U.S. Embassy & Consulate
in Vietnam

Required Documents to Request Name Change

If you want to have your passport corrected to reflect a name change you may receive a free replacement passport if the requested change is made within one year from the date of the original passport issuance. 

Documents needed to exchange your passport due to a name change:

1. Your valid passport.
2. Complete form DS-5504 online here.  Please PRINT OUT the completed form, sign and include the signing date, and attach one color passport photo (2”x 2” or 5cm x 5cm) with a white background taken within the last 6 months.  Photo requirements are listed here.  Please enter all required information completely and accurately. Note: You cannot currently list a “Country” when completing the “Emergency Contact” section on our forms.  Please list an emergency contact in the United States.
   IMPORTANT NOTICE: After completing Form DS-5504, please CLICK HERE for a sample of the DS-5504 to make sure you have provided sufficient information according to our regulations.
3. Submit evidence to support your name change such as an original/certified marriage certificate or divorce decree or court order, amended birth certificate, etc.
4. If applying for children under 16, a parent should sign the application form on behalf of the child. The personal appearance of the minor and the two-parent consent are not required.
5. If the change is more than one year after issuance, please follow the procedures for passport renewal and include Documentation showing name change (e.g. original marriage certificate, divorce decree or court order, amended birth certificate, etc.).
6. If you do not have one of the documents listed above, you can present (in person) three of the following (one of which must have been issued more than five years ago): 1) U.S. state driver’s license; 2) Vietnamese photo identification; 3) Foreign passport; 4) Additional official picture identification.

If a Consular Officer requires additional information to approve your passport application, you will receive detailed instructions on how to continue the processing of your application.

Mail-in or Drop-Box Option

When you have prepared all the documents, you may choose Mail-in or Drop-box option:

Mail-in:

• In Hanoi, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Phong, Bac Ninh, Vinh Phuc, Thai Nguyen, Quang Ninh, Dong Nai, Khanh Hoa, Binh Duong, Can Tho, Vung Tau, Long An, Binh Phuoc, or Quang Nam: You can submit your application at the designated Express Mail Services (EMS) Post Office listed below. The delivery service company will collect both Drop-off and Delivery of passport fees at the time of drop-off.

• Other provinces: You can choose any mail courier services to mail your application to our office. We highly recommend that you use a trackable courier service to submit your application packet to us, so you can track the progress of the delivery.
• Mailing Address: We receive application packets at the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi or Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City.

• For applicants residing in Hue and North: Please send your complete application packet to the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi: Consular Section, American Citizen Services Unit, U.S. Embassy in Hanoi, 7 Lang Ha Street, Hanoi, Vietnam.
• For applicants residing south of Hue: Please send your complete application packet to the U.S. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City: Consular Section, American Citizen Services Unit, 4 Le Duan Blvd., Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Appointment-Free Drop-Off:

U.S. Embassy Hanoi: You may drop off your passport application at the U.S. Embassy Hanoi from Monday to Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (except holidays and other closures).  No appointment is necessary and application processing time is approximately 3 – 4 weeks.   All documents submitted must bein a sealed envelope. Please note you will need to pick up your new passport in person at the Embassy. We will notify you via email with pick up instructions when your new passport is ready.

Ho Chi Minh City Consulate General: You may drop off your passport application at the U.S. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays between 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. (except holidays and other closures).  No appointment is necessary and application processing time is approximately 3 – 4 weeks. All documents submitted must be in a sealed envelope.