Can I keep my maiden name on my citizenship certificate?

[Misha507]

Hi,

I got married in 2014 and only changed my maiden name to my married name on my SIN card, CareCard, Driver's Licence and my banking accounts. I haven't changed my maiden name on my Passport and Citizenship Certificate. From my understanding I haven't had a "legal name change" because I simply took my husband's last name so I'm not required to change my last name on these two documents?

So would I be able to renew my passport in my maiden name again or am I suppose to use my married last name (thus requiring me to update my citizenship certificate)?

I'm asking because I'm expecting my first baby and I'm very confused about how it will work if I have my CareCard in my married name but my citizenship papers in my maiden name when we register for her Birth Certificate (which last name I'm supposed to put down for myself on the application).


Thank you very much for your help and I hope I wasn't too confusing!

 

[thecoolguysam]

Hi,

I got married in 2014 and only changed my maiden name to my married name on my SIN card, CareCard, Driver's Licence and my banking accounts. I haven't changed my maiden name on my Passport and Citizenship Certificate. From my understanding I haven't had a "legal name change" because I simply took my husband's last name so I'm not required to change my last name on these two documents?

So would I be able to renew my passport in my maiden name again or am I suppose to use my married last name (thus requiring me to update my citizenship certificate)?

I'm asking because I'm expecting my first baby and I'm very confused about how it will work if I have my CareCard in my married name but my citizenship papers in my maiden name when we register for her Birth Certificate (which last name I'm supposed to put down for myself on the application).


Thank you very much for your help and I hope I wasn't too confusing!

Why do you want to change your married surname to your maiden surname? Which province do you live in?

In BC, the child's birth certificate will have mother's maiden name not the married surname.

Also, if you want to change the surname in your passport, you can simply show your marriage certificate and tell them that you want to revert to your maiden name. Please confirm first with passport canada for confirmation. I think there is no need to have your citizenship certificate changed. My wife still has her citizenship certificate in her maiden name and her canadian passport and all other ids have her married name.

 

[Misha507]

I don't want to revert to my maiden name, I was saying I haven't changed to my married name on my passport and citizenship certificate so far. The new rules say that if I want my passport with my new married last name I must first change my maiden name on my citizenship certificate.

Also, yes I'm from BC.

I guess my question was, is it ok to keep my passport/citizenship certificate in my maiden name and all my other ID with my married last name?

 

[thecoolguysam]

I don't want to revert to my maiden name, I was saying I haven't changed to my married name on my passport and citizenship certificate so far. The new rules say that if I want my passport with my new married last name I must first change my maiden name on my citizenship certificate.

Also, yes I'm from BC.

I guess my question was, is it ok to keep my passport/citizenship certificate in my maiden name and all my other ID with my married last name?

Sorry for the miscommunication.

Ideally all your IDs should match in order to avoid any confusion.

Also, what i understand is that your canadian passport and canadian citizenship certificate is on your maiden name and all other ids have your married surname, correct?

Now, if you want to renew your canadian passport with married surname, simply visit passport canada office and show your marriage certificate and they will change it for you with your married surname. Obviously you need to fill passport renewal application. You don't need to change the citizenship certificate with new name.


When you apply for your child's birth certificate, you can order two types of certificates,
1. Information solely about the child
2. Information about the child and parents name and mother's name will show her maiden name.

 

[Misha507]

No worries!

Yes, those two documents are in my maiden surname.

Thank you so much for the information.