Change of name

Verified 09 octobre 2026 - Public Service / (Prime Minister)

Evolution of the rules for requesting a change of first name

The request for a change of first name, for an adult or a minor over 13 years old, must be accompanied by a document indicating the registration or the absence of registration in the Fijaisv: titleContent or at Fijait: titleContent. In addition, where the applicant has a foreigners birth certificate, he will have to prove, except in exceptional cases, that the first name applied for is identical to that appearing in his foreigners birth certificate. An order in council must specify the conditions under which these provisions apply.

That is what the law no. 2026-667 of 27 july 2026 to strengthen security, administrative detention and the prevention of attack risks

In the meantime, the information presented on this sheet remains valid.

Your situation

  • Change of first name(s)
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Step-by-step approach

The first name change procedure is open to the following persons:

  • French born in France
  • French born abroad whose birth has been declared at the French consular posts, or who has had his foreigners birth certificate transcribed to the central civil registration service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  • Foreigner born in France
  • Person enjoying international protection.

The change of first name may concern an adult or a minor:

You can ask to change your first name.

You can also ask:

  • The addition of a given name
  • Deletion of a given name
  • The modification of the order your first names.

The request for a change of first name must have a legitimate interest.

Examples of reasons that may constitute a legitimate interest: prolonged use of a given name other than that appearing in the civil status, deletion of a given name deemed ridiculous and/or association of surname(s)/given names deemed ridiculous, addition or deletion of a hyphen between 2 given names following prolonged use, transidentiality of the applicant.

The request for a change of first name must not be contrary to the interests of the child or to rights of other persons to have their surname protected.

Reminder

Any given name entered in the birth certificate may be chosen as the usual given name, whatever its order.

The approach is free of charge.

The file to be compiled to make a request for a change of first name is different depending on whether you are an adult or a minor:

Please note

The request for a change of first name can be made separately or at the same time as another procedure. For example, acquisition of French nationality (francization of the first name), change in the indication of sex on civil status records, rectification of a material error on a civil status document.

You must submit your request to change your first name (form completed, dated and signed with the supporting documents):

  • at the town hall of your residence,
  • or if you were born in France, at the town hall that holds your birth certificate,
  • or if you reside abroad, at the embassy or consulate of France, competent because of the place of your domicile,
  • or if you have a certificate in lieu of a birth certificate, at the French office for the protection of refugees and stateless people (Ofpra).

One receipt for submission of the application is handed to you.

Who shall I contact

  • On site

    French office for the protection of refugees and stateless people (Ofpra)

    201 Carnot Street

    94136 Fontenay sous Bois Cedex

    Reception of the public upon summons

    By phone

    01 58 68 10 10

    On the internet

    https://www.ofpra.gouv.fr/dossier/informations-utiles/contacter-lofpra

If the registrar considers that your request to change your first name has no legitimate interest, he must seize the public prosecutor.

They must also refer you to the public prosecutor if you have been convicted of a terrorist offense, a sexual offense committed against a minor, a violation of an exit ban or a failure to comply with the obligations to control return to the national territory. Likewise, it must refer to the prosecutor if you are registered in the Fijait: titleContent or at Fijaisv: titleContent.

The registrar must inform you that he has referred the matter to the public prosecutor.

The public prosecutor can accept or refuse your request to change your first name.

The decision is yours notified.

In case of refusal decision, you can make an appeal with the family judge. The lawyer is mandatory. He is responsible for the process.

FYI  

If you request to change your first name on the basis of your transidentiality, the decision of the registrar must not be based on the adequacy or lack of adequacy between your physical appearance and the first name requested. The first name requested may be a neutral first name, epicene, female or male.

The approach for updating your civil status records varies depending on whether the change of first name is authorized by the registrar or granted by Jaf: titleContent after an appeal.

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Your change of first name is authorized by the registrar

The decision to change your first name is yours notified.

Your civil status records are updated.

Your change of first name is granted by the family court judge after an appeal

You must request the update of your civil status records with each registrar holder of a certificate to be updated: your birth certificate, those of your children and your spouse or partner of Civil partnerships, marriage certificate.

The request must be sent from the moment the decision of the judge is enforceable.

Attach a shipping or a certified true copy the judgment or an extract from the judgment. If the judgment is not provisionally binding, attach a certificate of non-appeal or, if necessary, a copy of the decision dismissing the appeal.

Once your birth certificate has been updated, you must change your identity documents (identity card, passport).

You must do the step in a 3 months delay from the update of your birth certificate.

Please note

Using an identity document that does not correspond to your marital status is punishable by a maximum of 5 years' imprisonment and a fine of up to €50,000.

Request for change of first name

Request to change the first name of a minor child

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