PLEASE NOTE: It is possible to submit the application directly to the competent Italian Prefecture , without the intermediation of this Consulate
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CONTENTS:
1. Eligibility of applications
2. Special Cases
2.1 Change of surname following marriage
2.2 Change of surname following British Citizenship Application
2.3 Name and/or surname change after gender change
3. Competent body
4. Requirements
- Applicant of Legal Age
- Application for a minor
5. Procedure
6. Timeline and Case Progress
7. Steps following Receipt of the Application
8. Contacts
9. FAQ
1. ELIGIBILITY OF APPLICATIONS
In the Italian legal system, changing a name or modifying a surname is an exceptional measure. Therefore, requests will only be accepted in the presence of objectively significant circumstances, supported by adequate and compelling documentation and strong, meaningful reasons. Examples include ridiculous or shameful surnames or names that reveal natural origins.
The reasons must be detailed and supported by appropriate documentation. Applications with insufficient justifications will be returned to the sender.
In no case can the assignment of surnames of historical significance or those that could mislead others about the applicant’s association with distinguished or well-known families be requested, either where the applicant’s birth is recorded or where they reside.
Please note that the evaluation and potential acceptance of the application fall under the discretionary authority of the Prefectures.
The application must be completed in Italian and be clearly understandable. Requests submitted in English will be returned to the sender.
A single application may be submitted for both name and surname changes.
2. SPECIAL CASES
2.1 Change of surname following marriage
Italian law states that a married woman retains her maiden name in her passport and other documents. Italian law does not provide for a surname change after marriage. However, she can request that her married surname be added to her maiden name (as a note on page 4 of her passport), by applying to the Passport Office. (Passaporto per maggiorenni (appuntamento mattutino) – Consolato Generale d’Italia Londra (esteri.it)
2.2 Change of surname following British Citizenship Application
Those who have changed their surname after marriage under UK law and are applying for a British passport may obtain a “Certificate of Identity Confirmation” from this Consulate General, verifying that the holder of the Italian passport and the person who changed their name and/or surname in the UK via Deed Poll are one and the same. This certificate must be requested by post at:
CONSULATE GENERAL OF ITALY
Civil Status Office
83/86, Farringdon Street
EC4A 4BL
London
2.3 Name and/or Surname Change After Gender Change For more specific information, visit the page: Gender Change Civil Status Data – Consulate General of Italy, London.
3. COMPETENT BODY
The authority to process name or surname change requests rests solely with the Prefect of the Province where the applicant resides or where the birth is recorded. If the request is deemed valid, the applicant will be authorized through a Prefect’s Decree.
The Consulate acts only as an intermediary between the applicant and the competent Italian Prefecture.
4. REQUIREMENTS
4.1 Applicant of Legal Age
Applications can only be submitted by ITALIAN citizens registered with AIRE in the consular district of London, whose birth records are registered in Italy.
4.2 Application for a minor
In the case of a name and/or surname change request for an ITALIAN minor whose birth is registered in Italy, a specific form must be signed by both parents and accompanied by a copy of the parents’ and minor’s passports;
5. PROCEDURE FOR THE APPLICANT
1. FILL OUT and sign the appropriate form in Italian (Form for adults, Form for minors), indicating:
a) The reasons for the request, which must be adequately justified and exceptional
b) The current address in the United Kingdom.
c) The family status.
Required Documentation to include in the application:
- A copy of a valid PASSPORT or IDENTITY CARD;
- (For applicants over 14 years old) an original British criminal record certificate, “Police Certificate for Immigration Purposes,” requested from: https://www.acro.police.uk/s/acro-services/police-certificates. Ensure that the certificate is signed by a public official and legalised with an Apostille (How to request an apostille).
Important Notice: The criminal record certificate must include any other names and/or surnames previously held by the applicant. The certificate is valid for six months from the date of issue. If the applicant has changed names in another state, they must also provide the Criminal Record Certificate from that Country. The certificate must be translated into Italian by an official translator ((Lista dei Traduttori)
- Any DEED POLL (Sworn Affidavit) through which the applicant has already obtained a name or surname change in the United Kingdom. This document must be in its original form and bear an Apostille. It must also be accompanied by a certified translation (see Lista dei Traduttori). The translation does not have to be apostilled.
Further optional supporting Documentation:
- Consent declaration (link to form) from spouse, parents, or direct relatives (siblings), dated, signed, and accompanied by a valid passport or ID copy. This declaration must be dated and signed by the aforementioned individuals and accompanied by a photocopy of their valid passport or identity card. The declarations must be written in Italian; if the declarations are submitted in another language, the application will be returned to the sender.
- Additional supporting documentation with official translations if in a foreign language (Lista dei Traduttori).
2. SEND the documents via Special Delivery to the address below, including a prepaid, self-addressed Special Delivery envelope for returning incomplete applications:
CONSULATE GENERAL OF ITALY
Registry Office
83/86, Farringdon Street
EC4A 4BL
London
IMPORTANT
The documentation must be sent in its original form and WILL NOT be returned.
6. TIMELINE AND CASE PROGRESS
If the paperwork has been completed correctly with the right documentation, the Registry Office will process in chronological order the complete applications within two weeks.
The Consulate has no sway over processing times, which depend on the Italian Civil Code and the response time of the Prefecture.
7. STEPS FOLLOWING RECEIPT OF THE APPLICATION
- The Consulate will check if the application is complete, signed, and dated, with relevant attachments.
- If complete, the application will be forwarded to the Prefecture in Italy. Alternatively, if incomplete or incorrect the same will be returned to the applicant. Processing times vary depending on the Prefecture’s workload and may range from several months to one or two years. Longer times are expected in large cities.
- If the Prefecture accepts the request, a Provisional Decree will be issued and sent to the Consulate.
- The Consulate will notify the applicant, then publish a notice of the request for 30 days.
- After 30 days, if no objections are raised, the Consulate will notify the Prefecture.
- The Prefecture will issue a Final Decree, and send the same to the Consulate.
- The Consulate will send the Final Decree to the applicant.
- Once the applicant receives the Final Decree for the name and/or surname change, they must request the registration at their Birth Municipality (if born in Italy) or at the AIRE Municipality. This request must be submitted by the applicant, unless otherwise indicated by the Prefecture in the decree.
- Once the Municipality has recorded the name and/or surname change in its registers, the Consulate can update the applicant’s personal records and issue new documents with the updated details (passport, identity card, tax code, etc.).
8. CONTACTS
The Civil Status Office can be reached by phone at 020 3327 9592 every Wednesday from 3:15 pm to 4:30 pm. Alternatively, email: statocivile.londra@esteri.it with “Name and/or Surname Change” in the subject line.
9. FAQ
I need to change both my first name and last name. Can I submit a single application ?
Yes. Download the appropriate form at the following link.
Is it possible, even for those registered with AIRE, to submit the application directly to the Prefecture in Italy to speed up the process?
Yes. However, it is advisable to first contact the Prefecture of the Province responsible for the AIRE registration municipality or the birth municipality for instructions on how to submit the application.
For a name and/or surname change application for a minor child, is the consent of both parents required?
Yes. The application must be signed by both parents. It is possible for one parent to submit the application if the other parent is deceased or has been denied parental authority through a court ruling (in these cases, the relevant supporting documentation must be attached).
If an adult person changes their surname, does the surname of their children also change? Does a new application need to be submitted to the Prefect?
The child’s surname will be changed or modified following the change of surname of the parent from whom it derives.
If the child is a minor, their surname will be changed without exception.
If the child is an adult, they may opt, under Articles 33 of D.P.R. 396/2000, paragraph 2, and 49, letter p), to retain their previous surname, within one year of becoming aware of the change.
Is it possible to request the addition of a surname to prevent its extinction?
Yes, provided that the following are attached to the application:
A FAMILY TREE, drawn up in accordance with self-certification regulations, showing the extinction of the surname due to the death of the last bearer;
The consent of any other interested parties.
In what cases can a name or surname be considered ridiculous or shameful?
Objectively ridiculous or shameful in relation to the socio-cultural context of reference;
Psychological distress due to objectively significant and documented situations (medical certifications attesting to the psychological distress caused to the applicant by a certain element of their personal identification, etc.).
If the application refers to a proven error in the birth records, must the citizen necessarily submit a surname change application to the Prefect?
No, it is possible to request the correction at the Civil Status Office of the Municipality, pursuant to Article 98, paragraph 1 of D.P.R. 396/2000.
For Italians born abroad who wish to submit a name/surname change application, is it necessary to have their birth certificate transcribed in Italy?
Yes, it is necessary; otherwise, it is not possible to proceed with the application process.
If the name and/or surname is changed, do all documents need to be updated?
Yes, if the name and/or surname is changed, all documents used for personal identification must be updated by the applicant.
For further details please refer to the document on the Prefecture of Rome’s website – link