Is it a bad idea to use a passport with an old name on it?
My wife and I got married recently. She took my last name. We are planning on flying somewhere internationally, but we just recently realized that her passport has her old name on it. Since getting a new passport is a bit of a hassle that we'd like to avoid if possible, I thought that maybe we could buy the tickets in her maiden name and use her passport that matches this name. Could this cause any problems?
We have used her passport to fly domestically before, since someone accidentally bought her ticket in the old name. But I'm worried that it might be more complicated if we're flying internationally.
For more details:
We live in the US.
Our trip is to Spain.
Her driver's license has her current last name
Best Answer
I thought that maybe we could buy the tickets in her maiden name and use her passport that matches this name. Could this cause any problems?
Anything can cause problems, but this is unlikely to. With a passport and a ticket in her maiden name, how would anyone know that it is no longer her legal name? Certainly nobody will care that your names don't match; it is hardly unusual for a married couple to have names that don't match.
(Immigration officials will sometimes even accept a passport in an old name in combination with a document showing the name change, such as a marriage certificate, but these days airlines are far less likely to do that.)
Do bring the marriage certificate just in case. It will be particularly useful if she has to show her driver's license (or any other document with her new name) to anyone.
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Can I travel with my old name?
US Citizens: United States Citizens who change their name due to marriage, divorce, or because of any other circumstance may travel using your United States passport or other Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative approved document in your prior name provided you bring proof of your name progression such as; a marriage ...Can I change my name but keep my passport?
Answer: Yes, you can still have your married name printed in your passport. But since your name change (marriage) predates your most recent passport's issuance, you need to submit a new application instead of a renewal. We recommend printing the application form and completing it by hand.NO VISA IF YOU HAVE THESE MISTAKES IN PASSPORT
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