Name change in Karnataka: affidavit, gazette and updating your records

A legal name change in Karnataka has three parts. You swear an affidavit stating your old name and new name. You publish the change in two newspapers. Then you get it published in the gazette, either the Karnataka Gazette or the Gazette of India. After that, you use those papers to update Aadhaar, PAN, your driving licence, passport, bank and school or college records.

You do not need a court order for an adult’s ordinary name change. You also do not always need the gazette: for a spelling correction or for a woman taking her husband’s surname after marriage, many offices accept the marriage certificate or an affidavit. But the gazette notice is the one document every office accepts, and for a complete change of name it is often required.

Keep the full newspaper page, not just the cutting. Some offices ask to see the date and the paper's name.

Step 1: the name change affidavit

The affidavit is a sworn statement that says:

• your old name and new name, and that both refer to the same person
• your father’s or husband’s name, date of birth and address
• the reason, briefly (marriage, divorce, religious reasons, numerology, spelling error, personal choice)
• that you will be known only by the new name from now on

In Karnataka, an affidavit needs stamp duty. Since the Karnataka Stamp (Amendment) Act, 2023 came into force in February 2024, the duty on an affidavit is Rs 100. You can buy the stamp paper as a digital e-stamp on the Kaveri portal. Sign it before a notary or an oath commissioner. Our note on affidavit vs notarised document explains the difference.

For a minor child, the parent or guardian makes the affidavit on the child’s behalf. Schools usually also ask for both parents’ consent.

Step 2: newspaper publication

Publish a short notice in two newspapers: usually one English daily and one Kannada daily that circulate where you live. The notice reads roughly: “I, [old name], son/daughter/wife of [name], residing at [address], have changed my name to [new name] vide affidavit dated [date].”

Check the spelling carefully before it prints. A mistake in the newspaper means paying for it again. Keep the original full pages of both papers.

Step 3: the gazette notification

You have two choices.

• Karnataka Gazette: the Government of Karnataka’s official gazette. Ask the state gazette office for the current application format, and view published gazettes on the e-Rajyapatra portal (erajyapatra.karnataka.gov.in).
• Gazette of India: published by the Department of Publication, Government of India, Delhi. Name change notices go in Part IV. Applications and published copies are on egazette.gov.in.

Either is valid proof. Many people in Bengaluru choose the Gazette of India because central offices such as the passport office and the income tax department know its format well. Ask the office you are most worried about which one they prefer.

You will usually submit: the application in the prescribed format, the affidavit, both newspaper pages, ID and address proof, photographs, and the publication fee. The fee and format are set by the gazette office and change from time to time, so check them when you apply. Publication commonly takes several weeks.

Step 4: updating your records

Once you have the gazette copy, update records in this order. Aadhaar and PAN first, because most other offices check against them.

Aadhaar has a limit: a name can be updated only twice under the normal process. A third change goes through UIDAI’s exception process, which asks for more proof, including the gazette notification for a full change of name. UIDAI revised its name-update rules in September 2026, so check the current list of accepted documents before you go.

DL name change: on Sarathi, choose your state, go to services on driving licence, and pick the change of name option. You authenticate with Aadhaar OTP, upload the documents and pay the fee. Most RTOs still ask you to come in for photo and signature.

Name change after marriage

A woman taking her husband’s surname often does not need the gazette. A marriage certificate from the sub-registrar (under the Hindu Marriage Act or the Special Marriage Act) is accepted by most offices for this. Passport Seva also lists the marriage certificate as proof for a change of surname after marriage; check its current document list before you apply. If you are changing your first name as well, or going back to your maiden name after divorce, the gazette route is safer. See our note on marriage registration.

Problems that come up

• Different spellings across documents: decide on one spelling and make it the new name in the affidavit, listing the other spellings as “also known as”.
• Property in the old name: you do not need to change the sale deed. Keep the affidavit and gazette with the deed. When you sell, the buyer’s lawyer will ask for them.
• Certificates in the old name: SSLC and PU boards and universities have their own correction procedures. They usually ask for the gazette.
• Government employees: service rules often require the gazette and the employer’s permission.

Questions people ask

How do I change my name in the Karnataka Gazette?

Swear a name change affidavit on Rs 100 stamp paper, publish the change in two newspapers, and then apply to the Karnataka Gazette with the affidavit, newspaper pages, ID proof and the fee. Published gazettes can be seen on the e-Rajyapatra portal.

Is the gazette compulsory for a name change in Karnataka?

Not always. For a surname change after marriage, a marriage certificate is often enough. For a full change of name, Aadhaar beyond two updates, passport and many government records, the gazette is often required.

How do I change my name on my driving licence in Karnataka?

Apply on the Sarathi portal under services on driving licence, choose the change of name option, upload the gazette or affidavit and Aadhaar, pay the fee, and visit the RTO if asked.

How long does a name change take in Karnataka?

The affidavit and newspaper notices can be done in a few days. Gazette publication usually takes several weeks. Updating every record after that depends on each office.

Can I change my child’s name in Karnataka?

Yes. The parent or guardian makes the affidavit for the child and follows the same newspaper and gazette steps. Schools usually also ask for consent from both parents.

This article is general information about the law as it stood when it was written. Your facts change the answer. Speak to an advocate before you act on it.