Ghana Passport Name Change, Date of Birth Correction and Information Update

Changing your name or correcting your date of birth on a Ghana passport is not a simple administrative update. It is a legal process that requires documented proof—and for name changes, a Gazette Notification is mandatory. The requirements are strict, the fees are non-refundable, and the documents must be authenticated. Here is what you need to know based on the official embassy requirements.

Part 1: Ghana Passport Name Change

The Legal Foundation: Gazette or Nothing

A name change on a Ghana passport is not completed by presenting an affidavit alone. The Ghana Embassy in Berlin lists the Gazette from Ghana as a mandatory requirement for a change of name on a biometric passport .

This aligns with Ghanaian law. The Swiss government’s official guidance on name changes in Ghana states that the process requires three steps: swearing an affidavit before a Commissioner of Oaths, having it endorsed by the Judicial Secretary, and publishing the change in the Ghanaian Gazette. “It is only after the new name is gazetted that it is considered legally changed. A passport with the new name may be obtained” .

The London High Commission confirms this: a change of name must be supported by duly authenticated documents such as a gazette/affidavit, notary with statutory declarations, marriage/divorce certificate and deed polls with a red seal .

Required Documents for Passport Name Change

Based on the Berlin Embassy requirements for a biometric passport :

The police clearance certificate is specifically required for a complete change of name. It does not apply to a simple correction of spelling .

Name Change After Marriage

The Berlin Embassy lists separate requirements for a name change after marriage in Germany :

• Copy of passport

• Marriage certificate

• Nues Name Anderung (name change document)

• Printed online application form

• Payment

The London High Commission adds that an original marriage certificate is required, supported by duly authenticated documents .

The Underlying Process: Deed Poll and Gazette

Before the passport can be updated, the name change itself must be completed legally. The Accra Street Journal’s guide to name changes explains the process :

Step 1: Prepare a Deed Poll. A formal legal document declaring the new name, signed before a Commissioner for Oaths or Notary Public.

Step 2: Publish in the Ghana Gazette. Submit the Deed Poll to the Assembly Press in Accra with a formal letter and a copy of your ID. The fees range from GH¢601.03 (regular, 3 weeks) to GH¢2,000.00 (24-hour premium) .

Step 3: Update the passport. Once the Gazette is issued, you can apply to update your passport with the documents listed above.

Part 2: Ghana Passport Date of Birth Correction

The Core Requirement

The Ghana Embassy in Washington states that to change the date of birth in your passport, you must include the original birth certificate issued before the passport was processed or a court affidavit .

The Berlin Embassy lists the full requirements for changing the date of birth on a biometric passport :

Important distinction: The Berlin requirements list the Gazette as mandatory for a date of birth change. The Washington FAQ only mentions the birth certificate or court affidavit. This discrepancy may reflect differences in mission practice. The safest approach is to prepare both the affidavit and the Gazette if possible, or confirm with the specific mission where you are applying.

What This Means in Practice

A date of birth correction is treated as a significant identity change, not a clerical fix. You need documentary evidence that the original date was wrong—typically a birth certificate that predates the passport, or a court order.

Part 3: Correcting Other Information on a Ghana Passport

The Berlin Embassy groups “Change of Name, Date of Birth, Place of Birth” together as a single category with the same requirements: copy of passport, affidavit from Ghana, Gazette from Ghana, printed application form, Ministry of Foreign Affairs attestation, and payment .

For a place of birth change, the same documentary chain applies: affidavit, Gazette, and attestation.

For a simple correction—such as a spelling error that is not a name change—the police clearance certificate requirement does not apply. But the affidavit and Gazette may still be required, depending on the nature of the correction.

The Paris Embassy’s guidelines are broader. They state that applicants requesting changes to reflect their new status must provide relevant evidence such as marriage certificate, divorce certificate, statutory declarations duly sealed by a competent court, school certificates/diplomas, letters from employers .

The Fees and Processing Time

Passport application fees are non-refundable whether your application is successful or not .

The Vienna Embassy states that applicants must allow at least three weeks from the date of submission to the mission for the delivery of their new passports . Processing times vary by mission and by the complexity of the change.

Applications must be completed within 21 days of starting. Incomplete applications are deleted after 21 days and the applicant must re-apply .

Quick Facts

Last Updated on October 27, 2026 by Samuel Kwame Boadu

Samuel Kwame Boadu

Samuel Kwame Boadu is a Ghanaian media entrepreneur and storyteller with a passion for amplifying urban voices and uncovering everyday truths. He is the Editor-in-Chief and Founder of Accra Street Journal, a dynamic digital platform dedicated to capturing the pulse of Ghana’s capital—its people, culture, challenges, business, sports and innovations.

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