Typically 3 to 6 months from submission. All processing is at DHA head office in Pretoria — your local branch cannot influence the timeline.

If the application exceeds 6 months with no outcome, see Name Change Taking Too Long — What to Do.

Fee

R70 for any forename or surname change for a minor. Fees are non-refundable once submitted. Verify the current fee with your DHA office before attending.

If the Other Parent Refuses to Consent

DHA will not process a minor’s name change without all required consents. If the other parent refuses, you must apply to the High Court under Section 25(2) BDRA for an order dispensing with that parent’s consent. The court will assess based on the child’s best interests under the Children’s Act. Factors considered include the child’s age, the strength of the relationship with the parent whose name is being removed, the practical impact on the child, and whether the child has used the proposed name in practice.

Courts are generally more cautious about surname changes for very young children if one parent objects. The child’s own view becomes relevant at age 11 and more significant at 14. Once a court order is granted, submit it to DHA in place of the refusing parent’s consent. This process requires legal assistance — contact a family law attorney or a legal aid organisation if needed.

After the Name Is Approved

Updated birth certificate: DHA issues an updated abridged birth certificate. For an unabridged certificate in the new name, request one separately. See: How to Apply for an Unabridged Birth Certificate
Smart ID (16 and older): Apply at any DHA Live Capture office. Fee: R140. See: How to Apply for a Smart ID
Passport: Apply for a new passport if the child holds one. Fee: R600. See: How to Apply for a South African Passport
School records: Notify the school directly with the updated birth certificate.
Medical aid and other records: Contact each institution separately.

What You Cannot Do

You cannot change a child’s name without consent from all parents or guardians with parental responsibility — or without a court order
You cannot process a minor’s name change at a bank branch DHA service point — DHA branch only
You cannot backdate a name change — it takes effect from the date of Director-General approval
A name change does not affect parental rights and responsibilities — those remain unless separately addressed by court

Frequently Asked Questions

Do both parents need to physically attend the DHA appointment? No. The applying parent attends DHA. The other parent provides written consent — a signed letter or statutory declaration is sufficient. Only the applying parent needs to be present.

Can I change my child’s name if the biological father is not on the birth certificate? If the father’s details do not appear on the birth certificate, the consent requirement may differ. You still need a written motivation and DHA will assess whether third-party consent is required based on the specific circumstances.

The father has no contact and pays no maintenance. Can I change the surname without his consent? Not without a court order. Parental responsibility does not disappear due to absence or non-payment. You must either obtain his written consent or apply to the High Court to dispense with it.

Can my child have a double-barrel surname? Yes. If full agreement on a single surname cannot be reached, a double-barrel surname combining both surnames is a practical option. Submit it as the proposed new name in the application.

Will changing the surname affect the child’s passport and travel? Yes. Once the name change is approved, the passport must be updated. Until then, the birth certificate will reflect the new name but the passport will show the old name — this can complicate international travel. Update the passport as soon as possible after approval. See: How to Apply for a South African Passport

Can an adopted child’s name be changed through this process? No. Name changes for adopted children are handled through the adoption noting process under the Children’s Act, not through BI-193 or BI-85. See: How to Get a Birth Certificate for an Adopted Child

What happens if DHA processed a name change without the required consent? It can be reversed. Courts have ordered DHA to restore original surnames where changes were made without proper parental consent. The change is not permanent if done improperly.

Official DHA Contact Details

Channel	Details
DHA Contact Centre	0800 60 11 90 (toll-free, Mon-Fri 08:00-16:00)
DHA main website	www.dha.gov.za
DHA email	info@dha.gov.za
Online booking (BABS)	services.dha.gov.za

Related Guides

Information on this page reflects DHA processes and fees as of 2026. Always verify current requirements with your nearest DHA office or a qualified family law attorney before proceeding.

How to Change a Minor’s Name at Home Affairs