Requesting a change of surname and/or first name(s)

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Demande de changement de nom/prénom(s) ou Demande de modification de la mention du sexe et du/des prénom(s) à l’état civil
Go to online services and forms

In Luxembourg, certain people are allowed to legally change their first name or surname, provided they meet a series of conditions. An application to do so must be filed with the Minister of Justice (Ministre de la Justice), who will decide on whether or not to grant the name change.

Who is concerned?

The procedure for changing a first name or surname is open to anyone:

  • holding Luxembourg nationality, whether resident in Luxembourg or abroad; or
  • recognised as stateless; or
  • holding refugee or subsidiary protection status.

Any person who has obtained Luxembourg nationality through naturalisation, by option or by reclaiming their Luxembourg nationality may also apply to change their first name(s) and/or surname.

Persons of foreign nationality, resident or born in Luxembourg, who wish to change their first name(s) or surname, must contact the competent authorities in their country of origin.

Costs

The procedure for changing a first name or surname is free of charge.

How to proceed

Filing an application

General rules

The request can be made:

  • in writing to the Minister of Justice, either in person or through a lawyer;
  • online through the MyGuichet.lu assistant, using their LuxTrust product or electronic identity card (eID).

How to create a private eSpace on MyGuichet.lu

A tutorial is available to help applicants set up a private eSpace on MyGuichet.lu if they do not already have one.

Anyone with a private eSpace on MyGuichet.lu that is linked to the mobile app can also submit their application using the mobile app.

The forms and links to the online procedure are available in the 'Online services and forms' section.

The application must include supporting details: it must specify the circumstances which justify the name change.

The applicant must prove exceptional circumstances and important reasons.

The application must specify:

  • the applicant's current first name(s) and surname;
  • the first name(s) and surname they wish to be known by in the future;
  • their date and place of birth;
  • their nationality or nationalities;
  • their usual place of residence;
  • the surname and first names of their underage children, and their dates and places of birth;
  • their reasons for applying.

Specific rules applying to persons under the age of 18

Applications on behalf of children under the age of 18 must be filed:

  • jointly by their parents, unless one of the parents is deceased or has been stripped of parental authority; or
  • by their legal guardian, when the parents are deceased or have been stripped of parental authority.

In the event of a dispute, an application may be made to the judge ruling on family matters by:

  • one of the 2 parents wielding parental authority, when the 2 are in dispute and one wishes to make an application alone; or
  • by the child themself, provided they are at least 12 years of age, if they are in dispute with their parents or guardian, and wish to make an application in their own right.

If the child is at least 12 years of age, their consent is required, if:

  • the parent is applying to change the first name or surname on behalf of their underage child; or
  • the parent's application to change their own surname could have an impact on the surname of their underage child.

Such consent is expressed by the child's signature on the application.

Supporting documents

Applicants must attach several documents to their application:

  • a full copy of their birth certificate issued within the last 6 months (and not just an extract);
  • a copy of their current, valid passport or, where this is not possible, a copy of a different identity document or travel document;
  • any other document which they deem pertinent.

The application must also be accompanied by the authorisation issued by the family court judge to file an application to change a first name or surname, when:

  • the parents having joint parental authority are in dispute, and one of the parents has applied to the family court judge for authorisation to file an application on their own; or
  • the child is at least 12 years of age, and is in dispute with their parents or guardian, and has applied to the family court judge for authorisation to file an application on their own.

The supporting documents attached to the application must be written:

  • in Luxembourgish; or
  • in French; or
  • in German.

When the documents are not in one of these languages, the Minister of Justice may require an original translation produced by a sworn translator certified by the Supreme Court of Justice (Cour supérieure de justice) or by a foreign public authority.

The Minister of Justice may ask the applicant to produce additional documents.

When the applicant is materially unable to submit a particular document, the Minister of Justice may grant an exemption, upon a reasoned request.

The Minister of Justice may order the applicant to attend an interview with a person appointed as the Minister's representative.

Granting of the application

The Minister of Justice will decide whether or not to authorise the change of first name or surname. If the authorisation is granted, a copy of the ministerial decree authorising the name change is given to the applicant.

If a parent is authorised to change their surname, the ministerial decree will also state the surname of their minor children. The parent's surname change will affect their children.

The civil registrar will record the change on the applicant's birth certificate.

Updates to the National Registry of Natural Persons (Registre national des personnes physiques) are made by an officer appointed by the Minister of Justice.

Reissue of ID cards

Once the authorisation has been granted, the applicant must apply for a reissue, in their new name, of:

  • their identity card from their commune of residence or from the Guichet.lu reception desk; and
  • their passport at the Passport Office (Bureau des passeports) of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Defence, Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade (MAEE).

The identity card and passport to be replaced must be submitted to the competent administrations.

To have a new driving licence issued, the applicant must contact the National Society of Automotive Traffic (Société nationale de circulation automobile - SNCA) or the Guichet.lu reception desk.

Denial of the application

The Minister of Justice may deny the application if:

  • the applicant does not satisfy the legal requirements; or
  • the applicant is found to have made false declarations, concealed important facts or acted fraudulently.

The ministerial decree denying the application will be sent to the applicant.

Recourse in the event of denial of the application for a name change

If the change of first name and/or surname is denied or annulled, an appeal to reverse the decision may be lodged with the Administrative Tribunal (Tribunal administratif).

Online services and forms

Online services

Demande de changement de nom/prénom(s) ou Demande de modification de la mention du sexe et du/des prénom(s) à l’état civil

Downloadable forms

Note: view tips for using PDF forms.

Demande en changement du/des prénom(s) et/ou du nom patronymique

Last update 07.02.2024

PDF409 Kb

Other language(s)

Demande en changement du/des prénom(s) et/ou du nom patronymique pour le compte d'une personne mineure

Last update 07.02.2024

PDF531 Kb

Other language(s)

Déclaration de consentement du mineur âgé d'au moins 12 ans

Last update 07.02.2024

PDF399 Kb

Other language(s)

My data

National Registry of Natural Persons

Consult your personal data in the National Registry of Natural Persons

Other language(s)

Who to contact

Ministry of Justice

2 of 9 bodies shown

Passport, Visa and Legalisation Office (BPVL-MAEE)

Guichet.lu reception desk - ID cards and driving licences

  • Guichet.lu reception desk - ID cards and driving licences

    Address:
    11, rue Notre-Dame L-2240 Luxembourg Luxembourg
    Website:
    https://guichet.public.lu/en/citoyens/support/contact.html
    Closed ⋅ Opens at 8.00
    Friday:
    8.00 to 17.00
    Saturday:
    Closed
    Sunday:
    Closed
    Monday:
    8.00 to 17.00
    Tuesday:
    8.00 to 17.00
    Wednesday:
    8.00 to 17.00
    Thursday:
    8.00 to 17.00

National Society of Automotive Traffic

2 of 6 bodies shown

Related procedures and links

Procedures

Links

Further information

Listes des experts, traducteurs et interprètes assermentés

sur le site du ministère de la Justice

Legal references

Loi du 19 décembre 2020

sur le changement du nom et des prénoms et portant modification de la loi modifiée du 8 mars 2017 sur la nationalité luxembourgeoise

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