Changing Your First Name or Surname in South Africa — What You Need and How It Works

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 your first name or surname in South Africa is a formal legal process managed by the Department of Home Affairs under the Births and Deaths Registration Act, 1992. It is not a simple admin update — your application goes to DHA head office in Pretoria, is published in the Government Gazette, and must be approved by the Director-General before the change takes effect.

This guide covers name and surname changes for adults (18 and older). If you are changing a child’s name, see How to Change a Child’s Name at Home Affairs. If you are changing your name following marriage or divorce, see How to Change Your Name After Marriage or Divorce.

Forename Change vs Surname Change — Key Differences

These are two separate processes under two separate sections of the BDRA. Knowing which applies to you determines which form you need.

	Forename change	Surname change
Legal basis	Section 24(1) BDRA	Section 26 BDRA
Form	BI-85 (DHA-85)	BI-196 (DHA-196)
Fee	R140	R325
Government Gazette	Yes — published	Yes — published
Director-General approval	Yes	Yes
Processing time	3 to 9 months	3 to 9 months

Both processes follow the same general steps. The forms and fees differ — everything else is the same.

What Counts as a “Sufficient Reason”?

Both BI-85 and BI-196 require you to state a “good and sufficient reason” for the change in writing. DHA officials assess this before forwarding your application to the Director-General.

Reasons that are commonly accepted include:

Cultural or traditional reasons — adopting a name that reflects your heritage or community identity
Religious reasons — taking a name consistent with your faith
Personal reasons — a name you have used informally for many years and wish to legalise
Correcting a name that was registered incorrectly
Taking a stepparent’s name
Reverting to a surname from your family line

Reasons that are unlikely to be accepted:

No reason provided
Vague statements such as “I don’t like my name”
Reasons that suggest an intent to evade legal obligations

Write your reason clearly and specifically. The stronger your motivation, the smoother the DHA assessment.

What You Need Before You Go

Collect these before attending your DHA appointment:

For a forename change (BI-85):

Completed Form BI-85 (available at DHA offices — do not pre-sign)
Vault copy of unabridged birth certificate with both parents’ details
Certified copy of your current green barcoded ID book or Smart ID card
Certified copy of your current passport (if applicable)
Written statement confirming why you wish to change your forename
Evidence of usage of the forename you want to register — e.g. a statutory declaration by a South African citizen who can confirm the name you currently use
Form DHA-529 (citizenship determination — fully completed, not signed)
Form DHA-9 (full fingerprints) — not downloadable, collected at DHA office or police station (required for applicants 16 and older)
Form DHA-24 (×2, barcoded) — collected at DHA on the day, not downloadable

For a surname change (BI-196):

Completed Form BI-196 (available at DHA offices — do not pre-sign)
Vault copy of unabridged birth certificate with both parents’ details
Certified copy of your current green barcoded ID book or Smart ID card
Certified copy of your current passport (if applicable)
Written statement with a good and sufficient reason for the change — a statutory declaration, affidavit, or court order
Certified copies of supporting documents relevant to your reason (e.g. baptismal certificate, school records, affidavit from a family member)
Form DHA-529 (citizenship determination — fully completed, not signed)
Form DHA-9 (full fingerprints) — not downloadable, collected at DHA office or police station (required for applicants 16 and older)
Form DHA-24 (×2, barcoded) — collected at DHA on the day, not downloadable

Bring originals and two certified copies of every document. The DHA official will certify your copies at the office if needed — but having pre-certified copies saves time.

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: 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 office — bank branches offering DHA services cannot process name changes.

→ How to Book a Home Affairs Appointment Online

Step 2: Obtain your forms Collect Form BI-85 or BI-196 from your DHA office. DHA-9 (fingerprints) must also be obtained at DHA or a police station — it is not available for download. The DHA-24 barcoded forms are issued on the day.

Step 3: Complete your forms Fill in all forms in black ink, block letters. Do not pre-sign — all forms must be signed in the presence of a DHA official.

Step 4: Prepare your written reason Write a clear, specific motivation for your name change. Include any supporting evidence — this is your strongest tool for getting the application through the initial DHA assessment.

Step 5: Attend your appointment Submit your completed forms, written reason, and supporting documents at the DHA counter. Pay the applicable fee. You will receive a reference number — keep it.

Step 6: DHA submits to Pretoria Your local branch captures and forwards the application to DHA head office in Pretoria. Your branch cannot track or expedite the application once submitted.

Step 7: Government Gazette publication DHA head office publishes your proposed name change in the Government Gazette. A 30-day objection period follows. Members of the public may raise objections during this time.

Step 8: Director-General approval If no valid objections are received, the Director-General approves the change. The Population Register is updated. You receive a certificate of name change from the Population Register.

Step 9: Update your documents Your name change is confirmed but your existing ID, passport, and birth certificate still reflect your old name. You must update these separately — see below.

Processing Time

Typically 3 to 9 months from submission to approval. The variation depends on:

How quickly DHA head office schedules Gazette publication
Whether any objections are raised during the 30-day window
Whether your application required additional verification

Your local DHA branch cannot speed up this process. All decisions are made at Pretoria head office.

If your application has exceeded 9 months with no outcome, see Name Change Taking Too Long — What to Do.

Fees

Application	Fee
Forename change — adult	R140
Surname change — adult	R325

Fees are confirmed as at 2026. Verify the current fee with your DHA office before attending. Fees are non-refundable once the application has been submitted.

Applying From Abroad

If you are living outside South Africa, submit your application at your nearest South African embassy, high commission, or consulate. The same forms apply. Some missions require advance appointment booking — check with your nearest mission before attending.

Processing at overseas missions is typically longer — allow 12 to 36 months at some missions. Confirm the expected turnaround with your specific mission when you apply.

After Your Name Is Approved — What to Update

Once the Director-General confirms your name change, your new name is in the Population Register. Your existing documents still show your old name and must be updated separately.

1. Get your DHA linking letter Request a letter from DHA confirming that your old and new ID numbers belong to the same person. Keep the original permanently — you will need it repeatedly when updating records with banks, educational institutions, and professional bodies.

2. Smart ID card Apply at any DHA Live Capture office. Fee: R140. Bring your certificate of name change and existing ID. → How to Apply for a Smart ID

3. Passport Apply at any DHA office. Fee: R600. You cannot travel on a passport that reflects a name different from your current ID. → How to Apply for a South African Passport

4. Unabridged birth certificate Request an updated unabridged birth certificate from DHA reflecting your new name. Fee: R50. → How to Apply for an Unabridged Birth Certificate

5. Matric certificate Apply to the Department of Basic Education or your Provincial Education Department to reissue your matric certificate. You must return your original certificate. Fee: R170 (confirm current amount with DBE). Processing: 4 to 6 weeks.

6. Banks and financial institutions Bring your new Smart ID, old Smart ID or ID book, and the DHA linking letter to each bank where you hold accounts.

7. Professional registrations and university degrees Contact each institution directly. Most require the DHA linking letter plus certified copies of both your old and new IDs.

What You Cannot Do

You cannot change your name to a name already in use in a way that would cause confusion or be misleading
You cannot bypass the Government Gazette publication — it is a statutory requirement under the BDRA
You cannot apply for a name change at a bank branch offering DHA services — you must attend a DHA branch office
You cannot have your application processed faster by paying additional fees — there is no expedited service
Changing your name does not affect your criminal record, debt record, or any other legal history — all records carry over to your new ID number

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a lawyer to change my name? No. You apply directly at any DHA branch office. Legal representation is not required. A court order is only needed in specific circumstances, such as compelling a co-parent to consent to a minor’s name change — not for adult applications.

Can an adult change their name without their parents’ consent? Yes. Once you turn 18 you are a major and can act in your own name. You do not need parental consent or permission from any family member to change your forename or surname.

I was born out of wedlock and want to take my father’s surname. What do I need? You apply using BI-196 and provide a written motivation. If your father’s name is not on your birth certificate, an affidavit from your father confirming the relationship and his consent to the surname change will support your application.

Can I find my name change in the Government Gazette? Yes. Search at gpwonline.co.za or through Sabinet Discover using your full name. Your DHA reference number is useful when following up.

Can I change both my forename and surname at the same time? You can submit both applications simultaneously, but they are separate processes with separate forms and fees. Submitting together may cause administrative delays — some applicants prefer to complete one before starting the other.

What happens if someone objects to my name change during the Gazette publication period? DHA will assess the validity of the objection. Frivolous or unsubstantiated objections are generally disregarded. If the objection is considered valid, DHA will contact you and may request additional information or documentation before making a final decision.

Will my name change show on my credit or criminal record? Your records are linked by the DHA system to your new ID number via the linking letter. Criminal records and debt history carry over — a name change does not erase or separate them from your new identity.

Can I revert to a previous surname I legally held? Yes. This is one of the more straightforward applications — provide evidence that you previously held the surname legally (e.g. a previous ID, birth certificate, or marriage certificate). Submit via BI-196 with your supporting documentation.

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. Processing times and fees are subject to change. Always verify current requirements with your nearest DHA office before submitting an application.

How to Change Your First Name or Surname at Home Affairs