Many Indians in Canada have their passports mentioning their names incorrectly. Some have all their names (first, middle, and last) merged together and written as Given Name or Surname; others have spelling mistakes. This creates confusions and further mistakes by Canadian authorities, often leaving you with a mess.

With me, for example, since my passport carried both my names in the Last Name field, all of my official Canadian documents mentioned my full name as my last name, while CRA went a few steps further and came up with something even more creative.

Furthermore, when you apply for citizenship, you might want to correct this error and correct your name.

Fortunately, you can change your name in Canada rather easily (as compared to changing it in India or through Indian embassy), and in this document we’ll discuss how to do that.

Name Change Process

Changing the name is a Provincial Matter. Since I did it in Ontario, I’ll be mentioning steps involved for Ontario Name Change, but the process in other provinces should be similar.

If you have changed your name in any other province and would want to add the steps here, reach out to us please.

Overall, the name change process in Ontario is largely a 3 steps process:

Step 1. Download and fill the Name Change application.

In Ontario there are different applications for an Adult Name Change and for Child Name Change.

Here’s how the Adult Name Change form looks like:

Things to note:

1. Here’s the Ontario Government’s website on How To Change Name: https://www.ontario.ca/page/change-name
2. You should go through all the steps mentioned in the above website and follow them.
3. You will have to check if you’ll need to submit a Police Record Check and download that form too.
4. The downloadable forms are available on the Ontario Central Form Repository: https://forms.mgcs.gov.on.ca/en/dataset/007-11155

Download the appropriate form and fill it.

Step 2. Arrange guarantors and public notary

You’ll need to arrange at least one guarantor to declare how long you have lived in Ontario. You’ll also need a public notary to attest your form.

You must be an Ontario resident for at least 12 months to apply for this application.

Step 3. Send the filled form via Postal Mail

You’ll have to submit the filled form either via postal mail to Service Ontario at the Office of Registrar General in Thunder Bay, or in-person to a specific Service Ontario location.

For sending via postal mail, send the form to:

Office of the Registrar General
P.O. Box 3000
189 Red River Road
Thunder Bay, ON
P7B 5W0

KEEP IN MIND: If you’re sending via postal mail, it’s a good idea to send with tracking, with registered post, or with some service which guarantees delivery.

For submitting the form in person, go to the following address:

Service Ontario
47 Sheppard Avenue East, Unit 417, 4th Floor
Toronto, ON
M2N 5N1

Logistical Information

Fees: For Adult Name Change - CA$137 (as on the date of writing)

Payment Method: You can provide your credit card information in the card, or can provide a demand draft as well.

Duration: Ontario website says the duration is 6 weeks (1.5 months), but it can take 9-12 weeks too. When you get charged, that’s when the application is approved, and you’ll receive the name change certificate in post in 2 weeks.

What happens after the name change?

Once your Name Change Application is approved and your payment method is charged, you will receive a name change certificate in postal mail.

An example name change certificate is attached below in the article.

Use that certificate to change your name in key places, such as:

• Service Ontario : for Drivers License, Health Card, Vehicle Permits
• CRA
• Financial Services: Bank Accounts, Mortgage, Credit Cards, Insurances, Mortgages
• Employment Services: Your employer, salary slips, any contracts etc.
• Property: Property title
• Personal: Wills, Marriage Certificate etc.
• Immigration: Passport, Citizenship Application/Certificate/Card
• Online Profiles: Emails, Email Signatures, Social Media, LinkedIn etc.
• Or any other place which you deem useful.

Example of a Name Change Certificate

Here’s a sample of an Ontario Name Change Certificate

The whole process is not complicated and is very well documented. If you read through the website and the form, things are self explanatory. Approach this with patience, and you should be good.

Hope this helps you. If you have any comments or feedback, let us know.

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