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The short answer
To change the name on a Nigerian passport in the US, first make your NIN show the new name, then apply for a reissue at your mission with the evidence for the change. The Atlanta consulate asks for a marriage certificate or divorce papers and a copy of the husband's ID for a marriage; for any other change it wants a court order, a newspaper publication, a formal letter and a non-refundable ₦30,000 administrative fee payable in naira.
Three kinds of name change
Nigerian missions sort name changes by reason, and the reason decides the evidence. Atlanta's required-documents page, which is the most detailed US list we found, splits them into two groups, and a third case is common enough to treat separately.
| Case | Evidence Atlanta asks for | Extra fee listed |
|---|---|---|
| Marriage | Clean copy of the marriage certificate; copy of the husband's means of identity | None listed beyond the passport fee |
| Divorce, back to a former name | Divorce documents | None listed beyond the passport fee |
| Other change or correction (including a US court-ordered change) | Formal application letter giving the reason; court order for change of names and newspaper publication; earlier documents supporting the request | Non-refundable administrative fee of ₦30,000, payable in naira only |
For the last case, a US court order alone may not be enough: Atlanta lists the newspaper publication as well. Ask the mission whether a US publication is acceptable or whether it must be a Nigerian newspaper.
The full Atlanta list for a change by marriage or divorce
- The online application form completed in the new name, matching your NIN.
- The passport payment slip.
- A copy of the data page of your current (expired or expiring) passport.
- One passport photograph.
- The expired or expiring passport booklet itself.
- A clean copy of the marriage certificate or divorce documents.
- A copy of the husband's means of identity (for a marriage).
- A self-addressed return envelope with the right postage.
- Your NIN.
- The appointment slip.
Atlanta does not say whether a wife's passport application needs the husband's written consent. The Nigeria High Commission in London does ask for a signed consent letter and the husband's data page, which shows how practice can vary between missions. If you are in doubt, bring a short signed letter; it costs nothing.
If you are under New York
New York's published page lists only its standard reissue documents: payment and acknowledgement slips, your most recent passport, a data-page copy, the appointment confirmation and a prepaid USPS envelope, plus its US$30 administrative charge. It does not give a separate name-change list, but it does say all names on the passport must be identical with the NIN. In practice, bring the marriage certificate or court documents too, and ask the consulate before your appointment what else it wants.
Going back to a former name after divorce
Atlanta groups divorce with marriage: the evidence is the divorce documents, with the same form, booklet, photo and slips. Two things make the file smoother. First, include something that shows the former name is yours, such as your birth certificate or an old passport in that name; London, for comparison, asks for proof of the maiden name and another ID in it. Second, revert the NIN before you apply, for the same matching reason as on marriage. If the US divorce decree does not state the name you are returning to, ask the mission whether it needs a further document, such as a court order or affidavit, before your appointment.
Get the NIN right first
Both consulates tie the passport to the NIN. If your NIN still shows your old name, the passport application in the new name will not match, and New York warns that mismatches can delay processing or mean amending the NIN and paying again. Modify the NIN at a NIMC-licensed centre in the US before you pay the passport fee; see NIN modification from the US.
Choosing the exact form of the name
Decide once, then use it everywhere. Points to settle before you fill in the form:
- Whether you will use only the new surname, or a double-barrelled one, and whether it has a hyphen.
- Whether your maiden name moves to a middle name. Atlanta's forms require the order of names to match the NIN, so the order is part of the decision.
- Whether the name matches your US passport and green card or naturalisation certificate. Differences across countries cause questions at airports and banks.
Fees and timing
The passport fee for the new booklet is paid online to the Nigeria Immigration Service; Atlanta's fee page (last modified May 2025) lists $142, $162 or $242 depending on booklet and validity. A change outside marriage or divorce adds the ₦30,000 administrative fee. Neither consulate publishes a processing time, so allow for delay before booking travel, and see how long renewal takes in the US.
Where Pryme fits
The naira-only administrative fee is the awkward one to pay from a US account. A Pryme account opened from the US holds dollars and naira, and Swap converts when you choose, with the rate and the fee shown before you approve. Naira deposits are held by a licensed Nigerian microfinance bank; outside Nigeria Pryme works through regulated partners.
Questions people ask
What do I need to change my surname on my Nigerian passport after marriage in the US?
Atlanta lists the form in your new name matching your NIN, the marriage certificate, a copy of your husband's ID, the old booklet, a data-page copy, one photo, the payment and appointment slips, your NIN and a return envelope.
Is there an extra fee to change my name on a Nigerian passport?
For marriage or divorce Atlanta lists no extra fee beyond the passport fee. For other changes or corrections it lists a non-refundable ₦30,000 administrative fee, payable in naira only.
Can I use my US court name-change order for my Nigerian passport?
Atlanta asks for a court order and a newspaper publication, plus a letter explaining the change. Ask the mission whether a US publication is accepted.
Do I need my husband's consent for a Nigerian passport in my married name?
Atlanta asks for a copy of the husband's ID. Other missions, such as London, ask for a signed consent letter, so check with your mission.
Sources
- Consulate General of Nigeria, Atlanta: required documents for passport services · accessed Oct 2026
- Consulate General of Nigeria, Atlanta: passport and consular fees · accessed Oct 2026
- Consulate General of Nigeria, New York: passport requirements and jurisdiction · accessed Oct 2026
- Nigeria High Commission London: requirements for e-passport · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.