Last name change after marriage

[Canadian555]

Hi senior members,

I married in Dec 2010 from Pakistan and my husband is Canadian Citizenship and I got my PR card in Dec 2012 after landed in Canada on Oct 2012 but my PR card, health card and SIN card still same last name i.e., my father name before marriage. I want to know it is necessary that my last name will change to my husband's last name. I just want to make sure before apply citizenship after 2 years later.

Please help me.

Thanks

 

[Msafiri]

Easiest to apply for citizenship with the name that is on your documents at time of application but you can change to your husband then update name on docs. Don't change names during the citizenship processing though!

 

[Leon]

You don't have to change your name if you don't want to.

However, if you want to change your name to your husbands name, you need to look up where to apply to change your name in your province.

I see from another post that you live in Ontario. Here are some instructions for Ontario: http://www.ontario.ca/government/changing-your-last-name-just-married


After having legally changed your name, you would have to go to Service Canada to change your name on your SIN card, go to OHIP to change your name on your health card, write to immigration to change your name on your PR card and talk to your home country embassy to get your name changed on your passport. Oh, you have to notify CRA too for the taxes.

The amount of effort in changing your name, I don't know why anybody bothers but I guess it is customary in some countries for the woman to change her name and sometimes the husband feels that she should. If your husband feels that it is important that you have the same last name, you could also ask him to change his to yours

 

[Canadian555]

You don't have to change your name if you don't want to.

However, if you want to change your name to your husbands name, you need to look up where to apply to change your name in your province.

I see from another post that you live in Ontario. Here are some instructions for Ontario: http://www.ontario.ca/government/changing-your-last-name-just-married


After having legally changed your name, you would have to go to Service Canada to change your name on your SIN card, go to OHIP to change your name on your health card, write to immigration to change your name on your PR card and talk to your home country embassy to get your name changed on your passport. Oh, you have to notify CRA too for the taxes.

The amount of effort in changing your name, I don't know why anybody bothers but I guess it is customary in some countries for the woman to change her name and sometimes the husband feels that she should. If your husband feels that it is important that you have the same last name, you could also ask him to change his to yours

Thank you for the quick reply Leon, If I don't want to change my last name (forever same last name before marriage) so my citizenship will not affect?

 

[Leon]

Thank you for the quick reply Leon, If I don't want to change my last name (forever same last name before marriage) so my citizenship will not affect?

That's right. You don't have to change your name if you don't want to. The Ontario link, first paragraph says:

"When you get married, you don’t have to legally change your last name"

So really, you don't have to change your name. There will be no effect on your citizenship.

 

[skrm]

hi dear I got married in india last year and just want change my last name on my PR card. what is the process and i have my original marriage certificate with me. Do i have to certify marriage certificate from delhi?

 

[Leon]

hi dear I got married in india last year and just want change my last name on my PR card. what is the process and i have my original marriage certificate with me. Do i have to certify marriage certificate from delhi?

You have to apply for a new PR card including some proof that you have changed your name legally.

The link is here: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/guides/5445ETOC.asp and here is what they say about name change:

Legal change of name

If your present name is different from the name printed on your Record of Landing (IMM 1000) or Confirmation of Permanent Residence (IMM 5292 or IMM 5688), you must send in supporting legal documentation as proof of your name change in addition to supporting identity documents as requested in section 3 of Step 1. Supporting legal documentation may include:

* a copy of a legal change of name document, court order, adoption order issued by a civil authority in a province or territory of Canada, or a marriage certificate, divorce decree, registration, declaration of union, revocation of declaration or annulment of union issued by a civil authority in a province or territory of Canada, showing your new name, unless you have been married in and are currently a resident of Quebec;

* if you are a permanent resident who changed their name outside of Canada, provide a foreign passport or other national authoritative document that has been amended to reflect the new name, and an official document linking the old and new names.

If the change of name was already approved in a previous permanent resident card application, include a photocopy of your last permanent resident card.

Important information: If you have had a legal name change, you must include a copy of your Record of Landing (IMM 1000) or Confirmation of Permanent Residence (IMM 5292 or IMM 5688) with this application.