Types of Name Changes and Common Name Issues in Singapore

In Singapore, you can use a Deed Poll to add or change your first name, change your surname, or amend your hanyu pinyin name, subject to ICA’s approval. Some changes, such as ethnic characters only or a married name, do not need a Deed Poll.

This guide explains the main categories of name changes recognised in Singapore, along with special cases and restrictions.

What are the main types of name change by Deed Poll? #

1. Add first name only. Example: adding “John” to the existing name “Loh Kee Wee” to become John Loh Kee Wee.
2. Add and/or change given or first name. Example: changing from “John Loh Kee Wee” to Adam Loh Kee Song.
3. Change surname only (no change to given name). Example: changing the surname from “Loh” to “Tan” to become Tan Kee Wee.
4. Change surname and add or change given name. Example: from “Loh Kee Wee” to Tan Kee Wee, John, where “Loh” is the surname and “John” is the given name.

Apart from the main categories above, you may also:

• Delete or change the hanyu pinyin name in brackets
• Add, change, or delete Chinese characters
• Remove “S/O” or “D/O” from the name
• Remove “Bin” or “Binte” from the name
• Add or remove a Muslim name

Adults must sign the Deed Poll personally. For minors under 21, the Deed Poll must be signed by the parents; save for exceptions, both parents should sign; see our guide to changing a minor child’s name. A Deed Poll cannot be used to change your religion, race or gender. Your name change is subject to ICA’s approval, and ICA may reject certain names; see what are unacceptable names.

Can I change my surname or family name with a Deed Poll? #

If you are an adult, you may change your surname (also known as family name or last name) with a Deed Poll.

For a minor, the parent should obtain the consent of the other parent of the child prior to changing the surname of the child. Save for exceptions, both parents should sign the Deed Poll. For a single mother of a child under one year old (where the Birth Certificate shows only the mother’s name), you may not change the child’s surname in the Birth Certificate to a third party’s surname with a Deed Poll, and you are strongly advised to approach ICA for advice.

I am adding my married name; do I need a Deed Poll? #

We understand that ICA may not accept a married name (eg. “Mrs Smith”) added via Deed Poll, but you may use your marriage certificate to do so instead. Accordingly, please do not use our Deed Poll service for adding a married name. Kindly seek ICA’s advice on this issue.

Do I need to be baptised to add a Christian name? #

No. You need not be baptised to add a Christian name, given name or first name to your original name. The term “Christian name” can sometimes cause confusion; a more apt term is “first name”. For example, you need not be baptised or be a Christian or Catholic to add “John” to your existing name of Ong Tan Kong.

However, we understand that ICA may allow you to add your Christian name as appearing in your Baptism Certificate without the need of a Deed Poll.

Should the new first name go in front or at the rear? #

This is a relatively common issue, and ultimately it is a matter of your personal choice. Say your current name is Ong Tan Wee and you wish to adopt “John” as a first name in addition to your existing name. Your new name can appear on your new Identity Card in various ways, such as:

• John Ong Tan Wee
• Ong Tan Wee John
• John, Ong Tan Wee
• Ong Tan Wee, John

What about my hanyu pinyin name in brackets? #

If you were born in certain years, you may have a hanyu pinyin name appearing in brackets on your Identity Card or Birth Certificate. You may remove or delete the hanyu pinyin name in brackets entirely from your NRIC if you wish to do so. This can be done with a Deed Poll.

Our understanding is that you may not retain a hanyu pinyin name (in brackets) if you do not have your name in Chinese characters. Please seek ICA’s clarification on this.

If you have both a hanyu pinyin name in brackets and a corresponding name in Chinese characters, the two must remain consistent, or ICA may reject your Deed Poll. For example, take a person named “Alex Wang Tan Lin (Wang Chenlin) 王晨林”. If his hanyu pinyin name is amended to “Lee Chenlin”, which is inconsistent with 王晨林, he will then also have to amend his name in Chinese characters to match his new hanyu pinyin name.

Do I need a Deed Poll to change only my name in ethnic characters? #

Based on current ICA policy, the short answer is no. According to ICA, a change of ethnic characters only, eg. Chinese characters on Singapore pink and blue identity cards/NRICs, does not require a Deed Poll. For example, if you are Chinese and are changing your name in ethnic characters from 王慧安 to 王慧明 without any change to your name in English, no Deed Poll is required. Likewise, adding a name in ethnic characters only, eg. adding 王慧明 to the current name Ong Wee Tan, does not require a Deed Poll. In all cases, the ethnic characters must be consistent with the applicant’s race.

I am a Singapore PR; what are ICA’s policies on changing my name? #

For Singapore permanent residents, you will need to provide the following documents in digital images to ICA:

1. The page(s) of your current passport which contain your personal particulars (bearing your new name if applicable);
2. Your marriage certificate (if you want to include your married name); and
3. Your recent passport-sized, digital, coloured photograph taken within the last three months.

Singapore permanent residents with a change of name must first update the name on their current passport and provide a copy of the passport bearing their new name as a supporting document to change the name on their Singapore IC. Prior to applying for a Deed Poll with us, please check with ICA whether it requires a Deed Poll to effect the change in your name. Once a Deed Poll has been effected at your request, there will be no refund, even if ICA does not require a Deed Poll.

Caution #

This guide contains government policies and procedures, and the answers are subject to errors or inaccuracies, if any. Policies may change over time. When in doubt, check directly with ICA, and verify any information before relying on it.

Ready to change your name? #

Apply for your Deed Poll online at law.com.sg/deed-poll-online or get an instant quote with our fee calculator at law.com.sg/deed-poll-quote.