Passport Name Change After Divorce: DS-82, Fees, and Timeline

Your divorce is final and your name has been legally restored. Your SSA record is updated. Your Nevada driver's license shows your correct name. But your passport still shows the name you used during your marriage — and if you have international travel coming up, that mismatch is a real problem. Airlines, border agents, and foreign immigration officials check your passport against your other travel documents and your airline ticket. A name that does not match across those documents can mean a denied boarding or a delay at passport control.

Here is how to update your passport after a divorce name change, which form to file, what documents to submit, and how long the State Department takes to process it.

DS-82 vs. DS-11: Which Form to Use

The form you file depends on whether you are renewing an existing passport or applying for a first-time passport.

Form DS-82 (Passport Renewal) Use this form if you already have a U.S. passport and it was issued when you were 16 or older. DS-82 is a mail-in renewal — you submit your completed form, your current passport (which gets cancelled and returned to you), your certified divorce decree, and a new passport photo. You do not need to appear in person for a DS-82 renewal.

Form DS-11 (New Passport Application) Use this form if you have never held a U.S. passport, if your existing passport was issued before you turned 16, or if your passport is more than 15 years old. DS-11 requires an in-person appointment at a passport acceptance facility or a passport agency.

Most people updating a name after a divorce file DS-82, since they already hold a passport. If you are not sure which form applies, the State Department's website has an eligibility tool.

What Documentation to Submit

For both DS-82 and DS-11, the State Department requires:

Certified copy of your divorce decree with explicit name restoration language This is the same requirement you encountered at the SSA. Under NRS 125.130, a Nevada district court may restore a former name as part of the divorce decree — but only if the decree explicitly orders it. The restoration language must appear in the decree text, not in a separate document.

If your decree does not include name restoration language, you cannot use it to update your passport. You would need a separate court order under NRS 41.270, which requires a court filing fee of $270 to $300 and three consecutive weeks of newspaper publication. This is not a minor omission — confirm the name restoration language was included before your decree was finalized, or handle the separate petition before starting the passport update process.

A certified copy is a court-stamped original issued by the clerk. Photocopies and notarized copies are not accepted by the State Department.

Current passport (for DS-82 renewals) Submit your existing passport with the DS-82 form. The State Department will cancel it and return it to you along with your new passport.

New passport photo Taken within the last six months, meeting State Department photo specifications (2x2 inches, white background, no glasses).

Application fee The standard passport book application fee is $130. There is no separate fee just for the name change — the $130 covers the full passport renewal.

Processing Times and Expedited Service

Routine processing: 4 to 8 weeks from the date your application is received at the processing center. This is the standard option.

Expedited service: 2 to 3 weeks. Add $60 to the application fee ($190 total for the passport book). To request expedited service with a DS-82 mail-in application, write "EXPEDITE" on the outside of your envelope and include the $60 fee with your payment.

Urgent travel: If you have travel within 72 hours, you can schedule an appointment at a regional passport agency. Appointments are limited and you must demonstrate proof of imminent travel.

Processing time clocks from when the State Department receives your application, not when you mail it. Factor in 3 to 5 business days for delivery if you are mailing the application.

Where the Passport Fits in the Sequence

Do the passport update after your SSA record and Nevada driver's license are already updated. Here is why this order matters:

The State Department verifies passport applications against SSA records. If you submit your DS-82 while your SSA name is still in your married name, there is a mismatch between your decree and your SSA record — which can trigger a request for additional documentation or a hold on processing.

Your driver's license also matters. If you are applying for expedited service or making an in-person appointment at a passport agency, staff may ask for a government-issued photo ID. If your driver's license still shows your married name while your decree shows your restored name, it creates an inconsistency that requires explanation. Updating the DMV first eliminates this friction entirely.

The recommended sequence:

1. SSA name change (Form SS-5) — must come first
2. Nevada DMV update (Form DMV 002) — at least two business days after SSA
3. Passport update (DS-82 or DS-11) — after DMV

Details on the SSA and DMV steps are in the SSA name change after divorce and Nevada driver's license name change after divorce guides.

Practical Considerations

Travel name consistency: Until your passport is updated, make sure any airline tickets you purchase match the name on your current passport exactly — not your restored name. Airlines match tickets to the ID you present at the airport. If you have already restored your name on your driver's license and SSA card but your passport still shows your married name, use your passport as the primary ID for flights until the passport is updated, or buy tickets in your restored name and bring both your updated license and your current passport to explain the discrepancy.

Child passports: Renaming your passport does not affect your children's passports. If you need to update your child's passport — due to a custody arrangement or travel — that is a separate DS-82 or DS-11 process with additional parental consent requirements.

Name change services: Third-party name change kits (typically $39 to $129) handle administrative paperwork like bank notifications and gym memberships, but they do not process government filings. The passport application is always filed directly with the State Department. These services do not expedite or assist with federal government document changes.

The Complete Post-Divorce Administrative Picture

The passport update is one piece of a longer administrative transition that also includes changing your name on financial accounts, retirement account beneficiary designations, vehicle titles, property deeds, and estate documents. Each step has its own documentation requirements and some have hard deadlines.

The Nevada After-Divorce Checklist covers the full sequence — name changes, financial account separation, QDRO filing for retirement accounts, and property transfers — in order, so nothing falls through the cracks.

Common Questions

Do I have to surrender my old passport with a DS-82 renewal? Yes. Your current passport must be submitted with the DS-82. The State Department cancels it and returns it to you with your new passport. Keep the cancelled passport — it still serves as evidence of prior travel history.

Can I use an expired passport for the name change? Only if it expired within the last five years and was issued when you were 16 or older. If it expired more than five years ago, file DS-11 instead.

What if my decree was issued in Nevada but I now live in another state? The State Department does not require you to be a resident of the state where your decree was issued. Your Nevada decree is valid documentation regardless of where you currently live.

Is there a fee for just changing the name — not the photo or renewal? No. The State Department does not offer a name-change-only service. You file a full renewal (DS-82) and pay the standard renewal fee. The name change is processed as part of that renewal.

Once your passport is updated, every government ID shows your restored name and travel proceeds without friction. For most people, the four to eight week routine processing window is workable — just do not schedule international travel in that window without allowing extra time, or pay the $60 expedite fee if your travel is within three weeks.

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