How to File

Petitions for change of first name under Republic Act No. 9048 should be accomplished accurately and properly in the prescribed form. It should be subscribed and sworn to by the filing party before a person authorized to administer oaths. The petitioner must clearly explain the merits of the petition, the facts about the current first name on record and justification for it to be changed, as well as provide relevant support documents to qualify his/her reason for changing his/her recorded first name under the scope of R.A. 9048.

The petitioner (or his/her duly-appointed legal representative) should appear in person and submit his/her documents for evaluation and assessment at the Consular Section of the consulate.

Basic Requirements

Prepare the following in three sets:

1. Duly filled-out and notarized petition form (available from the Consular Section / downloadable here)
2. PSA-authentic copy or certified machine copy of the civil registry document containing the first name to be changed
3. Clearance from authorities
   
   Individuals with criminal records or those with pending administrative, civil, or criminal cases are not permitted to change their name. Hence, a petitioner for change of first name must show proof that he/she is not changing his/her name to escape the law. He/she must submit:
   
   > NBI clearance issued in the recorded name in the civil registry
   > Police clearance issued in the recorded name in the civil registry
   > Employer clearance (if gainfully employed)
   
   
4. Proof of publication (To be done by petitioner after submitting items 1-3 first to the Consular Section for assessment)

Petitions for change of first name must be published in a newspaper of general circulation at least once a week for two (2) consecutive weeks. The petitioner must show proof of this by submitting:
> Newspaper clipping of the published petition (two different dates)
> Affidavit of newspaper publisher that the petition was indeed published

Filing Fee

USD 150. Filing fee is subject to change depending on prevailing schedule of fees of the consulate and other government regulations. Please refer to the latest schedule of fees published in this web site for the most recent information.

Supporting Documents

Depending on the petitioner's justification for changing his/her first name, the Consul General will ask for additional support documents.

• If reason for wanting to change first name is due to recorded name being ridiculous, tainted with dishonor or extremely difficult to write or pronounce, petitioner may present an affidavit to explain the situation further after assessment by the Consul General.
  
  
• If reason for wanting to change first name is due to petitioner habitually using a different name for a long time, and is known to the community as such other than that recorded in the civil registry records, petitioner may present valid identification documents and records such as those listed in the supporting documents for Clerical Error petitions after assessment by the Consul General.
  
  
• If reason for wanting to change first name is to avoid confusion, petitioner may present an affidavit to explain the source of confusion and additional documents/records after assessment by the Consul General.