Guide to Changing Your Name in Ontario

Key Takeaways

• Changing your name in Ontario requires meeting residency and age requirements, completing an application, and providing documentation.
• The Statutory Declaration in the application must be commissioned, you can do this online in 7 minutes with NotaryPro
• Different name change options exist, such as for personal reasons, marriage, divorce, or resuming a previous name.
• The process includes paying a $137 fee, getting a police records check, and finding a guarantor to verify residency.
• Once approved, you’ll receive a name change certificate.
• You must also update federal and provincial identification documents.

Are you considering officially changing your name in Ontario? Whether for personal reasons or marital changes, the process of changing your name can feel somewhat daunting.

The steps you’ll need to take will vary based on your unique circumstances. However, with the right guidance, changing your name in Ontario is more straightforward than you may think. 

Here, we outline the steps you need to take to change your name and offer some helpful resources to ensure a smooth process.

Ontario Eligibility Criteria to Change Your Name

To apply for a legal name change in Ontario, you must meet the following requirements:

• Residency: You must have lived in Ontario continuously for 12 months or more.
• Age: You must be at least 16 years old.

A few additional conditions include:

• If you are 16 or 17, all your legal guardians must provide consent and you’ll need to complete Part 3 of the Application to Change an Adult’s Name – Form 11155E or Form 11156E
• You must get your name change application commissioned; you can meet with a notary online to do this in minutes. 
• If you’re married or in a conjugal relationship, you must inform your spouse and complete Part 2 of the name change application.
• You need a police records check as part of your legal name change application. Download the Requirements for a Police Record Check for a Change of Name form to ensure the police force conducting the check meets all requirements. 

It’s important to note that applications can be denied if your new name is deemed fraudulent, improper, or confusing. Also, your name must be written in Roman alphabet characters.

Types of Name Changes in Ontario

Ontario offers several types of name changes, including:

• A formal name change for adults for personal reasons
• A formal name change for children for personal reasons
• Changing your name to match a partner’s or spouse’s name
• Assuming a partner’s or spouse’s name
• Changing your last name after marriage or divorce
• Resuming a previous last name

You can find all Ontario name change application forms here.

Completing Your Ontario Name Change Application

To successfully change your name in Ontario, you must complete the Application to Change an Adult’s Name in Ontario – Form 11155. The application includes several sections, and they may not all apply to you. In general, you will need to take the following steps: 

1. Complete all applicable forms in the application: You can use our fillable name change application template, which is identical to the application provided by the Government of Ontario. 
2. Have the Statutory Declaration commissioned: Meet with a notary public or commissioner of oaths to have the Statutory Declaration portion if your application commissioned. You can meet with a notary online with NotaryPro.
3. Pay the $137 fee

Submit the Application: Mail your completed forms, supporting documents, and payment to the address below:

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

Finding a Guarantor for Your Name Change Application

To complete the name change application, you’ll need to find a guarantor to confirm your residency in Ontario. A guarantor is someone who can authenticate your identity and confirm that the information you provide in your application is accurate. 

Part 4 of the application requires a guarantor to confirm that you’ve lived in Ontario for at least 12 consecutive months. A guarantor needs to be a Canadian citizen and they should have known you for at least two years. They must also work in or be a member of the following professions: 

 The following list of people can act as your guarantor: 

• Provincial judges appointed under the Courts of Justice Act.
• Clerks of municipalities in Ontario.
• Chiefs of Indian bands that are located in Ontario.
• Justices of the peace appointed under the Justices of the Peace Act.
• Persons authorized under the Marriage Act to solemnize marriages.
• Legally qualified medical practitioners.
• Principals of elementary and secondary schools, as defined in the Education Act.
• Members of the Law Society of Upper Canada.
• Heads of Municipal Councils in Ontario.
• Managers or signing officers of Ontario branches of banks listed in Schedule I or II of the Bank Act (Canada), loans corporations, trust corporations, credit unions and Caisses Populaires.

Cost to Change Your Name in Ontario

You’ll need to pay some fees to officially complete your name change in Ontario. They include: 

• A Name Change Certificate fee of $137
• If you’re adding a child’s name change to your adult name change application, it costs $22 per child 
• If you’re changing a child’s name only, and not adding them to an adult name change application, it costs $137
• Fees to update certain pieces of federal identification

Documents You Receive Once Your Name Change is Approved

If your application is approved, you will receive the following documents by mail: 

1. Change of Name Certificate: A legal document listing your old and new names, indicating the change. 
2. New Birth Certificate (if born in Ontario): A new birth certificate reflecting your new name (parental information is excluded unless you request to include it). 

If you weren’t born in Ontario, contact the vital statistics office where you were born for a new birth certificate. 

Updating Your Identification After a Name Change

Once your name change is officially approved, you’ll need to update your provincial and federal identification. You can use the name change certificate you’ll receive and your birth certificate to do this. 

Ontario Provincial ID

Once your name change is approved, you’ll need to update your provincial identification documents. Changing your name on your existing ID from the below list is free of charge. 

Visit a ServiceOntario centre near you to complete this process. Paper copies of provincial identification are issued immediately, while new cards arrive in about four weeks.

• Driver’s license
• Health card
• Ontario Photo ID

Canadian Federal ID

You’ll also need to update your federal identification documents to keep everything consistent. This identification includes your:

• Social Insurance Number (SIN): You’ll need to submit a SIN application when you change your name, even if you already have a SIN card. You’ll get an updated SIN immediately in person at Service Canada but will have to wait 2-4 weeks if you update it online. 
• Canadian Passport: You’ll need to apply for a new passport when you change your name. This will cost from $120 to $160, with processing times between 10–20 business days.
• Permanent Resident (PR) Card: If you’re not a Canadian citizen, you’ll need to apply for a replacement PR card with your new name. This will cost $50, and processing takes up to 100 days.

Immigration Documents

• Permanent Residency (PR) Card: To update your PR card, you need to get a new one. This costs $50 and there is a 100-day processing time.
• Citizenship Certificate: To change your name on your citizenship certificate, you’ll need to pay a $75 fee. The processing time is about 2 months if you’re applying from within Canada. 

Name Change in the Ontario Gazette

By law, Ontario publishes every name change in the Ontario Gazette. If you’d prefer, you can request to not have your name change published for privacy reasons. 

If you’re a trans person or identify as First Nations, Inuit or Métis, you qualify for non-publication. Simply complete the form, Request for Non-Publication in The Ontario Gazette. 

Documents Required to Change Your Name in Ontario

The documents you’ll need to provide when changing your name will vary depending on whether or not you were born in Canada. 

If You Were Born in Canada

• Original or certified copies of your long-form birth certificate
• Copies of all previous name change certificates
• Court-certified copies of relevant court orders

If You Are a Canadian citizen Born Outside of Canada

• A photocopy of your original birth certificate or a certified copy of your birth registration
• A photocopy of your Canadian Citizenship Card (front and back)
• Photocopies of all name change certificates if you’ve changed your name before
• Proof of certified translation for non-English or non-French documents
• If applicable, all court-certified copies of court orders 

If You Are a Landed Immigrant or Permanent Resident in Canada

• A photocopy of your Canadian Record of Immigrant Landing or Permanent Resident Card (front and back)
• Photocopy of your original birth certificate or a certified copy of birth registration 
• Photocopies of all name change certificates if you’ve changed your name before
• Proof of certified translation for non-English or non-French documents
• If applicable, all court-certified copies of court orders 

If you have any questions or need further assistance, you can call toll-free: 1-800-461-2156

Steps to Take Once Your Name Change is Approved

Once your name change is approved, remember to update other critical records from the list below. 

1. Schools, universities, and colleges
2. Employer records
3. Bank accounts and credit cards
4. Investment accounts
5. Credit bureaus
6. Utility and phone bill records
7. Medical records
8. Canada Revenue Agency
9. Elections Canada
10. Legal documents like Wills and Powers of Attorney

NotaryPro Can Help Speed Up Your Name Change

The process of changing your name can feel overwhelming, but NotaryPro can help you complete your name change application faster. 

The application contains a Statutory Declaration that requires mandatory commissioning. You can meet with a notary online and have your document commissioned with NotaryPro’s trusted platform in 7 minutes. You can complete the process from your home or office, with any connected device — including your smartphone. 

Ready to start your name change journey? Book an online notary appointment today, and see how simple and convenient modern notary services can be!