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GUIDE: How to get your maiden name back on your Philippine passport

By Kach Umandap Published May 24, 2026 2:34 pm

For years, married Filipino women who wanted to revert to their maiden names on their passports had to present annulment decrees, court orders, or proof of a spouse’s death. It was complicated, expensive, and often emotionally exhausting.

Thankfully, that has changed.

According to the Department of Foreign Affairs, married women may voluntarily revert to their maiden name during passport renewal—even without annulment—under Republic Act No. 11983, or the Philippine Passport Act, provided they comply with documentation requirements.

Your passport is your primary international identity document. For women who built professional careers, businesses, or established travel records under their maiden name, this reform restores flexibility and agency.

Want to revert to your maiden name on your passport? Here's what you need to know.

Qualifications

Per RA 11983, you may qualify if:

  • You are a Filipino citizen
  • You previously adopted your husband’s surname
  • You are applying for a passport renewal
  • You have not previously exercised the one-time reversion option
What you need to do

The DFA allows married women to apply for reversion during renewal, even if the passport has remaining validity. Here's what you need to do to process it.

1. Book a DFA appointment

Appointments must be made through the official passport portal.

If you can secure an appointment slot, you may already apply for the name change.

2. Prepare the required documents

For voluntary reversion, you must prepare the following:

  • PSA-issued Certificate of Live Birth: original and photocopy
  • PSA-issued Certificate of Marriage: original and photocopy
  • Your current Philippine passport
  • A valid government-issued ID showing your maiden name
  • A notarized Affidavit of Explanation. You can find the template here. The affidavit must clearly state that you are requesting to revert to your maiden name and that you understand this is a one-time option under RA 11983.

If your reason for revision is annulment, nullity, legal separation, divorce recognized in the Philippines, or the death of a spouse, additional documents may be required.

3. Attend your appointment

During your appointment, clearly state that you are availing of voluntary reversion under Section 5(f) of the Philippine Passport Act.

Bring both originals and photocopies of the requirements, as the DFA may verify consistency between your documents and IDs.

Standard passport renewal fees apply: P950 for regular processing and P1,200 for expedited processing. Keep in mind that you'll be charged an additional fee if you pay via authorized payment centers or the online portal.

Do you have valid long-term visas?

What happens if you have an active 10-year US tourist visa? A 10-year UK visa? A long-validity Schengen visa?

This is where many women hesitate. But the good news is that in most cases, existing visas remain valid even if your passport name changes, because biometric data—fingerprints and facial recognition—remain the same. Immigration officers can cross-reference the visa in your old passport with your new passport.

However, you must travel prepared. When traveling with a visa under your married name but a passport under your maiden name, bring the following:

  • Your old passport containing the valid visa
  • Your new passport
  • PSA birth certificate
  • PSA marriage certificate
  • A printed copy of the DFA advisory or the relevant provision of RA 11983

Being document-ready minimizes delays at immigration counters. If you want zero inconvenience or additional questioning, the safest route is to reapply for a new visa under your maiden name. This, however, involves new application fees and possible interview requirements.

Are you an OFW or a resident abroad?

If you are an Overseas Filipino Worker or a resident abroad, make sure to do the following before you change your passport name:

  • Inform your employer or sponsor
  • Coordinate with HR
  • Confirm reissuance procedures for residency permits

Based on my personal experience in Dubai, I had to visit the immigration office in Al Barsha, redo my biometrics, pay the necessary government fees, and apply for a new UAE residency card reflecting my maiden name. It was manageable, but it required preparation and coordination with my employer.

Name changes in any document may affect residency cards, work permits, banking records, and health insurance. Contact your sponsor by the time you finish your Philippine passport renewal so they can prepare to change your residency permit.

Remember that even after reverting to your maiden name on your passport, your civil status does not change. This is a passport name update, not a marital dissolution.

The law allows voluntary reversion only once, so decide carefully.