Sweden - Change Your Name (Deed Poll)

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Procedure

The application process

When PRV has received your application and have checked that the filing fee has been paid, they begin processing your application.

Checking the application

They first check to make sure the application has been correctly completed and signed.

Examining the name suggestions in the application They examine your name suggestions in the order in which they are given in the application. Newly formed names are compared with first names, other surnames, trade names and trademarks, postal addresses and more. PRV has access to a register of all the existing surnames in Sweden, called the population register, which the name suggestions are examined against.

Approval: When a decision is made to approve your name change, you get a name certificate.

Dismissal: If your application contains deficiencies and you have been served a notice, which you have not replied to, your application will be dismissed.

Rejection: If you have been served a notice and you do not meet the requirements given in it, your application can be rejected

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Required Documents

• Completed application form (in Swedish)..
• If you have changed your name due to marriage, please note that your wife/husband/partner also has to sign the form.
• If you have changed your name due to marriage, a copy of your marriage certificate should be submitted.
• All documents should be sent to the local Tax Agency where you were registered when you left Sweden.

Office Locations & Contacts

Tax Agency Contacts

The Swedish Patent and Registration Office

Eligibility

You can add, replace or delete first name, by notifying the Tax Agency on form SKV 7630th. You can only do it once and you need to keep an original first name.

Do not want to retain some original first name, or have you already changed its name once you have to turn to the Swedish Patent and Registration Office (PRV).

If you like children have received your one parent's surname, you can switch to your other parent's last name or a name as one of your parents before their marriage. If you are under 18, you are entitled to change their surname several times but when you turned 18, you may only change once.

If you or of you who are parents want to change your child's surname and the child is 12 years, although the child agree to the change. Consent may also in some cases be required by

a parent who does not have custody of the child

stepparent

or

wife / husband / partner in the current or previous marriages / partnerships.

The rules also apply to adults relative to their parents.

Swedish citizens who are resident in Denmark, Finland or Norway cannot change their personal name at PRV or the Swedish Tax Agency. Instead they must apply for a name change in the country in which they now have residency.

Fees

Fees and payment

How to pay

When you send in an application, you have to pay a filing fee. Processing does not begin until PRV has received the fee.

Validity

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

Documents to Use

Name Change Registration Form (SKV7630)

Surname, Notification (SKV 7831)

Forms

Sample Documents

Please attach sample completed documents that would help other people.

Processing Time

You will either receive an answer that your application has been approved or you will be served a notice. If you are served a notice, it means that there are certain deficiencies in the application or hindrances to approving the requested name. For example, if your application has not been correctly completed, has the wrong address details, is missing the birth certificate or if the filing fee has not been paid, it will take longer.

It takes about 8-10 weeks before the examine starts, and it is the same for a newly formed surname. After that, public notification must also be given in certain cases, which extends the processing time by five weeks.

Related Videos

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications. 
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Instructions

Name changes are dealt with by two different authorities, PRV and the Swedish Tax Agency.

Before you send in your application to PRV, we recommend that you check whether your name change should be processed at PRV or the Swedish Tax Agency. PRV starts processing your application when you have paid the filing fee. Filing fees are non-refundable as they cover the costs of processing.

You should apply to PRV when you want to:

• change all your first names
• change the spelling of your surname
• create a completely new surname (newly formed)
• create a surname by taking your father's or mother's first name and the suffix -son or -dotter
• change to an old family name
• change to a newly formed surname from within the family
• take back a previous surname
• change to the surname you had before adoption (if you are over 18 years old)
• change to your foster parents' surname (if you are over 18 years old)

You should apply to the Swedish Tax Agency when you want to:

• register the first name of a newborn child
• register the surname of a newborn child
• replace, remove or add one or more first names at one time
• change the order of your first names
• change the spelling of a first name without changing the pronunciation
• add or remove a middle name
• change surname in connection with marriage or registered partnership. Please note that the Names Act does not allow name changes to the surname of an unregistered partner who you live with.
• take back a maiden name
• change to your parents' surname
• change to your adoptive parents' surname (if you are under 18 years old)
• change to your foster parents' surname (if you are under 18 years old)

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

The Names Act divides personal names into different types. Today there are three types of personal name: first name, surname and middle name.

First name

Your first names can be those given to you by your parents, but you can also choose to add to or change your names yourself. It is possible to have several first names.

Surname

Surnames usually come from parents. The main rule is that the children of parents with the same surname take that name. If the parents have different surnames, different rules apply.

Middle name

You can take a middle name if you, for example, choose your spouse's surname when you marry.

Please note that middle names are dealt with by the Swedish Tax Agency.

Information which might help

Changing first name

If you want to register the first name of a newborn child, you should turn to the Swedish Tax Agency. Likewise if you want to replace, remove, add to or change the spelling of a first name. If you want to make more changes than that, you should send your application to PRV. In it you should justify why you want to make the changes. If you want to replace all your first names, you should apply to PRV.

Changing surname

Creating a new surname

If you want to be the only one with your surname, you can create a completely new one that no one else has. You can use your imagination or get help from our online surname suggestions service. It should make your choice of a new surname easier. When you create a new surname it is called a newly formed surname.

Newly formed surname form N1

Changing to an existing surname

Here you can read about what changes can be made regarding existing surnames. Names which are already in the population register are called existing surnames.

• Changing the spelling of your surname, if the pronunciation of the name does not change.
• Changing to an old family name, such as your grandmother's grandmother's maiden name.
• Creating a surname from your father's or mother's first name and the suffix -son or -dotter.
• Taking a newly formed surname from within the family, such as a newly formed surname that a sibling has changed to.
• Taking back a previous surname, such as your maiden name before marriage.
• Surnames on adoption if you are over 18 years old. If you wish, you can sometimes take back a surname you had before you were adopted.
• Applying to take a customary name, such as a name you have used as an artist or athlete.
• Changing to your foster parents' surname if you are over 18 years old. Assuming that you have been in the foster home for a long time and have a strong connection to your foster parents.

Existing surname form N2

Foreign citizens

Foreign citizens who live in Sweden.

Other uses of the Document/Certificate

Please explain what are other uses of obtaining this document/certificate.
e.g. Birth Certificate can be used as proof of identity.

External Links

Place some external links which might help.

Others

More information which might help people.