Quick answer
If you want to formally publish a name change in Tamil Nadu, the relevant route is the Tamil Nadu Government Gazette. Individual name-change notifications are published in Part VI–Section 4, which covers advertisements by private individuals and private institutions. The publication process is handled through the Commissionerate of Stationery and Printing, Tamil Nadu.
The basic process is:
Choose your new name → obtain the prescribed application → prepare the required documents → pay the applicable publication charge → submit the application → verify the Gazette publication → update your other records separately.
The exact supporting documents can vary depending on why you are changing your name.
Quick Summary: Tamil Nadu Gazette Name Change
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| State | Tamil Nadu |
| Official publication | Tamil Nadu Government Gazette |
| Individual name-change section | Part VI–Section 4 |
| Department | Commissionerate of Stationery and Printing |
| Publication office | 110, Anna Salai, Chennai – 600 002 |
| Application | Prescribed name-change application form |
| Form cost | Government page states forms are supplied free of cost |
| Publication charge | Amount specified on the application form |
| Processing schedule | Department states applications received Monday–Friday are published in the next Wednesday issue |
| Gazette copies | Five copies of the relevant Gazette part are supplied after the prescribed payment |
| After publication | Update Aadhaar, PAN, passport, bank and other records separately where required |
The Tamil Nadu Stationery and Printing Department provides the application, payment and publication information on its official public-service page.
What Is Gazette Name Change in Tamil Nadu?
A Gazette name change is the publication of an individual’s name-change notification in an official Government Gazette.
In Tamil Nadu, individual name-change notifications are published under Part VI–Section 4 of the Tamil Nadu Government Gazette. The current Gazette archive continues to list “Change of Name” notices in this section.
The Gazette publication provides an official publication record that can be used as supporting documentation when you request changes to other records.
Important distinction
Publishing your name change in the Tamil Nadu Government Gazette does not automatically change your name in every database.
After Gazette publication, you may still need to separately update records such as:
- Aadhaar
- PAN
- Passport
- Voter ID
- Driving licence
- Bank accounts
- Insurance policies
- Educational records
- Employment records
- Property-related records
Each organisation has its own document and update requirements.
Who Can Apply for a Gazette Name Change in Tamil Nadu?
The Tamil Nadu Gazette process can be relevant to people making different types of formal name changes.
Common examples include:
- Full name change
- Spelling correction
- Change of surname
- Change or expansion of an initial
- Name change after marriage
- Name change after divorce
- Name change following adoption
- Name change connected with religious conversion or reconversion
- Other personal name changes requiring formal publication
The required supporting documents depend on the circumstances.
For example, the Tamil Nadu Government specifically identifies additional documentation for adoption, divorce and religious conversion or reconversion cases.
How to Change Your Name Through the Tamil Nadu Gazette
Step 1: Decide Your Exact New Name
First, finalise the exact spelling and format of the name you want to use.
Check:
- First name
- Middle name
- Surname
- Initials
- Spelling
- Spacing
- Order of names
Example
If your existing name is R. Karthikeyan and you want to change it to R. Karthik, make sure R. Karthik is written consistently throughout the application and supporting documents.
Check the spelling before submission. A mistake in the published name can create additional administrative work later.
Step 2: Identify the Reason for Your Name Change
Your reason for changing your name can affect the supporting documents you need.
For example:
| Situation | Relevant supporting documentation |
|---|---|
| Adoption-related name change | Certified copy of the registered adoption deed |
| Divorce-related name change | Certified copy of the judgment |
| Religious conversion/reconversion | Original or certified conversion/reconversion certificate |
| Other personal name change | Documents applicable to the specific case |
The Tamil Nadu Stationery and Printing Department identifies these special-case documents in its public-service instructions.
Do not assume that the document checklist for one type of name change applies to another.
Step 3: Obtain the Tamil Nadu Gazette Application Form
The Tamil Nadu Government states that the prescribed forms for change-of-name publication are supplied free of cost.
The application can be obtained from:
Assistant Director (Publication)
Commissionerate of Stationery and Printing
110, Anna Salai
Chennai – 600 002
The Government states that the form may be obtained in person or through post.
Step 4: Complete the Application Carefully
Enter the information requested in the prescribed format.
Before submission, check:
- Existing name
- Proposed new name
- Date of birth, where requested
- Address
- Relevant personal details
- Reason for the change, where requested
- Supporting documents
- Signature
- Contact details
The Tamil Nadu Government specifically advises applicants to furnish the correct details requested in the prescribed format because this helps the department publish the name change correctly and without unnecessary delay.
Step 5: Prepare the Required Supporting Documents
Your supporting documents should match your particular name-change situation.
For example, the official Tamil Nadu instructions specify:
Adoption
A duly certified copy of the registered adoption deed is required for the relevant adoption-related name change.
Divorce
A duly certified copy of the judgment is specified for the relevant divorce-related name change.
Religious conversion or reconversion
The department specifies the relevant original or certified conversion/reconversion certificate for reference.
For other situations, check the current application requirements rather than relying on a generic third-party checklist.
How Much Does Gazette Name Change Cost in Tamil Nadu?
The Tamil Nadu Government does not present the publication charge as one universal amount on the public-service page. Instead, it states that the advertisement charge is specified on the rear side of the application form.
This is important because private agencies may quote a package price that includes additional services.
Your total expenditure may therefore include:
- Government Gazette advertisement charge
- Affidavit/notary expenses, if applicable
- Newspaper publication, if applicable to your case
- Document certification
- Postal/courier expenses
- Private agency or professional service charges, if you use one
Government fee vs agency fee
A private service provider’s package price should not be presented as the official Tamil Nadu Government Gazette fee.
Check the current amount on the prescribed application form before making payment.
How Do You Pay the Gazette Publication Charge?
The Tamil Nadu Government states that the advertisement charge specified on the application form can be paid at the cash counter of the Assistant Director (Publication) office.
The official page also provides for payment through a crossed Demand Draft in favour of the Assistant Director (Publication), Government Publication Depot, Chennai-2.
The published office payment hours are:
Monday to Friday
- 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
- 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
These are the hours published by the department for cash payment. Verify the official page before travelling because Government office schedules can change.
How Long Does Gazette Name Change Take in Tamil Nadu?
The Tamil Nadu Stationery and Printing Department states that applications received from Monday to Friday are published in the next Wednesday issue, subject to the department’s stated process and correct submission.
This is more useful than relying on generic claims such as “Gazette name change takes 15 days” or “Gazette always takes 30 days.”
What can cause problems?
Incorrect or incomplete information can affect publication.
The department specifically emphasises furnishing the correct details in the prescribed format.
Therefore:
Submit accurate information and check every spelling before submission.
Is Newspaper Advertisement Required for Gazette Name Change in Tamil Nadu?
This question needs a careful answer because private name-change services often describe newspaper publication as part of their workflow.
The official Tamil Nadu Stationery and Printing Department information explains the prescribed Gazette application, supporting documents, publication charges and publication process. It does not establish newspaper publication as a universal requirement for every individual name-change application.
What should you do?
Follow the current requirements applicable to your specific application.
If the authority or current prescribed process requires a newspaper advertisement for your case, complete that step before Gazette submission.
Do not assume that a private agency’s standard package represents a universal Government requirement.
Which Gazette Should You Use: Tamil Nadu Gazette or Gazette of India?
The Tamil Nadu Government Gazette and the Gazette of India are different Government publication systems.
Tamil Nadu Government Gazette
The Tamil Nadu Government Gazette is published through the Tamil Nadu Stationery and Printing Department.
Individual name-change notices appear under Part VI–Section 4. Current 2026 Gazette issues continue to list “Change of Name” notices in this section.
Gazette of India
The Gazette of India is a separate Central Government publication.
If an organisation specifically asks you for a Gazette of India notification, do not assume that a Tamil Nadu Government Gazette publication automatically satisfies that requirement.
Best approach
Before applying, check the exact Gazette publication required by the organisation or authority that will receive your name-change document.
For a wider comparison, see our guide to Central Gazette vs State Gazette. For the Central route itself, see the Gazette name change process.
Where Is the Tamil Nadu Gazette Name Change Office?
The official publication office is:
Assistant Director (Publication)
Commissionerate of Stationery and Printing
110, Anna Salai
Chennai – 600 002
The Tamil Nadu Government’s current public-service page identifies this address for Gazette publication services.
The department’s website also lists dedicated telephone numbers for Name Change enquiry:
044-28544414
044-28520038
044-28520039
044-28520040
Because contact information can change, verify the current details on the official department website before visiting or calling.
What Happens After Your Name Is Published in the Gazette?
Once your name-change notification has been published, obtain and preserve the relevant Gazette copies.
The Tamil Nadu Government states that, after the prescribed amount is remitted, five copies of the Gazette part containing the name change are supplied to the applicant’s address.
The department also states that Gazettes are retained for sale for one year, so it advises people to obtain required copies soon after publication.
Then update your other records
Depending on your circumstances, you may need to update:
- Aadhaar
- PAN
- Passport
- Voter ID
- Driving licence
- Bank accounts
- Insurance
- Educational certificates
- Employment records
- Property records
- Other government or private records
Each authority can have its own procedure.
The Gazette publication is documentary evidence of the published name change; it is not an automatic database-wide name update.
How to Verify Your Tamil Nadu Gazette Name Change
After publication, check the actual Gazette entry.
Verify:
- Old name
- New name
- Spelling
- Relevant personal information
- Gazette issue
- Publication date
- Gazette section
The Tamil Nadu Government’s online Gazette archive provides published issues and identifies Part VI–Section 4 as the section containing change-of-name notices.
Do not rely only on an agency confirmation
A WhatsApp message, receipt or private agency screenshot is not the same thing as verifying the official Gazette publication.
Keep the official Gazette publication with your other identity documents.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
1. Using an incorrect spelling
Check the new name before submitting the application.
2. Assuming Gazette publication automatically updates Aadhaar
A Gazette publication does not automatically change every identity record.
3. Confusing Tamil Nadu Gazette with Gazette of India
They are separate publication systems.
4. Using an old fee
Check the current charge specified on the prescribed application form.
5. Treating an agency package price as the Government fee
A private agency can add its own service charges.
6. Using the wrong supporting documents
Special cases such as adoption, divorce and religious conversion have specific requirements.
7. Assuming every applicant follows the same process
The documents required can change according to the reason for the name change.
8. Failing to verify the published notification
Check the actual Gazette entry before using it for subsequent record updates.
Gazette Name Change in Tamil Nadu: Complete Checklist
Use this checklist before submitting your application:
- Finalise the exact new name
- Check spelling and formatting
- Identify the reason for the name change
- Obtain the prescribed Gazette application
- Prepare applicable supporting documents
- Check special-case documentation requirements
- Check whether any additional requirement applies to your case
- Verify the current publication charge on the application form
- Complete the application accurately
- Check all names and personal details
- Submit the application through the prescribed process
- Keep copies of your submitted documents
- Verify the Gazette publication
- Obtain and preserve Gazette copies
- Update Aadhaar and other records separately where required
Frequently Asked Questions
Final Takeaway
For a Gazette name change in Tamil Nadu, the relevant Government publication route is the Tamil Nadu Government Gazette, where individual name-change notices are published under Part VI–Section 4. The process is handled through the Commissionerate of Stationery and Printing at 110, Anna Salai, Chennai – 600 002.
The practical sequence is:
Finalise the name → obtain the prescribed form → prepare the applicable documents → pay the prescribed advertisement charge → submit the application → verify publication → obtain Gazette copies → update other records separately.
The most important point is to use the current official Tamil Nadu instructions for your particular case. Requirements can differ depending on whether the change relates to adoption, divorce, religious conversion or another circumstance.
Official Tamil Nadu Resources
- Tamil Nadu Stationery and Printing Department — Service to Public: official information on Gazette publication, forms, payment, copies and procedures.
- Tamil Nadu Stationery and Printing Department: current contact information and Name Change enquiry numbers.
- Tamil Nadu Government Gazette: published Gazette issues and current Part VI–Section 4 change-of-name notices.
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.