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

Last update

Demande de changement du nom et des prénoms
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:

  • who is a Luxembourg national, whether they reside in Luxembourg or abroad; or
  • who is recognised as stateless; or
  • who has 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

Submitting the application

General rules

The request can be made:

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

How to create a private eSpace on MyGuichet.lu

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

Anyone with a private eSpace on MyGuichet.lu which 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.

Specificities regarding the online application by 2 parents who jointly exercise parental authority over their child:

For this online procedure via MyGuichet.lu, both parents must sign the application. This signature must be made using:

  • a LuxTrust product; or
  • an electronic identity card (eID).

In practice, the parent who initiates the procedure signs it and then sends it to the other parent for signature. If the second parent is unable to sign the application electronically, the application must be:

  1. downloaded;
  2. signed by the second parent;
  3. attached to the online application as a supporting document.

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.

The consent of minors aged 12 or over is mandatory when:

  • 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.

The child marks their consent by signing 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.

If 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 provide additional documents.

Should the applicant be 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, the ministerial decree authorising the name change is notified to the applicant.

The name change automatically extends to children who have not yet reached the age of 18 on the date of the ministerial decree authorising their parent's name change.

This change affects only the name, or components of the name, that the children hold from the parent who made the name change.

The consent of a minor aged 12 or over is mandatory when the change of name of their parent is likely to affect their name.

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 identity documents

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

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.

Refusal of the application and appeal

The Minister of Justice may refuse 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 to refuse the application will be notified to the applicant, who may then lodge:

  • a non-contentious appeal to the Minister of Justice within 3 months of notification of the ministerial decree. Once a non-contentious appeal has been lodged, the time limit for lodging a judicial appeal is suspended. If a new decision is made or if no decision is made within 3 months of the lodging of the non-contentious appeal, a new 3-month period for lodging a judicial appeal with the administrative court begins to run; or
  • a judicial appeal before the administrative court, within 3 months of receiving notification of the ministerial decree.

Online services and forms

Online services

Demande de changement du nom et des prénoms

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 29.09.2025

PDF2.05 Mb

Other language(s)

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

Last update 08.10.2024

PDF399 Kb

Other language(s)

Demande de dispense de remise d’une copie intégrale de l’acte de naissance

Last update 03.09.2025

PDF256 Kb

My data

National Registry of Natural Persons

Consult your personal data in the National Registry of Natural Persons (RNPP) in your private eSpace on MyGuichet.lu.

Other language(s)

Who to contact

Ministry of Justice Civil Law Directorate - Office for name changes (first and last names)

Address:
13, Rue Erasme, Centre administratif Pierre Werner L-1468 Luxembourg Luxembourg
L-2934 Luxembourg
Phone:
(+352) 247 84023
Telephone reception: Monday and Wednesday from 12.30 to 15.30 / Tuesday and Thursday from 8.30 to 11.30
Email address:
changement-de-nom@mj.etat.lu
Website:
https://mj.gouvernement.lu/fr.html

  • Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Defence, Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Passport, Visa and Legalisation Office (BPVL)

    Address:
    6, rue de l'Ancien Athénée L-1144 Luxembourg Luxembourg
    Phone:
    (+352) 247 88 300
    Monday to Friday from 8.30 to 11.30 and from 13.00 to 16.00
    Email address:
    service.passeports@mae.etat.lu
    Email address:
    service.visas@mae.etat.lu
    Email address:
    service.legalisation@mae.etat.lu
    Website:
    https://mae.gouvernement.lu/en/services-aux-citoyens/passeport.html
    Open Closes at 16.00
    Friday:
    8.30 to 16.00
    Saturday:
    Closed
    Sunday:
    Closed
    Monday:
    8.30 to 16.00
    Tuesday:
    8.30 to 16.00
    Wednesday:
    8.30 to 16.00
    Thursday:
    8.30 to 16.00

  • Physical Guichet.lu reception desk

    Address:
    11, rue Notre-Dame L-2240 Luxembourg
    Open Closes at 17.00
    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

    Booking an appointment

    Please note that the Guichet.lu reception desk provides general information on administrative procedures. It does not have access to the files you have submitted to a public body in Luxembourg. If you have specific questions, it will direct you to the appropriate administration.

    • 2 of 6 bodies shown

    Ministry of Justice

    2 of 12 bodies shown

    Passport, Visa and Legalisation Office (BPVL-MAEE)

  • Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Defence, Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Passport, Visa and Legalisation Office (BPVL)

    Address:
    6, rue de l'Ancien Athénée L-1144 Luxembourg Luxembourg
    Phone:
    (+352) 247 88 300
    Monday to Friday from 8.30 to 11.30 and from 13.00 to 16.00
    Email address:
    service.passeports@mae.etat.lu
    Email address:
    service.visas@mae.etat.lu
    Email address:
    service.legalisation@mae.etat.lu
    Website:
    https://mae.gouvernement.lu/en/services-aux-citoyens/passeport.html
    Open Closes at 16.00
    Friday:
    8.30 to 16.00
    Saturday:
    Closed
    Sunday:
    Closed
    Monday:
    8.30 to 16.00
    Tuesday:
    8.30 to 16.00
    Wednesday:
    8.30 to 16.00
    Thursday:
    8.30 to 16.00

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

    National Society of Automotive Traffic

    2 of 6 bodies shown

    Related procedures and links

    Procedures

    Links

    Legal references

    Listes des experts, traducteurs et interprètes assermentés

    sur le site du ministère de la Justice

    Further information

    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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