Gazette Name Change in Visakhapatnam: Process, Documents, Fees & Online Application

The most important decision is therefore not simply “How do I change my name in Visakhapatnam?” but “Which Gazette route is appropriate for my case?”

Quick Summary

Question	Answer
What is a Gazette name change?	Publication of a name-change notice in an official Gazette.
Does Visakhapatnam have a Gazette route?	Andhra Pradesh publishes name-change notices in its state Gazette. A Central Gazette route is also available through the Department of Publication.
Is an affidavit always the first step?	Do not assume this. The Central adult guideline specifies an undertaking and other documents; requirements differ by route and case.
Is newspaper publication required for Central Gazette?	Yes. The Central adult guideline requires the change of name to be advertised in one daily local leading newspaper and the original newspaper to be submitted.
Can the Central Gazette application be submitted through an agent?	The adult guideline states that applications are entertained personally or by post/courier and says agents/advocates are not a permissible submission channel.
What is the Central Gazette fee?	₹1,100 for an adult under the rate order dated 19 September 2023.
Are the AP Gazette and Central Gazette the same?	No. They are separate government publication routes.
Can you apply online?	The National Government Services Portal lists “Change of Name in Andhra Pradesh” as a fully online service, but that listing alone does not show that every Gazette filing route is online.

What Is a Gazette Name Change in Visakhapatnam?

A Gazette name change is an official publication of a person’s change of name in a government Gazette. The Gazette creates an official published record of the change, which can then be used as supporting documentation when updating records with organisations that require evidence of the new name.

For the Central route, the Department of Publication publishes individual name-change advertisements in the Gazette of India Part IV. Its official adult guideline specifically covers change of name, addition or deletion of surname and related changes.

For Andhra Pradesh, 2026 Gazette records show that the Commissioner of Printing, Government of Andhra Pradesh publishes “CHANGE OF NAMES” notices in the Andhra Pradesh Gazette.

Gazette Name Change vs Name Correction

A name change generally means that a person is adopting a different name or changing the existing name structure. A name correction can refer to fixing an error in an existing record, such as a spelling mistake or incorrect entry. The correct correction procedure may depend on the authority that issued the original document.

Do not assume that every spelling correction requires a Gazette notification. Check the requirements of the authority holding the record.

How to Change Your Name Through Gazette in Visakhapatnam

Step 1: Decide the Gazette Route

Before preparing documents, identify where the new name needs to be recognised.

Central Gazette of India: handled by the Department of Publication, Government of India; adult name changes are published in Gazette of India Part IV. The official guideline applies to people aged 18 years and above.

Andhra Pradesh Gazette: Andhra Pradesh maintains its own e-Gazette system, and 2026 Gazette publications contain multiple “CHANGE OF NAMES” notices issued under the Commissioner of Printing.

There is no rule that every resident of Visakhapatnam must use the Central Gazette, or that every applicant should use the AP Gazette. The correct route can depend on the type of name change, the applicant’s circumstances, the authority where the new name will be used, and whether a particular organisation specifically asks for Gazette of India or an Andhra Pradesh Gazette publication.

Before paying a service provider, ask which Gazette is being used and why that Gazette satisfies the requirement for your particular document or institution.

Step 2: Prepare the Documents for Your Route

For the Central adult route, see the official checklist below.

Step 3: Publish the Newspaper Notice

For the Central Gazette adult route, the Department of Publication requires the change of name to be advertised in one daily local leading newspaper, including the father’s or husband’s name and residential address. The original newspaper must then be submitted with the application.

Example: If an applicant’s old name is A and the applicant wants to become B, the published notice and Gazette paperwork should consistently identify the old name, new name, required parent/spouse information, residential details and applicant signature wherever required.

Step 4: Submit and Track Publication

The adult guideline states that applications are entertained personally or by post/courier to the Controller of Publications, Department of Publication, Civil Lines, Delhi – 110054.

Central Gazette Name Change: Official Adult Requirements

The Department of Publication’s official adult guideline lists:

1. Signed undertaking from the applicant.
2. Original newspaper containing the required name-change advertisement.
3. Prescribed proforma in duplicate, typed and signed by the applicant and two witnesses.
4. CD containing the print matter in MS Word, prepared according to the prescribed instructions.
5. Two self-attested passport-size photographs.
6. Self-attested photocopy of ID proof.
7. Certificate signed by the applicant confirming that the hard-copy and soft-copy contents are identical.
8. Request letter and applicable fee.

The Department of Publication also provides a specific request-letter format for change-of-name services.

A common mistake is to prepare a generic affidavit and assume the Gazette application is complete. The Central Gazette guideline contains several additional document and formatting requirements, and the applicant must certify that the printed and electronic versions are similar. For a fuller checklist, read Documents Required for Gazette Name Change in India.

Is an Affidavit Required for Gazette Name Change?

An affidavit is not a universal Gazette requirement. For the Central Gazette adult procedure, the official guideline specifies an undertaking, along with a newspaper, prescribed proforma, electronic copy, photographs, ID proof, certificate and request letter.

Some private name-change services use an affidavit as part of their own documentation workflow. That does not mean the affidavit is universally required by every Gazette authority. First identify the Gazette route → then follow that authority’s current document checklist.

What Documents Are Required for Gazette Name Change?

Document	Central adult guideline
Signed undertaking	Required
Original newspaper	Required
Prescribed proforma	Required in duplicate
Two witnesses	Required for the prescribed proforma
CD/soft copy	Required in the prescribed format
Passport photographs	Two self-attested photographs
Photo ID proof	Self-attested copy
Hard-copy/soft-copy declaration	Required
Request letter	Required
Applicable publication fee	Required

The Department of Publication maintains separate guidelines for minors, adoption, religion, maiden surname, gender and other circumstances, so do not use the adult checklist for every type of name-change case. See Gazette name change for a minor child.

What Is the Fee for Gazette Name Change?

For the Central Gazette, the Department of Publication’s rate order dated 19 September 2023 lists ₹1,100 for an adult change-of-name notice and ₹1,700 for a minor’s. See the Department’s Gazette rates page. For the Andhra Pradesh Gazette, confirm the fee with the Commissioner of Printing.

A private agency’s package price is different from a government publication fee. When comparing prices, separate the government publication fee, newspaper advertising cost, stamp/notarial expenses where applicable, courier/postal expenses, and professional or documentation service charges.

Can You Apply Online for Name Change in Andhra Pradesh?

The National Government Services Portal lists “Change of Name in Andhra Pradesh” as a Fully Online government service. However, the listing does not provide enough procedural information to establish that every Gazette-related name-change case in Visakhapatnam follows the same online workflow. Check the actual service instructions before submitting documents or paying a fee.

Andhra Pradesh Gazette vs Central Gazette: What Is the Difference?

Factor	Andhra Pradesh Gazette	Central Gazette of India
Government level	State	Central
Relevant authority	Commissioner of Printing, Government of Andhra Pradesh	Department of Publication, Government of India
Evidence of name-change publication	2026 AP Gazette records show “CHANGE OF NAMES” publications	Official adult guidelines cover Gazette of India Part IV
Main publication context	Andhra Pradesh Gazette	Gazette of India
Should every Visakhapatnam applicant use it?	No universal rule	No universal rule
Best approach	Verify the AP procedure for the specific case	Follow the Department of Publication’s current Part IV procedure

If an institution specifically tells you that it requires a Gazette of India Part IV publication, follow the Central Gazette procedure. If the institution accepts an Andhra Pradesh Gazette publication, verify the current AP procedure and applicable requirements before filing. Do not choose a Gazette only because a private service provider says it is “better” or “faster.”

How Long Does Gazette Name Change Take?

There is no single verified processing time for every applicant. The Central Gazette guideline states that after a completed application is received, the request is sent for notification to the relevant Government of India Press and that the Department is not responsible for delays in printing by the concerned Press.

Claims such as “Gazette in 7 days”, “guaranteed Gazette in 15 days” or “government-approved fast-track Gazette” are not government-guaranteed timelines.

What Happens After Gazette Publication?

After obtaining the Gazette publication, you may need to update the new name with Aadhaar, PAN, passport, bank accounts, employer records, educational records, insurance records, driving licence and property or other official records. A Gazette publication provides evidence of the name change, but it does not automatically change every database in India.

Common Gazette Name-Change Mistakes

1. Choosing the Gazette before checking the requirement

Better approach: identify the receiving institution first.

2. Treating a private package price as the government fee

Better approach: ask for a clear breakdown of government fee, newspaper cost and service charges.

3. Using an outdated fee

The adult guideline still shows a ₹1,100 figure dated 2016–17; the current figure comes from the September 2023 rate order. Better approach: verify the current fee before payment.

4. Assuming an affidavit is universally required

Better approach: follow the checklist for the actual Gazette route.

5. Ignoring document consistency

Better approach: check every spelling, name, address and other required detail before submission.

6. Assuming Gazette publication automatically updates all records

Better approach: complete the update process separately with each authority.

Gazette Name Change in Visakhapatnam: Final Checklist

Route

• Have I confirmed whether I need the Central Gazette or Andhra Pradesh Gazette?
• Has the organisation requesting the name-change proof specified a particular Gazette?

Name details

• Old name is correct.
• New name is correct.
• Parent/spouse details are correct where required.
• Residential details are correct.
• Spelling is identical across all documents.

Documents

• Current official checklist has been checked.
• Newspaper requirement has been satisfied where applicable.
• Required photographs and ID proof are ready.
• Required undertaking/proforma/request letter is prepared.
• Electronic and printed material match where required.

Payment

• Current government fee has been verified.
• Newspaper charges are separated from government charges.
• Any private service fee is clearly identified.

After publication

• Gazette publication has been downloaded/saved.
• Required identity documents are updated.
• Passport/bank/employer/education records are updated where necessary.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Takeaway

For a Gazette name change in Visakhapatnam, the first step is to identify the correct Gazette route rather than blindly following a generic affidavit-and-newspaper checklist.

The Central Gazette of India Part IV has an official adult procedure covering the undertaking, newspaper publication, prescribed proforma, electronic copy, photographs, ID proof, request letter and applicable fee. The Andhra Pradesh Gazette also publishes name-change notices through the Commissioner of Printing.

Because fees, forms and submission procedures can change, verify the applicable government instructions immediately before filing. If you need help with the paperwork, contact NameChangeDesk.

Official sources

• Department of Publication — Change of Name/Public Notices
• Department of Publication — Gazette rates
• e-Gazette of India
• Commissioner of Printing, Government of Andhra Pradesh — Andhra Pradesh e-Gazette