Registration of change of first name and/or surname

A Georgian citizen and a stateless status holder in Georgia whose birth has been registered in Georgia may change his/her first name and/or surname.

After changing the first name and/or surname, a person’s data shall change (first name and/or surname), but the personal number assigned to them at birth shall remain the same. Citizens may apply to the Public Service Hall or the territorial office of the Public Service Development Agency for registration of change of first name and/or surname.   

Conditions for changing the first name and surname:

An interested person may change his/her first name at his/her own will.  

• A person of full age may change his/her surname only once, unless otherwise determined by the law.
• First name may not be changed if an applicant chooses the name that contains digits, punctuation marks, geometrical figures, graphic images, symbols, indecent or offensive words, or words consisting of multiple parts (consisting of more than two names).

A person may change his/her surname and take:

• The combined surname of his/her parents;
• The surname of one of his/her direct ascendants (including the 4^th generation relatives (grandmother and grandfather of a grandmother/grandfather));
• The surname formed as a result of combining his/her own surname and the surname of one of his/her direct ascendants;
• The surname of his/her actual caregiver;
• The surname of his/her adopting/adoptive parent;
• His/her premarital surname if this surname has not been reversed to him/her at termination of marriage;
• The surname of his/her father at establishment of paternity;
• His/her historical surname;
• The surname granted to him/her by an authorised body of another state.

An interested person may also: 

• Retrieve his/her historical surname; 
• Have his/her surname recognized as legitimate; 
• Establish his/her surname. 

Change of first name and/or surname of a person/establishment of surname/recognition of  surname as legitimate is not allowed:

a) if the person is suspected of committing a crime and is wanted by the law enforcement bodies of Georgia;

b) if an application of a person having reached 16 years of age for changing the first name and/or surname/establishing the surname/recognising the surname as legitimate is not personally submitted by the interested person to an appropriate territorial office of the Agency or to a diplomatic mission or a consular office of Georgia abroad;

c) if the interested person was deported or readmitted to Georgia and five years have not passed since the deportation/readmission;

d) if a criminal prosecution has been brought against the interested person, including if this person is wanted by the law enforcement bodies of Georgia or another state, or by the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol), until this circumstance is eliminated.

Note:  The restriction under paragraphs “b” and “c” shall not apply if purpose of submitting an application is to eliminate a discrepancy in civil records and identity documents, and a person wants to receive the data indicated in the identity documents last issued in his/her name.

Persons authorized to file an application 

The following persons have right to apply for changing the first name and/or surname/establishing the surname/recognising the surname as legitimate:

a) A person having reached 16 years of age personally, with the consent of both parents or another legal representative. Consent of both parents is not required, if the other parent of the person having reached 16 years of age is deceased, has been declared deceased or missing by the court, or when the other parent has been restricted in or deprived of parental right under the court decision or is recognized as beneficiary of support by the court.    

ბ) In case of a person under the age of 16, one of his/her parents or another legal representative, with the consent of the other parent and a minor having reached 10 years of age. Consent of the parent is not required, if the other parent of the person having reached 16 years of age is deceased, has been declared deceased or missing by the court, or when the other parent has been restricted in or deprived of parental right under the court decision or is recognized as beneficiary of support by the court.       

Note: the obligation about applying and appearing personally does not apply to a person who is not able to move due to a severe illness or physical condition to be confirmed by an appropriate certificate/document. In such a case, the application may be submitted to an authorised person of the Agency through electronic communication or a representative.

Documents to be submitted for the change of first name and/or surname:

• Identity document of the applicant;
• Birth certificate of the applicant;
• Birth certificates of the applicant’s minor children, if the applicant has minor children;
• Written consent of a parent (parents) or another legal representative for the applicant to change his/her first name and/or surname, if the applicant is a minor from 16 to 18 years of age;   
• Consent of a minor having reached 10 years of age for changing first name and/or surname;
• A document proving the relevant grounds for changing surname. 

Documents to be submitted additionally for registration of change of first name and/or surname through an authorized person:  

• Power of attorney (duly certified);
• Identity document.

Note: an oral hearing shall be held in the course of the review of an application for changing the surname/establishing the surname/recognizing the surname as legitimate. The application shall be dismissed, if, irrespective of having received the notice, the interested person fails to appear in the appropriate territorial office of the Agency for participation in the oral hearing.   

Terms and fees   

60 calendar days – GEL 75.

Exemption 

The following persons shall be exempt from payment of the service fee:

• Persons recognized as internally displaced persons;
• Students to whom an electronic identity card has been issued with the indication – “student” shall be released from payment of 10% of the service fee.