Form DS-60 Name Change Affidavit: Fill Online Free

What is Form DS-60?

Form DS-60, the Affidavit Regarding a Change of Name, is used when the name a passport applicant uses is substantially different from the name on their citizenship evidence, or when the name wasn't acquired by marriage or a court order. It is filled out by an affiant, preferably a blood relative, who has personal knowledge of the applicant's use of both names.

The affidavit is submitted with Form DS-11, Application for a U.S. Passport, along with original or certified copies of three or more public documents showing the applicant has used the new name publicly and exclusively for five years or longer, such as tax, medical, employment or military records, or a driver's license or state ID. If the applicant can provide only two public documents, the form says to submit DS-60 affidavits from two or more people. No affidavit is needed when a court order or marriage certificate documents the change.

VergeHR walks the affiant through every item and prints the answers onto the State Department's own DS-60 PDF, including names with accents and letters such as ł or ș, and a long item 8 explanation wrapped inside its box. It pre-fills the applicant's current name and date of birth from Files's employee records, checks that the dates and years make sense, and saves the finished PDF to the person's folder in Files. The affiant prints it and signs it in front of a passport agent, passport acceptance agent or notary.

Who fills it: The affiant, preferably a blood relative, who has known the applicant by both names.
Supports: A Form DS-11 passport application in a name acquired by use rather than by marriage or court order.
Signed: In ink, in front of a passport agent, passport acceptance agent or notary, on the same date as the official signs.
Evidence: Three or more public documents showing the name used publicly and exclusively for five years or longer.
Edition: DS-60 10-2024 (OMB 1405-0133, expires 10-31-2027)

Who needs to fill out Form DS-60?

Passport applicants who have used a different name for years without a court order or marriage certificate to document it.
Applicants whose everyday name differs substantially from the name on their birth certificate or naturalization certificate.
Parents, siblings, spouses, friends or co-workers asked to swear that they have known the applicant by both names.
Applicants with only two public documents in the new name, who need affidavits from two or more people.

When to Use Form DS-60

When preparing a Form DS-11 in a name that isn't on your citizenship evidence and wasn't acquired by marriage or court order.
Not when you have a court order or marriage certificate for the change: the form says no affidavit is needed then.
Complete the details ahead of time, but sign only in front of the passport agent, acceptance agent or notary.
Ask for a copy when it is signed: the Department keeps the completed affidavit, and requests for copies should be made at the time it is executed.

What You Need Before You Start

The applicant's current and former names (last, first, middle, suffix), date of birth and place of birth.
The approximate month and year the applicant started using the current name.
How many years you have known the applicant by each name, and how you know them.
A detailed explanation of the name change: whether you have known them by both names and whether the current name is used exclusively or as an 'also known as' name.
Your printed name and address; your Social Security number is voluntary.
Your valid government-issued photo ID and a clear photocopy of its front and back.

What’s On Form DS-60

The 2024 edition has 2 pages. VergeHR asks for it in 4 parts:

Items 1-5: The passport applicantAffiant
Items 6-8: How you know both namesAffiant
About you (the affiant)Affiant
Your photo ID (optional)Affiant

How to fill out Form DS-60, step by step

1 Items 1-2: Current name and when it started

Enter the applicant's current last, first and middle name and any suffix, then the approximate month and year they started using it (MM/YYYY). VergeHR pre-fills the current name from the person's employee record.

2 Items 3-5: Former name, date and place of birth

Enter the former name, usually the one on the applicant's birth certificate or other citizenship evidence, with their date of birth and place of birth (city and state).

3 Items 6-7: How long and how you know them

Give the number of years you have known the applicant by their current name and by their former name, and how you know them, for example parent, sibling, spouse, friend or co-worker.

4 Item 8: What you know about the name change

Say whether you have known the applicant by both names, whether the current name is used exclusively for all purposes or as an 'also known as' name, and what you know about the change in detail. The box holds about seven lines; attach a separate sheet if you need more.

5 Oath, your details and ID

Under the oath, give your printed name, Social Security number (voluntary) and address. Leave the signature blank until you are in front of the official. The ID lines can be completed by you or the official, and the official fills in the date, their name and location, and the seal.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Using the DS-60 when a court order or marriage certificate documents the change: then no affidavit is needed.
Sending it without enough evidence. The applicant needs three or more public documents showing the name used publicly and exclusively for five years or longer, or two documents plus affidavits from two or more people.
Signing before the appointment. The affiant signs in front of a passport agent, acceptance agent or notary, dated the same day.
Correcting the form by hand. The form says to use black ink only and complete a new form if you make an error.
Leaving item 8 vague. The affiant must be able to explain the use of both names in detail.
Forgetting the photocopy of the front and back of the affiant's ID.

After You Fill It Out

Print the form, bring your photo ID and its photocopy to a passport agent, passport acceptance agent or notary, and sign in front of them. They complete the official section on the same date.

The signed affidavit goes with the applicant's Form DS-11 and the public documents in the new name. The State Department decides which name appears in the passport based on all submitted evidence.

VergeHR keeps the completed affidavit in the applicant's folder in Files, next to the passport once it arrives, so reminders before expiry use the right name.

Fill Out Form DS-60 Online with VergeHR

Pick the employee. Choose an employee and VergeHR fills in their name, date of birth, email and other details it already knows.
Answer plain-language questions. One part of the form at a time, with the official help text beside each question — 27 fields in all. Your answers save as you go.
Check the live preview. Watch your answers land on the real U.S. Department of State form, and let VergeHR do any worksheet arithmetic.
Generate the official PDF. VergeHR prints your answers into the agency’s own PDF and files it in that person’s folder in your vault.

VergeHR fills the form — it never files or submits anything for you. Deliver the finished form to whoever asked for it, the way the form’s instructions say.

Start Form DS-60 Now — It’s Free

Form DS-60: frequently asked questions

Can I fill out the DS-60 online?

Yes. VergeHR guides you through each item and fills your answers into the official DS-60 PDF. You then print it and sign it in front of a passport agent, passport acceptance agent or notary.

Who can be the affiant on a DS-60?

Someone with personal knowledge of the applicant's use of both names. The form prefers a blood relative, and item 7 gives examples such as parent, sibling, spouse, friend or co-worker.

Do I need a DS-60 if I changed my name by marriage?

No. The form says an affidavit is not needed if the applicant presents a court order or marriage certificate documenting the change of name.

How many public documents do I need with the DS-60?

Three or more public documents showing the new name used publicly and exclusively for five years or longer. With only two, the form says to submit DS-60 affidavits from two or more people who have known you by both names.

Does the DS-60 need to be notarized?

It must be signed in front of a passport agent, passport acceptance agent or notary, and the date of the affiant's signature must match the official's.

Is giving my Social Security number required?

No. The form says providing the affiant's Social Security number is voluntary, though leaving it out may delay processing.

Will the passport definitely show my new name?

The form says the final decision on the name shown in the passport is made by the Department of State based on all submitted evidence.

Official Sources

Blank form (PDF), published by U.S. Department of State: https://eforms.state.gov/Forms/ds60.pdf
Official instructions and guidance: https://eforms.state.gov/Forms/ds60.pdf
Edition shown on this page: DS-60 10-2024 (OMB 1405-0133, expires 10-31-2027) (checked 2026-09-28).

VergeHR is not affiliated with or endorsed by U.S. Department of State or any government. This page explains the form in general terms and is not legal, tax or immigration advice. Always read the official instructions, and check that you are using the edition the recipient accepts. Page last reviewed 2026-09-28.