Quick answer
If you want to change your name through Gazette publication in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, the first step is to identify the applicable publication procedure and prepare the documents required by the relevant authority. The Central Gazette of India has a published process for adult name-change notices through the Department of Publication. The documents, submission method, and charges should be checked against the latest official instructions before you apply.
This guide explains the Central Gazette process, the documents described in the official guidelines, how to check the current fee, and what to do after publication. It also explains why you should confirm the requirements of the authority where you intend to use your changed name. For the state-wide picture, see Gazette name change in Uttar Pradesh.
Quick Summary
- Where to start: Review the official Department of Publication name-change guidelines.
- Documents: The adult guidelines describe an undertaking, newspaper original, prescribed proforma, photographs, identity proof, a request letter, and other supporting materials.
- Submission: The Central Gazette guidelines describe personal submission or submission by post/courier to the Department of Publication in Delhi.
- Fees: The Department’s rate order dated 19 September 2023 lists ₹1,100 for an adult’s notice. Check the current official payment instructions before paying.
- After publication: Check the requirements of each authority before updating Aadhaar, a passport, PAN, bank records, or other documents.
What Is a Gazette Name Change?
A Gazette name change is the publication of a name-change notice in an official government gazette under the applicable procedure. The Department of Publication provides guidelines for publishing adult name-change notices in the Gazette of India, Part IV.
A Gazette notification can serve as documentary evidence of a name change where the receiving authority accepts it. However, Gazette publication does not mean that every identity document or institutional record is automatically updated.
For example, UIDAI and Passport Seva have separate document requirements and update procedures. You should check those requirements before assuming that publication alone completes the entire process.
Which Gazette Should You Choose for a Name Change in Lucknow?
The appropriate route depends on the purpose of the name change and the requirements of the authority where you intend to use your changed name.
The Central Gazette of India has an official adult name-change procedure administered by the Department of Publication. The concerned State Government Gazette may also be relevant for certain purposes. Before choosing a route, confirm the receiving authority’s current requirements rather than assuming that one Gazette is mandatory for every situation.
Consider these questions before you begin:
- Is the name change for general identity records, a passport, Aadhaar, employment, education, or another purpose?
- Does the receiving authority specify a Central Gazette notification, a State Gazette notification, newspaper clippings, or other evidence?
- Does your case involve an adult, a minor, adoption, a change of religion, or another special circumstance?
- Have you checked the current instructions for the exact procedure that applies to your case?
Please note: We could not confirm a current Uttar Pradesh State Gazette procedure for individual name changes. Do not assume that the Central Gazette checklist below automatically applies to a State Gazette application.
Gazette Name Change Process in Lucknow
For an adult applicant using the Central Gazette of India procedure, the Department of Publication’s guidelines describe the following main stages. Confirm the latest official requirements before acting because forms, submission instructions, and fees can change.
Step 1: Review the applicable official guidelines
Start with the Department of Publication’s Change of Name and Public Notices section.
Select the guidance relevant to your situation. The department publishes separate documents for adult name changes, minors, changes involving religion, surname changes, and other circumstances.
Do not use an adult name-change checklist for a minor’s application without checking the applicable minor-specific instructions. See Gazette name change for a minor child.
Step 2: Prepare the name-change undertaking
The published adult guidelines describe an undertaking containing the applicant’s old and new names, relevant family details, residential address, and a declaration that the stated facts are true.
Follow the applicable official format. Ensure that the details are consistent across the undertaking, newspaper notice, application documents, and supporting identification.
Step 3: Complete the required newspaper publication
The adult Central Gazette guidelines describe advertising the name change in one leading local daily newspaper. They specify that the notice should include the father’s or husband’s name and residential address, and that the original newspaper must be forwarded to the department.
Before publishing the notice, verify the current instructions and the required wording. Do not assume that the newspaper requirements for every State Gazette or special-case application are identical.
Step 4: Prepare the prescribed application documents
The adult guidelines list a prescribed proforma, the applicant’s signature and two witnesses, two self-attested passport-size photographs, a self-attested copy of identity proof, a certificate confirming that the hard copy and soft copy match, a request letter, and the applicable fee.
The document also refers to a CD containing the prescribed text in MS Word format. Because this is a potentially time-sensitive technical instruction, confirm the current submission format directly with the department before preparing or sending the application.
Step 5: Verify the current fee and payment method
Check the current fee, payment method, and any applicable additional charges in the official instructions.
The Department of Publication’s rate order dated 19 September 2023 lists ₹1,100 for each adult change-of-name notice and ₹1,700 for a minor’s. The older adult guidelines show the same ₹1,100 amount for 1 April 2016 to 31 March 2017. See the Department’s Gazette rates page.
Step 6: Submit the application as instructed
The adult guidelines state that the application documents can be submitted personally or sent by post/courier to the Controller of Publications, Department of Publication, Civil Lines, Delhi 110054. The same document says applications submitted through agents or advocates are not permissible under those instructions.
Because this instruction appears in the published guidelines, verify the current submission rules before engaging a third-party service. A private provider may offer document-preparation assistance, but you should not assume it is authorised to submit the application on your behalf.
Step 7: Check the official publication
After submission, monitor the application through the applicable official process. The Department of Publication’s guidelines explain how to search the e-Gazette for a published notice.
Use the official e-Gazette website to search for the notification. Confirm the relevant publication category and search the notice using the available details.
Do not treat a submission receipt or payment confirmation as proof that the name-change notice has already been published.
Documents Required for a Central Gazette Name Change
The Department of Publication’s adult guidelines identify the following documents and materials for its adult name-change procedure. The final checklist should be confirmed against the latest instructions before submission.
| Document or material | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Signed undertaking | Declares the old name, new name, and relevant personal details |
| Original newspaper | Provides the newspaper notice described in the guidelines |
| Prescribed proforma | Contains the required publication text and signatures |
| Two passport-size photographs | Applicant identification, as specified in the guidelines |
| Self-attested identity proof | Supports identification under the applicable procedure |
| Request letter | Accompanies the application |
| Hard-copy and soft-copy consistency certificate | Confirms that the submitted versions match |
| Prescribed soft-copy format | The guidelines refer to an MS Word file on CD; confirm whether this remains required |
| Applicable fee and payment evidence | Supports the fee requirement under current instructions |
Before you submit
- Confirm that the name is spelled consistently throughout the documents.
- Check that the required signatures and witness details are present.
- Confirm that your identity proof is acceptable under the latest instructions.
- Verify the required document format and submission method.
- Retain copies of your application and payment evidence.
- Do not send irreplaceable original documents without checking the official instructions and understanding the department’s stated document-handling rules.
The Department of Publication’s adult guidelines state that documents submitted to the department will not be returned. Confirm the current wording and implications before sending original materials. See also our documents required for Gazette name change checklist.
Not sure your documents are right?
Tell us your case and we will reply with the documents and next steps that fit it. One mismatch in a name or address can send an application back.
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Gazette Name Change Fees in Lucknow
The total cost depends on the applicable publication route, current government charges, and any additional expenses associated with preparing and submitting the documents.
Do not assume that a private provider’s advertised package price is the official government fee.
| Cost component | What to verify |
|---|---|
| Government publication fee | Current amount and official payment instructions |
| Newspaper advertisement | Newspaper charges and required publication format |
| Document preparation | Any applicable typing, printing, copying, or certification costs |
| Courier or postage | Applicable delivery expenses |
| Optional professional assistance | The provider’s actual service scope and fee |
For the adult Central Gazette publication, the Department of Publication’s rate order dated 19 September 2023 lists ₹1,100. Check the Department of Publication for the latest applicable instructions before paying. For a full breakdown, see Gazette name change fees and timeline.
How Long Does Gazette Name Change Take?
The time required depends on document preparation, whether the application is complete, the applicable procedure, and the processing and publication stages.
The official adult guidelines state that a completed request is forwarded for notification to the relevant Government of India Press and that the department is not responsible for delays in printing by the concerned press.
There is no confirmed official processing estimate for an adult Central Gazette name-change application. Do not rely on an advertised fixed turnaround as a government guarantee.
To reduce avoidable delays, prepare the documents carefully, confirm the current checklist, follow the payment instructions, and retain evidence of submission.
Can You Apply for Gazette Name Change from Lucknow Without Travelling to Delhi?
The Department of Publication’s adult guidelines describe personal submission or submission by post/courier to its office in Delhi. That means the published instructions provide a non-in-person submission route for the Central Gazette process, subject to the department’s current rules.
Before sending an application from Lucknow:
- Confirm the latest address and submission instructions.
- Check whether the required documents must be originals, copies, or both.
- Confirm the current electronic or physical file format.
- Verify the fee and payment method.
- Use a delivery method that provides tracking and retain the receipt.
Do not assume that every part of every name-change procedure can be completed online. The submission method depends on the applicable process and current official requirements.
What Should You Do After Gazette Publication?
After the name-change notification is published, check the requirements of each organisation where you need to update your records. A Gazette notification does not automatically replace the separate application process for every identity document.
Updating Aadhaar
UIDAI’s published guidance states that a Gazette notification from the State or Union Government, together with old-name proof of identity, is required for relevant first or full name-change cases. The guidance also identifies requirements concerning the address in the Gazette and the applicant’s supporting proof of identity.
Before applying, review the latest instructions on the UIDAI website. Check the accepted documents and the applicable enrolment-centre or exception process for your circumstances.
Updating a passport
Passport Seva has its own requirements for name changes. A Ministry of External Affairs memorandum dated 15 April 2026 states that the Gazette of India (Central Government) is also accepted as a valid document for name change, alongside the concerned State Government Gazette and other prescribed documents.
Read the official memorandum and check the current Passport Seva guidance before applying. Acceptance of a Gazette notification does not remove the need to meet the remaining passport requirements.
Updating PAN, bank accounts, employment records, and educational documents
Check the individual requirements of the relevant authority or institution. Do not assume that a Gazette notification automatically updates PAN, bank accounts, employment records, school records, university certificates, or other documents.
Keep copies of the published notification and supporting records so that you can submit them where accepted.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using an outdated fee: Verify the applicable charge against the Department’s current rate order before payment.
- Choosing a publication route without checking the intended use: Confirm the receiving authority’s requirements before deciding which process to follow.
- Submitting inconsistent personal details: Check the spelling of the old and new names, address, family details, and other information throughout the application.
- Assuming publication guarantees approval everywhere: A Gazette notification may support an application, but the receiving authority’s separate rules still apply.
- Relying on a fixed processing guarantee: Government processing and publication can take time. An advertised service estimate is not necessarily an official guarantee.
- Sending documents without checking the instructions: Confirm the current checklist, required formats, fee, submission address, and document-retention rules before dispatch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Need Help Preparing Your Gazette Name-Change Application?
NameChangeDesk is a private assistance service, not a government department. It can help you understand the official instructions and the documents you may need to prepare.
Before contacting a service provider, confirm:
- What the service fee includes.
- Whether government charges and delivery costs are separate.
- Which documents you need to prepare.
- Whether the provider assists with preparation only or offers other permitted services.
- Whether you will submit the application yourself under the current official instructions.
Contact NameChangeDesk to discuss your name-change requirements and the documentation you may need to prepare.
Official sources
- Department of Publication — Change of Name and Public Notices
- Department of Publication — Gazette rates
- Official e-Gazette of India
- UIDAI
- Ministry of External Affairs — April 2026 Passport Name-Change Memorandum
- Passport Seva
Not sure which process applies to you?
Tell us about your case and we’ll reply with the documents and steps that apply to you.
This article is general information, not legal advice. NameChangeDesk is a private service and is not affiliated with the Government of India or any state authority.