Afghanistan - Change Your Name (Deed Poll)

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Procedure

How you should go about changing your name will depend upon which category you fit into. Changing your name after marriage or divorce is quite a simple process, while changing your name 'just because' requires a little more effort, but it is still quite straight forward and a lot easier than it used to be.

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Required Documents

Most applications for a change of name must be accompanied by at least three pieces of acceptable identification showing use of the new name. In some cases, these records must cover a certain time period. Please carefully read the instructions for your specific name change. Acceptable pieces of identification may include the following:

• School records
• Tax records
• Military records
• Medical card/records
• Driver's license
• Federal/state/local government card
• Deeds to property
• Insurance records
• Foreign passport

Office Locations & Contacts

Civil Registration Department
Ministry of Interior
Mobile: 0799 32 $341
Please also contact with village Maliks
Contacts for Ministry of Interior Affairs
Afghan Diplomatic Missions

Eligibility

Everyone has the right to change their name.

Both adults and children can change their name for a variety of reasons.

Fees

Explain the fees structure which is required for obtaining the  certificate/document.

Validity

Explain the time until which the certificate/document is valid.
e.g. Birth Certificate Valid Forever

Documents to Use

Please attach documents that can be used by people. e.g. links

Sample Documents

Please attach sample completed documents that would help other people.

Processing Time

Please explain processing time taken in obtaining the document/certificate.

Related Videos

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications. 
Attach videos using the following tag <&video type="website">video ID|width|height<&/video&> from external websites.
Please remove the "&" inside the tags during implementation.
Website = allocine, blip, dailymotion, facebook, gametrailers, googlevideo, html5, metacafe, myspace, revver, 
sevenload, viddler, vimeo, youku, youtube
width = 560, height = 340, Video ID = Can be obtained from the URL of webpage where the video is displayed.
e.g In the following url "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0US7oR_t3M" Video ID is "Y0US7oR_t3M". 
	

Instructions

After marriage, you can choose to continue using your own surname, or you can start using your spouse's surname.

A spouse may use his or her surname before the marriage, at birth or by adoption. A spouse can also use the surname of his or her spouse by marriage.

After a divorce, a person may use their name at birth or married surname.

Required Information

• Your name as listed on birth certificate or immigration or citizenship documents.
• The full name you are applying to change to (if you are changing your name).
• Date and place of birth
• Marital status and details
• Places of residence for last three months
• Address for Correspondence

Need for the Document

If you are using, or wish to use, a name other than your registered name, there is no legal requirement that you formally change your name. It is, however, recommended that you change your name officially, both for identification and as evidence of your name change.

Name change generally refers to the legal act by a person of adopting a name different from their name at birth, marriage or adoption. The procedures and ease of a name change vary between jurisdictions.

Information which might help

Typically, you may legally change your name to whatever name you'd like. There are some exceptions, though:

• You can't change your name just to escape debt liability or to hide from criminal liability.
• You can't change your name in order to commit a crime.
• You can't change your name with the intention to mislead. This usually involves taking the name of a famous person. Courts typically do not allow this, unless you have a convincing reason that is not related to the famous person or the use of his or her name.
• You can't choose a confusing name one that includes numerals or punctuation. However, some courts have permitted people to spell out the numbers, for example "Seven" instead of "7".
• You can't choose a name that would intimidate, offend, or be considered obscene.
• You can't choose a racial slur.

Other uses of the Document/Certificate

You may want to change your name because:

• You have just gotten married
• You have divorced
• You just want a change

External Links

Ministry of Justice of Afghanistan

Afghanistan Government

Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Diplomatic representation

Ministry of Interior Affairs MoIA

Others

Changing your name by deed poll

The advantage of changing your name by deed poll is that you then have documentary evidence that you have changed your name. This, along with your birth certificate, is acceptable for most administrative procedures and provides an easy and inexpensive solution to most of the difficulties that can arise when you change your name.

If you changed your name when you married, you do not need to execute a deed poll as you have your marriage certificate as evidence of your name change.