Changing Name in Canada

[Michelle13 39]

Hello Everyone!!! I saw a few posts about changing your name in the US... but I'm wondering if any of you changed your name in Canada once moving??? 

 

My Canadian passport expires next year and I'll need to renew it.  And I'd like to have my married name on it.  But I haven't done anything to go about changing my name out of country.  

 

Have any of you done this? Would love some feedback. 

 

Thanks, 

 

[Going through 5,671]

I'm Canadian.

 

When I renewed my passport for the first time under my married name, I used that name as the "legal name" on the application and sent a photocopy (not notarized) of my marriage certificate to show the change in name.

 

You also have the option (if you wish) of both names showing on your passport...one will read as your legal last name, the other will read as your former last name.  I didn't opt for this.

Edited August 7, 2017 by Going through

[NovaSprings 89]

I changed mine before I left, I am glad I did and I would highly recommend changing before you leave for a couple of reasons.  Once you have all your ID in your married name, once you cross and activate your visa, all your immigration documents, GC, SSN will be in your married name.  Therefore no hassle/added fees to change it later.  Getting your ID/Passport changed to your new name while in Canada is much cheaper.  I know you are a bit early for your passport, but you can renew for a 10 yr passport, then you don't have to worry about it for a long time.  If you wait and do it while you are in the US, it will cost you much more, and you will loose access your VISA stamp in your currant passport.  In some situations (ROC taking a long time) it makes things easier to have access to it. 

 

If you decide to do it before you leave, I would start with taking a copy of marriage certificate to your Provincial services center and getting your new drivers licence.  From there, you can get your passport and other things.  Don't forget, if you are eligible to eventually collect CPP (think you have to have paid in for 18 yrs (?) - but someone may have to confirm this)  You can go to any Service Canada location and have your CPP and SIN number change over to your married name.  This will make it easy to collect EI and CPP.  

 

Hope this helps!

[Going through 5,671]

Just now, NovaSprings said:

I would highly recommend changing before you leave for a couple of reasons.

I believe the OP is residing in the States.

[Michelle13 39]

1 minute ago, NovaSprings said:

I changed mine before I left, I am glad I did and I would highly recommend changing before you leave for a couple of reasons.  Once you have all your ID in your married name, once you cross and activate your visa, all your immigration documents, GC, SSN will be in your married name.  Therefore no hassle/added fees to change it later.  Getting your ID/Passport changed to your new name while in Canada is much cheaper.  I know you are a bit early for your passport, but you can renew for a 10 yr passport, then you don't have to worry about it for a long time.  If you wait and do it while you are in the US, it will cost you much more, and you will loose access your VISA stamp in your currant passport.  In some situations (ROC taking a long time) it makes things easier to have access to it. 

 

If you decide to do it before you leave, I would start with taking a copy of marriage certificate to your Provincial services center and getting your new drivers licence.  From there, you can get your passport and other things.  Don't forget, if you are eligible to eventually collect CPP (think you have to have paid in for 18 yrs (?) - but someone may have to confirm this)  You can go to any Service Canada location and have your CPP and SIN number change over to your married name.  This will make it easy to collect EI and CPP.  

 

Hope this helps!

I wasn't able to change before I left due to me moving to the states on a K1 (fiance visa).  I got married in the US.  So I am needing to change my name while in the US and not in Canada... 

 

Thanks for the help though

[Cryssiekins 976]

Having just done this in May, you have to mail a NEW application (i.e. not a renewal) to Gatineau, QC.  You will need a Canadian citizen guarantor etc etc, and it's about a month processing time.

 

You have to send in your current passport, and ORIGINAL birth certificate and marriage license.  

 

The only other place I have it changed is with CRA bc I had to file taxes for 2016.

[Going through 5,671]

9 minutes ago, Cryssiekins said:

Having just done this in May, you have to mail a NEW application (i.e. not a renewal) to Gatineau, QC.  You will need a Canadian citizen guarantor etc etc, and it's about a month processing time.

 

You have to send in your current passport, and ORIGINAL birth certificate and marriage license.  

 

The only other place I have it changed is with CRA bc I had to file taxes for 2016.

You don't have to send original documents---you are able to renew if your current passport is still valid, or is not expired for more than one year.  See here for when copies are acceptable http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/passport/help/apply.asp 

Edited August 7, 2017 by Going through
EDIT: Unless renewal is not allowed when changing the legal name...probably not.

[Going through 5,671]

The original marriage certificate must be a recently new thing---I got away with a photocopy of it, as well as a photocopy of just my birth certificate card.

 

Things just get harder and harder every year, huh?

[Going through 5,671]

Reading the CIC website on the new rules just made me make a mental note to make sure I renew my passport from within Canada next time to avoid a lot of that hassle...

[NovaSprings 89]

26 minutes ago, Michelle13 said:

I wasn't able to change before I left due to me moving to the states on a K1 (fiance visa).  I got married in the US.  So I am needing to change my name while in the US and not in Canada... 

 

Thanks for the help though

opps,  sorry I missed that on your post....I do know, from my sister's experiance, if you are coming back to Canada, have enough time while you are here and have access, it is much easier to renew your passport in person.  I belive you can ask for it to be expedited and pick it up in a few days...for an extra fee of course.

Edited August 7, 2017 by NovaSprings

[Michelle13 39]

3 minutes ago, Going through said:

Reading the CIC website on the new rules just made me make a mental note to make sure I renew my passport from within Canada next time to avoid a lot of that hassle...

How do you renew it in Canada if you are needing it to travel home? 

 

[Going through 5,671]

4 minutes ago, Michelle13 said:

How do you renew it in Canada if you are needing it to travel home? 

 

Well, once I become a dual citizen and need to renew my CAN passport it's easier:

 

Exit from the US on my US passport (while my Canadian passport is still valid)

Enter Canada on my still valid passport.  Renew said passport.  Enjoy vacation while waiting for processing.

Travel back to the US on my US passport.

 

Remember---the US has rules that you must use a US passport to enter/exit the US.

Canada does not have any such rules when it comes to entering/exiting Canada.

Edited August 7, 2017 by Going through

[Going through 5,671]

Even if my Canadian passport was expired---I don't need it to enter Canada because I could legally use the US one to enter.

 

My CAN passport doesn't expire for a few years still...so I'm thinking further ahead down the road once I'm also a US citizen, in terms of renewing the Canada one in Canada.

Edited August 7, 2017 by Going through

[Michelle13 39]

5 minutes ago, Going through said:

Well, once I become a dual citizen and need to renew my CAN passport it's easier:

 

Exit from the US on my US passport (while my Canadian passport is still valid)

Enter Canada on my still valid passport.  Renew said passport.  Enjoy vacation while waiting for processing.

Travel back to the US on my US passport.

 

Remember---the US has rules that you must use a US passport to enter/exit the US.

Canada does not have any such rules when it comes to entering/exiting Canada.

My Canadian passport expires before I am eligible to apply for US Citizenship.

 

It looks like I'll just have to jump through all their hoops and mail in everything... oh well haha. 

[Michelle13 39]

7 minutes ago, Going through said:

Even if my Canadian passport was expired---I don't need it to enter Canada because I could legally use the US one to enter.

 

My CAN passport doesn't expire for a few years still...so I'm thinking further ahead down the road once I'm also a US citizen, in terms of renewing the Canada one in Canada.

Ah!  Good point!!  I will definitely remember this when I have my dual!