Deed Poll — Frequently Asked Questions

Yes it’s a very fast and simple process. A deed poll is a standard document where you insert the old name, the new name, the NRIC / Passport number and the address and can usually be done in less than one hour.

If you want to know why other law firms need three days or cost more, please check with them.

You can change to any name you want as long as it is not offensive, vulgar or against public policy. You can add English name, delete Hanyu Pinyin name, change English name, change Chinese Characters, male to female name, change to husband’s surname, anything you want – ALL FOR THE SAME FIXED PRICE.

There is a limit of 54 character for your full name.

You however cannot change your name to other ethnicity. IE. If your race is Malay and you add Chinese characters to your name UNLESS one of your parents is Chinese.

You are responsible for checking if your name complies with ICA standards. If in doubt, please check with ICA.

Yes. Foreigners can make a Singapore deed poll for Singapore purposes such as blue NRIC, MOM work pass etc.

​We have done thousands of deed polls for foreigners from all nations from India, China, Malaysia even as far away as Ghana.

The only exception is for Malaysian
- If you are a Malaysian NOT applying for Singapore citizenship, you can only add/remove Chinese characters for your deed poll.
- If you are a Malaysian who is approved for Singapore citizenship, then you can apply through a deed poll to change your name (Including English, Tamil and Jawi characters)

IF you are a Singapore Permanent Resident:
Singapore permanent residents must first update the name on their current passport and provide a copy of the passport bearing their new name as a supporting document to change the name on the Singapore IC using a deed poll.

Singapore deed polls are usually not valid in other countries and if you want to reflect the same name change you have to get a deed poll in your country e.g. A Malaysian must get a Malaysian deed poll to change his name in his Malaysian NRIC / passport.

Bring along your passport or other photo identification document. Then bring the deed poll to ICA when making your replacement NRIC.

Yes you can do it now and submit with your PR / citizenship application. OR, you can apply PR / citizenship first under your old name and once you get your blue / pink NRIC then you do a deed poll to change it (more troublesome).

IF you are a Singapore Permanent Resident:
Singapore permanent residents must first update the name on their current passport and provide a copy of the passport bearing their new name as a supporting document to change the name on the Singapore IC using a deed poll.

Yes you can change name or surname to Islamic name or delete Islamic name. You do not need to bring Islamic certificate.

You are required to change passport within seven days of collecting NRIC. We suggest you change passport and NRIC together.

Changing of passport is not required if you are just add/updating/removing ethnic characters like Chinese/Jawi/Tamil

The deed poll is valid for 28 days.

If you need to travel soon then do the deed poll but go ahead and use your current passport and change your NRIC when you come back.

If you are travelling a few months later and your tickets already booked, then change your NRIC and passport and bring original deed poll to airport for proof.

No, once you change your NRIC / Passport, your new name is “fixed” and you can keep your deed poll at home.

Make a new one either to reflect the same name change or to override it.

Yes you need to.

If your spouse has deceased or you are the only parent in your child's birth certificate, you may do a deed poll for your child.

Otherwise you need the consent of the other parent. If consent is not given, you would need to apply for a court order. Kindly check with ICA on this.

No. Unless your spouse is deceased or you are divorced, you cannot do a deed poll for your child without your spouse present during the appointment.
You may arrange for an outcall appointment with one of our lawyers (From $500 onwards).

Yes. You need the consent of the other parent or get a court order even if you have the sole custody/legal guardian.

Kindly check with ICA on this.