The government just made it easier to go back to who you were before marriage—at least on paper. Married women can now revert to their maiden name when renewing their passport, following the implementation of the New Philippine Passport Act or Republic Act No. 11983.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) outlined two scenarios where women can make the switch. However, there’s a catch: You can only do this once—and the decision is final and irreversible. All other identification documents must also reflect the maiden name for the request to be valid.
How can I revert to my maiden name on my passport?
If you’d like to start using your maiden name again for any reason, that’s completely fine—you’ll just need to prepare a few documents.
These include your PSA-issued birth certificate, your PSA-issued marriage certificate, a notarized affidavit explaining why you want to revert to your maiden name (and confirming this is your first time doing so), your latest passport or travel document, and any valid government ID that already shows your maiden name. Sounds intimidating? Don’t worry, the DFA has a template for the affidavit to make things easier for you.
The second scenario is for women whose marriages have legally ended—by annulment, legal separation, a court-recognized divorce, or the death of a spouse.
If your marriage was annulled, declared null, or legally dissolved, you’ll need your PSA-issued marriage certificate or report of marriage that shows the court ruling, your PSA-issued birth certificate, and your latest passport if you still have it.
For widows, that means submitting a PSA-issued or foreign death certificate (with English translation if it’s a foreign document), along with your PSA-issued birth certificate and again, your latest passport.
Remember, this name reversion is a one-time thing. Once you’ve made the switch back to your maiden name, there’s no going back!
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