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The short answer
The Nigeria High Commission in London says a change of name by deed poll is not acceptable and that names can only be changed by marriage or divorce. If your change was marriage or divorce, use those routes with the matching certificate. For any other change, the NIS change-of-name route needs an application letter, newspaper publication, court affidavit and state of origin certificate; ask the High Commission whether it will process that from London.
A UK deed poll is enough for most British organisations, so it surprises many Nigerians when the Nigeria High Commission refuses it. The rule is on the High Commission's own page, and it is blunt. What you do next depends on why you changed your name.
The rule
The High Commission's e-passport requirements page (checked October 2026) states: "Change of name by deed poll is not acceptable." It adds: "Change of name can only be done by virtue of Marriage or Divorce." So a deed poll, enrolled or not, will not on its own change the name on a Nigerian passport issued through London.
Which route fits your situation
| Why you changed your name | Route through the High Commission |
|---|---|
| You took your spouse's surname | Marriage route: marriage certificate, husband's signed consent letter, husband's passport data page, your valid passport |
| You returned to your maiden name after divorce | Divorce route: divorce certificate, proof of maiden name, another valid ID in maiden name |
| Any other change (new first name, dropped surname, reordered names, spelling) | Not covered by the High Commission's two routes; see below |
If you used a deed poll only to take a spouse's surname, you did not need it: GOV.UK's deed poll page says a marriage certificate is the evidence for that. Use the marriage route instead; see changing a passport surname after marriage. For divorce, see name change after a UK divorce.
Other name changes: the NIS route
For changes outside marriage and divorce, the Nigeria Immigration Service's passports page describes a change of name route covering replacement, addition, deletion or rearrangement of names, and correction of errors. It lists:
- An application letter
- A newspaper publication of the change
- A court affidavit
- A state of origin certificate
- Your passport data page
- Birth certificate or age declaration
- A non-refundable administrative charge (the NIS Service Level Agreement 2026 gives ₦30,000 for correction of data, as at April 2026)
These are Nigerian documents, and the High Commission's London list does not say it processes this route. Many applicants complete it in Nigeria or through a representative there, then renew. Ask the High Commission in writing before you pay: it is the only body that can tell you whether it will take your case.
The affidavit and newspaper notice
A Nigerian court affidavit of change of name is sworn before a Nigerian court; a UK-sworn statement may not be treated the same way. Our guide making an affidavit in the UK for use in Nigeria explains the options. The newspaper publication is placed in a Nigerian newspaper; keep the full page, not a cutting.
Do the NIN first
Whatever the route, the High Commission says your NIN must match your passport details in the correct order. If you change your name in Nigerian records, update the NIN first. See NIN name correction from the UK.
Two worked examples
Chioma married in London in 2019, then made an unenrolled deed poll so her bank would update her surname. At renewal, the High Commission will not look at the deed poll. She uses the marriage route instead: her marriage certificate, a consent letter signed by her husband, a copy of his passport data page and her valid passport. The deed poll was never needed for the Nigerian side.
Emeka dropped his middle name and reordered his names by enrolled deed poll in 2024. Neither marriage nor divorce applies, so the High Commission's two routes do not cover him. He updates his NIN record first, then follows the NIS change-of-name route with an application letter, a Nigerian newspaper publication and a court affidavit, after confirming in writing with the High Commission whether it will take the case from London or whether he must complete it in Nigeria.
What to check first
- Was your change caused by marriage or divorce? If yes, use that route and leave the deed poll aside.
- If not, does your NIN record already show the new name? If not, start there.
- Have you e-mailed the High Commission to ask whether it will process a non-marriage name change? Keep the reply.
- Do you have a current passport in your old name? Keep it valid while the change is in progress so you can still travel.
Living with two names in the meantime
Until your Nigerian passport catches up, your UK documents and your Nigerian ones show different names. Points to manage:
- Travel. Book flights in the name on the passport you will travel on.
- UKVI account. GOV.UK says changing your name in your UKVI account needs an identity document proving the change, so it may wait for the new passport.
- Banks in Nigeria. A name that differs from your BVN record can hold up account changes and transfers. See BVN name mismatch for UK residents.
Where Pryme fits
A Pryme account is opened with the ID you hold. If your Nigerian and UK names differ for a while, open it in the name on the document you are using and update it when the new passport arrives.
Questions people ask
Does the Nigeria High Commission accept a UK deed poll?
No. Its requirements page says change of name by deed poll is not acceptable, and that a name can only be changed by marriage or divorce.
Does an enrolled deed poll make a difference?
The High Commission's statement does not distinguish between enrolled and unenrolled deed polls; neither is listed as accepted.
How do I change my first name on a Nigerian passport?
The NIS change-of-name route uses an application letter, newspaper publication, court affidavit, state of origin certificate and a non-refundable charge. Ask the High Commission whether it will take the case from London.
I changed my surname by deed poll after marrying. What now?
Use the marriage route instead: the High Commission asks for the marriage certificate, your husband's consent letter and data page, and your valid passport.
Sources
- Nigeria High Commission London: Requirements for e-passport · accessed Oct 2026
- Nigeria Immigration Service: Passports · accessed Oct 2026
- Nigeria Immigration Service: Service Level Agreement 2026 · accessed Oct 2026
- GOV.UK: Change your name by deed poll · accessed Oct 2026
- GOV.UK: Update your UKVI account · accessed Oct 2026
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