Short answer: A signed UK deed poll can help update UK records, but it does not change a foreign passport. For most foreign nationals, UKVI expects a passport or accepted identity document in the new name before updating an eVisa. Plan both steps together.
Start with the passport route
Indonesian citizens should check passport requirements with the Indonesian Embassy in London; other nationals should ask their own embassy. Documents, translations and appointments depend on the issuing country. A UK deed poll does not replace a foreign passport or guarantee an embassy will amend it.
The Home Office’s name guidance says most foreign nationals need a passport or national identity card in the new name to change their eVisa name. UKVI account guidance also asks for identity evidence. Allow time for your passport and eVisa details to match before travel.
Prepare evidence for UK organisations
For an adult in England or Wales, an unenrolled deed poll commonly documents a new name. GOV.UK provides free wording: complete it, print it, and sign in both names with two adult witnesses. Keep the wet-ink original. Some banks request an enrolled deed poll or extra evidence, so check first.
If you prefer a prepared document, InstantDeedPoll offers an instant deed poll PDF download for £14.99. You still print, sign and witness it. Its refund promise covers refusal solely because of the document’s wording, subject to its terms; it cannot guarantee every application.
| Feature | DIY using GOV.UK | Posted document service | InstantDeedPoll.co.uk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Varies by provider and options | £14.99 for an adult PDF at the time of review |
| Delivery | Immediate once you prepare it | Depends on dispatch and post | Download after payment |
| Wording and acceptance | Valid if correctly prepared and executed; the receiving body may request more evidence | Check the provider’s terms and the receiving body’s rules | Prepared wording; limited wording-based refund, not universal acceptance |
| Extra copies | Print and execute originals as needed | Check any copy charge | Reprint the PDF; each executed original needs signatures |
You need not pay for a postal pack. A free deed poll can be valid when correctly prepared and executed.
Update each record separately
Ask your bank, employer and NHS practice what they need. For a driving licence, follow DVLA’s name-change process. Update your UKVI account through the official service when you have the required identity evidence. Older BRPs are being replaced by eVisas; follow the process for your status.
Keep identity documents and a list of organisations notified. Resolve passport, eVisa or booking name mismatches before travel. For unusual circumstances, ask the relevant authority or a qualified adviser.