All the Travel Documents You Need to Update After a Name Change

Consistency is key.

Although Lisa Emmerman, a travel blogger, has been divorced for almost a year, she is still finding travel-related documents and accounts where she needs to change her surname from her married name back to her maiden name.

“The ridiculous amount of paperwork, legal documents, and inconsistent processes between different companies make it way more complicated than it should be,” Emmerman said. “Some places let me update my name online in minutes, while others required printing forms, mailing documents, and repeating the process a few different times. It really felt like a full-time job just to get my name changed across all my travel accounts.”

In some instances, not catching the switch in her surname early enough has caused her travel plans to go awry. One of the most memorable involved needing to transfer points–something she couldn’t do because the name on her Chase card didn’t match the name on her hotel program account. All she needed to do was change her name in the credit card company’s system, which, in theory, should have been simple. However, Chase’s process included printing the form, completing it by hand, mailing it in, and uploading divorce documents through the online portal.

“After doing this the first time, I received my new card with my maiden name; however, the portal still showed my married name,” Emmerman explained. “When I called to ask about it, they told me I had to complete the entire process again. I explained that I’d already done it, had the new card in my possession, and urgently needed to access my points, but they didn’t seem to care. So, I completed the process yet again. Unfortunately, by the time this process was completed—twice—the number of points I needed to book my trip had doubled.”

Following a legal name change, regardless of the cause (marriage, divorce, a court-ordered name change, or just legally adopting a new name), travelers are required to update a series of travel-related documents and accounts, including identification, airline frequent flyer programs, credit cards, bank accounts, travel insurance, and more.

According to Matthew Wolff at HitchSwitch, a company that specializes in legal name-changing services, “Consistency is key. Any discrepancy between identification documents and travel books may result in delays, denied boarding, or other travel disruptions. Proactive updates are essential to ensure seamless travel.”

Here’s what you need to know about what exactly needs to be updated (and what’s a good idea to update) after a name change.

Must-Update Documents and Accounts

Of course, the number of accounts that need to be changed depends on how many accounts (frequent flier programs, hotel rewards accounts, etc.) you had open before your name change. However, the following are ones Emmerman and Wolff say are absolutely required and should be updated as soon as possible post-name change:

Passport: For international travel, a valid passport with the traveler’s current legal name is key. Any discrepancy between the name on your passport and other travel documents can lead to significant travel disruptions.

Driver’s license: This is paramount for domestic travel within the U.S. Starting May 7, 2025, a REAL ID-compliant license or state ID will be mandatory for boarding domestic flights.

Trusted Traveler Programs (Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, CLEAR, NEXUS, etc.): Failure to update may result in the denial of program benefits. For example, a Global Entry card bearing a previous name will not be accepted when presented with a passport reflecting the current legal name.

As with most things, there are always exceptions and workarounds, Emmerman said.

“If you’ve already booked travel under your old name, you usually have two options: pay to change the name on the reservation or travel with your pre-name change documents with the matching name on the booking,” Emmerman said. “Be sure to check each company before traveling, though, to make sure they’ll accept your old name.”

Wolff echoed that sentiment, saying, “The paramount rule for travel during a name change is to maintain consistency between the name on a traveler’s identification (passport or driver’s license) and their plane ticket. For customers with upcoming international travel planned or booked, we strongly advise holding off on changing their names until after their trip. This allows you to travel using your current valid passport.”

One rule, however, always applies: Your passport and/or driver’s license must match the name on your flight to board. If the names don’t match, you are almost guaranteed to be denied boarding either at baggage check, TSA, or, if you’ve made it that far, the gate attendant. If you’re in the middle of the name change process, consistency is key. Make sure every reservation for your trip matches the name on whatever ID you’ll be using for the trip.

Highly Recommended Accounts

These don’t have to be updated, but mismatched names can create issues, especially if you’re a member of loyalty programs or dealing with customer service:

Airline accounts: Maintaining consistent name information across frequent flyer accounts prevents potential pitfalls with booking, boarding, and mileage accrual. This is especially true if you use frequent flyer miles or want to transfer points.

Credit cards: Updating names on credit cards and bank accounts used for travel-related transactions ensures consistency and mitigates potential complications, and is extra important if you utilize points and miles.

Travel Insurance: It is crucial to update travel insurance policies to reflect the current legal name to avoid claim disputes.

Hotel Loyalty Programs: Ensures seamless check-ins and accurate tracking of rewards. Also important if you use points and miles, as the names on both the transferring points company and the hotel loyalty program need to match.

Travel booking platforms: These are things like Expedia, Booking.com, etc. This is especially important to do if you’re booking international travel.

Car rental accounts: Especially for international travel and those with status accounts.

Airport lounge memberships: If you use credit cards or airline-specific lounges, these should be updated automatically when you change your name with the respective company; however, it’s best to double-check. If you have Priority Pass through a credit card, you may need to request that the credit card company update the name on your account to reflect your new name.

Travel Insurance companies: Ensure your passport matches the one on file in case you need to submit documents for a claim.

Making a Game Plan

Wolff said that when navigating the complexities of updating travel-related documentation following a name change, it is important to understand what documentation is required to provide, depending on the circumstances. Those seeking to change their name because of marriage must provide an original or certified copy of their Marriage Certificate, while those changing their name after a marriage dissolves need to furnish a copy of their Divorce Decree, which explicitly stipulates the restoration of a prior name, thereby legitimizing the individual’s request to revert to their pre-marital name. For everyone else, a Name Change Order is mandatory.

Upon obtaining the appropriate legal documentation, individuals must complete the requisite application forms and submit them, along with any supplementary materials, to the relevant governmental agencies, state offices, or private entities. The specific procedural requirements and documentary submissions vary on the nature of the name change and the entity with which the individual is interacting.

A strategic order is advisable to minimize potential disruptions and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.

Emmerman recommends creating a spreadsheet that includes a column for each account that needs to be updated, one for the date you submitted the paperwork and another for when the process is complete.

“I also recommend adding a notes column to track any communications or issues—like my Chase snafu—to ensure everything gets processed correctly and on time,” Emmerman said.