Change of name: guidance for UK nationals in Italy
This guidance explains how to fix an inconsistency relating to your name, as a UK national in Italy, so you can prove your identity to access local services.
Proving your identity in Italy
Italian authorities view your original UK birth certificate as your main identity document when accessing some services, such as applying for Italian citizenship. If your birth certificate shows a different name to your UK passport or Italian ID card, you may need to prove your identity in another way.
You may experience difficulties accessing services if, for example:
- you have changed your name (eg from your maiden name to your married name)
- your Italian or UK documents contain discrepancies in your name, such as a spelling mistake or a middle name that has been left out
This is because Italian nationals very rarely change their name, but keep the same name for life. Italian authorities expect you to use one name throughout your life (forename(s) and surname) and all your official documents to use this exact name.
How to prove your change of name to Italian authorities
The British Embassy in Rome and the British Consulate in Milan cannot issue a confirmation of your identity (for example, dichiarazione consolare di esatte generalità / dichiarazione che ** e ** si identificano nella stessa persona) even if an Italian authority requests this.
This guidance provides some options for you to prove your identity to Italian authorities and some recent case studies.
Name change letter
The in English and Italian explains the most common ways that UK nationals change their names. You can show this to the Italian authority to explain how UK nationals often change their name.
Civil status letter
The confirms that the UK does not have a central registry for Certificates of Civil Status or of Residency. British Authorities cannot issue such declarations or certificates to UK nationals. It also confirms that the British Embassy or British Consulate cannot issue declarations on the personal details of British nationals or any discrepancies.
British nationals who need to show such documents can only make a self-declaration. You can to show the Informative Note to the Italian authorities alongside your identity documents.
Change your passport
To ensure that all your identity documents show exactly the same name, you can change details on your UK passport to match the name on your original birth certificate. For example if you changed your surname after getting married, you can apply for a new passport issued back in your maiden name. This means your identity documents will match, and the Italian authorities are more likely to be accept them.
To change your UK passport back to your maiden name, for example, you will need to provide evidence that you regularly use the name you now wish to use in your passport. You may need to provide other documents, for example your Italian documents in your maiden name.
Legalise and translate a UK deed poll change of name
If you changed your name by UK deed poll, you can ask to have this legalised by the UK Legalisation Office and then officially translated to show the Italian authorities.
When showing this, you can also provide a copy of the British Embassy’s Informative Note on Name Change.
Data subject rights request to the Passport Office
You can apply to HM Passport Office (HMPO) for a Disclosure of Information Certificate using a Data Subject Rights Request. The certificate would show that you were issued with passports in different names, demonstrating that you are the same person.
Police records check
When applying for Italian citizenship you can request a police records check from the UK Criminal Records Office (ACRO). This can help prove your identity because the police certificate will include all your ‘alternative names’ under the section marked ‘other names’.
Correction by local authorities
If there is a mistake in your residency documents or Italian identity card, such as an incorrect spelling or a missing name, you can ask for this to be corrected.
You need to ask for a ‘verifica dati personali’ or a ‘rettifica dati personali’. You will need to book an appointment online at most town halls and other local authorities.
Case studies
Saresh: birth certificate and passport do not match
Saresh’s UK birth certificate showed his first and second names in a different order to his UK passport. When he applied for Italian citizenship, the prefettura asked Saresh to prove he was the person detailed in both documents. Without further evidence they could not progress his citizenship application.
As part of his citizenship application, Saresh applied for a police records check from the UK Criminal Records Office (ACRO). This also helped prove his identity, as it included all his ‘alternative names’ under the section marked ‘other names’.
Debbie: surname change after marriage
Debbie changed her surname after getting married, and found she could not apply for Italian citizenship because her identity was being questioned.
Debbie renewed her UK passport before it expired and asked HM Passport Office to issue it back in her maiden name. When all her documents matched, including her UK passport and birth certificate, her application for Italian citizenship was accepted.
Chris: change of name by deed poll
Chris had changed his name several years ago, and was registered in Italy with his new name. When he presented his birth certificate to apply for Italian citizenship, the prefettura questioned his identity as his birth certificate didn’t match the rest of his documentation.
Chris had his deed poll document translated and apostilled. He presented this to the prefettura with the British Embassy’s Informative Note on Name Change, and his application was progressed.
Sarah: mistake in official document
Sarah noticed the town hall had made a mistake on her residency document: there was a spelling mistake in her surname. She made an appointment with the town hall to request a verifica dati personali (or a rettifica dati personali).
Contact us online
If you are experiencing problems proving your identity with Italian authorities after a name change you should contact the relevant local authority or authorities directly. Consider using one or more of the options explained in this guidance. If you continue to experience difficulties, you can contact us online: