Deed Poll for Change of Name (Singapore)
DEED POLL
CHANGE OF NAME
Executed on [Execution Date]
I, [Former Name] (NRIC/Passport: [Deponent NRIC]), born on [Deponent DOB], a [Deponent Nationality], residing at [Deponent Address], HEREBY SOLEMNLY AND SINCERELY DECLARE AS FOLLOWS:
1. I absolutely and entirely renounce, relinquish, and abandon the use of my former name [Former Name] and assume, adopt, and determine to take and use from the date of this Deed Poll the name [New Name] in substitution for my former name [Former Name].
2. I shall at all times hereafter in all records, deeds, documents, and in all proceedings and dealings, as well as in all transactions, both private and public, and upon all occasions, use and subscribe the said name [New Name] as my name, in lieu of and in substitution for my former name [Former Name].
3. I authorise and require all persons to designate, describe, and address me by the said adopted name [New Name].
Reason for change of name: [Reason For Change]
Previous name changes: [Previous Name Changes]
EXECUTION
SIGNED as a Deed Poll by the above-named [Former Name] (now known as [New Name]) on [Execution Date] at Singapore in the presence of:
Signature of deponent: _________________________
Name: [Former Name] (formerly) / [New Name] (new name)
Witness: [Witness Name]
Firm: [Witness Firm]
NOTE ON NEXT STEPS
After execution of this Deed Poll, the deponent must attend an ICA Service Centre with this Deed Poll and existing NRIC to apply for a replacement NRIC reflecting the new name [New Name]. All other official documents should be updated thereafter using the new NRIC as proof of the name change. Documents to update include: passport, CPF account, bank accounts, and MOM work pass (if applicable).
Deponent
________________
Signature
Witness (Commissioner for Oaths / Advocate & Solicitor)
________________
Signature
What Is a Deed Poll for Change of Name (Singapore)?
A Deed Poll for Change of Name in Singapore records a person's formal change of name and their commitment to use the new name.
Singapore does not have a specific statute governing deed polls for name changes. The legal basis rests on common law principles inherited from English law — the fundamental principle that any person may adopt any name they choose, provided the change is not made for a fraudulent or illegal purpose. No statute directly regulates deed polls in Singapore, but the general common-law principles governing contracts and the law of deeds apply. A deed poll is a unilateral deed — executed by one party (the deponent) without requiring the consent or signature of any other party — and binds the deponent to the declarations made within it.
ICA's requirements for processing a name change on the NRIC are set out in the National Registration Act (Cap. 201) and the National Registration Regulations. Under these provisions, a Singapore citizen or permanent resident aged 21 and above may apply to ICA to change their name on the NRIC by submitting the original deed poll, the existing NRIC, and a completed application form. For persons below 21 years of age, the deed poll must be executed by the parent or legal guardian under Section 10 of the National Registration Act.
The deed poll must be executed on legal-size paper, signed by the deponent in the presence of a witness who is a Commissioner for Oaths, an advocate and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Singapore, or a notary public. ICA will not accept deed polls witnessed by persons who are not legally qualified to attest documents. Commissioners for Oaths are appointed under the Commissioners for Oaths and Notaries Public Act (Cap. 41), and their attestation confirms that the deponent appeared before them, identified themselves, and signed the deed voluntarily.
For persons who have changed their name by marriage or divorce, the marriage certificate (issued by the Registry of Marriages under the Women's Charter 1961, Cap. 353) or the decree absolute (issued by the Family Justice Courts) may serve as evidence of the name change without the need for a separate deed poll. However, where a person wishes to adopt an entirely new name unrelated to marriage or divorce — or where a divorced person wishes to revert to their maiden name but the decree does not address the name change — a deed poll is required.
Muslim residents who wish to change their name must additionally register the change with the Registry of Muslim Marriages (ROMM) under the Administration of Muslim Law Act (Cap. 3) if the name change affects their Muslim marriage records. The Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS) may also need to be notified where the name change involves changes to religious names.
When Do You Need a Deed Poll for Change of Name (Singapore)?
A Deed Poll for Change of Name is needed in Singapore whenever a person wishes to officially change the name recorded on their NRIC, passport, birth certificate, or other government-issued identity documents — and the change cannot be effected through a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or other existing document.
Personal preference name changes are the most common use of deed polls in Singapore. Individuals who wish to adopt an English name, change the romanisation of a Chinese or Tamil name, modify the spelling of their existing name, rearrange name components (e.g., moving a surname), or adopt a completely new name must execute a deed poll and submit it to ICA for NRIC amendment.
Gender transition name changes require a deed poll where a person who has undergone or is undergoing gender transition wishes to adopt a name consistent with their affirmed gender identity. ICA processes these applications in conjunction with supporting medical documentation, and the deed poll serves as the formal legal instrument effecting the name change.
Children's name changes require a deed poll executed by the parent or legal guardian. Under Section 10 of the National Registration Act (Cap. 201), a child below 21 years of age cannot execute a deed poll independently. Both parents should ideally consent to the name change; where parents are divorced, the parent with custody (as ordered by the Family Justice Courts under the Women's Charter 1961) may execute the deed poll, though ICA may require evidence that the other parent has been notified or consents.
Adoption-related name changes arise when adoptive parents wish to change the name of an adopted child to reflect the adoptive family. Under the Adoption of Children Act (Cap. 4), the adoption order may include a direction for the child's name change, but a separate deed poll may be needed if the adoption order does not address the name specifically.
Professional and business name changes arise when individuals discover that their registered name causes confusion, administrative difficulties, or cultural sensitivities in professional or business contexts. Professionals regulated by bodies such as the Medical Council (under the Medical Registration Act, Cap. 174) or the Law Society of Singapore (under the Legal Profession Act, Cap. 161) must update their professional registration following a deed poll name change.
Reverting to a maiden name after divorce requires a deed poll where the divorce decree does not include an order for name reversion. Many Singapore divorce decrees address asset division, maintenance, and custody but do not specifically order name changes, necessitating a separate deed poll for the former spouse who wishes to resume using their pre-marriage name.
What to Include in Your Deed Poll for Change of Name (Singapore)
A properly drafted Singapore Deed Poll for Change of Name must satisfy ICA's requirements and common law formalities to be accepted for NRIC and passport amendments.
Deponent details require the person's current legal name (as recorded on the NRIC), NRIC number, date of birth, and residential address. For minors below 21 years of age, the parent or legal guardian executing the deed must provide their own details as well as the child's details, with a statement of their legal authority to act on the child's behalf under Section 10 of the National Registration Act (Cap. 201).
New name declaration is the operative provision by which the deponent declares that they have absolutely and entirely renounced, relinquished, and abandoned the use of their former name and have assumed, adopted, and determined to take and use from the date of the deed the new name specified. The declaration should state both the former name and the new name in full, and confirm that the deponent shall at all times hereafter in all records, deeds, documents, and other writings, and in all actions and proceedings, and in all dealings and transactions, and upon all occasions whatsoever, use and subscribe the new name.
Reason for name change should be stated briefly — personal preference, cultural reasons, marriage, divorce, gender transition, adoption, or other. While ICA does not require a specific reason, including one provides context and may expedite processing.
Undertaking clause is the deponent's formal undertaking to: (1) use the new name exclusively from the date of the deed; (2) require all persons to address and refer to them by the new name; and (3) update all official records, including the NRIC, passport, bank accounts, employment records, educational certificates, and CPF records with the CPF Board.
Execution requires the deponent's signature in the presence of a qualified witness. ICA accepts deed polls witnessed by: a Commissioner for Oaths appointed under the Commissioners for Oaths and Notaries Public Act (Cap. 41); an advocate and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Singapore holding a current practising certificate; or a notary public appointed under the same Act. The witness must record their name, qualification, and the date of attestation. The forms-legal.com Singapore Deed Poll template includes the attestation block in the format accepted by ICA.
ICA registration note should inform the deponent that the executed deed poll must be submitted to ICA at the ICA Building (10 Kallang Road, Singapore 208718) or through ICA's e-Service portal for NRIC amendment. ICA charges an administrative fee (currently S$110 per application for Singapore citizens) for processing the name change. The processing time is typically two to three weeks for routine applications. After ICA processes the change, the deponent should update their name with: the CPF Board; IRAS (for tax records); banks and financial institutions; educational institutions; employers; the Registry of Marriages or ROMM (if applicable); and any professional licensing bodies.
Related documents that may be relevant include an Affidavit (where ICA requires a sworn statement supporting the name change application), a Statutory Declaration (where a declaration as to the circumstances of the name change is needed), and a ROM Notice of Marriage (where the name change is related to marriage registration).
Additional considerations include the handling of existing legal obligations — contracts, insurance policies, bank accounts, and property titles registered under the former name remain valid after the name change, but the deponent should update all records to avoid administrative complications. For property owners, the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) requires a certified copy of the deed poll to update the land register under the Land Titles Act 1993 (Cap. 157). For CPF account holders, the CPF Board updates records upon presentation of the new NRIC. The Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) requires company directors and shareholders whose names appear on the ACRA register to update their records following a name change, using the BizFile+ online portal.
Cite this page
Reference this free template in an article, syllabus, or research note:
Forms Legal. (2026). Deed Poll for Change of Name (Singapore) (Singapore) [Legal document template]. Forms Legal. https://forms-legal.com/singapore/personal/legal-declarations/deed-poll-name-change-singapore
"Deed Poll for Change of Name (Singapore) (Singapore)." Forms Legal, 2026, https://forms-legal.com/singapore/personal/legal-declarations/deed-poll-name-change-singapore.
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year = {2026},
howpublished = {\url{https://forms-legal.com/singapore/personal/legal-declarations/deed-poll-name-change-singapore}},
note = {Free legal document template. Based on National Registration Act (Cap. 201)}
}Also available for these jurisdictions:
Frequently Asked Questions
The cost of changing a name by deed poll in Singapore has two components: the cost of preparing and executing the deed poll, and the ICA administrative fee for amending the NRIC.
For the deed poll itself, costs vary depending on how the document is prepared. A Singapore law firm typically charges between S$50 and S$200 for drafting and witnessing a deed poll — the fee covers the lawyer's time in preparing the document, verifying the deponent's identity, and attesting the signature. Commissioners for Oaths who are not lawyers (such as those at the Supreme Court of Singapore or at the Subordinate Courts) charge a prescribed fee of S$25 per attestation under the Commissioners for Oaths and Notaries Public Act (Cap. 41).
ICA charges an administrative fee for processing the NRIC name change. The current fee is S$110 for Singapore citizens and varies for permanent residents. A replacement NRIC card is issued with the new name, and the deponent must also apply for a new passport (current fee: S$70 for a 5-year passport, S$115 for a 10-year passport) if they wish the new name reflected on their travel document.
Additional costs may be incurred for updating other records — bank accounts, insurance policies, educational certificates, and professional registrations. Some institutions charge administrative fees for name change processing, while others perform updates free of charge. The total cost of a name change in Singapore, including all ancillary updates, typically ranges from S$250 to S$600.
Yes, a Singapore permanent resident (PR) can change their name by deed poll and apply to ICA for an NRIC amendment, subject to the same requirements that apply to Singapore citizens. The permanent resident must execute a deed poll in the prescribed manner — signed in the presence of a Commissioner for Oaths, advocate and solicitor, or notary public — and submit it to ICA together with the existing NRIC and completed application form.
However, permanent residents should be aware of additional considerations. A PR's name change on the Singapore NRIC does not automatically change the name on their foreign passport — the PR must separately apply to their home country's authorities for a passport name change, if desired. Where a PR's name on the NRIC differs from the name on their foreign passport, potential complications may arise with immigration clearance, banking, and property transactions.
PRs who obtained their permanent residency under a specific name should verify with ICA whether the name change affects their PR status or requires re-issuance of the Entry Permit. In practice, ICA processes PR name changes routinely, but the PR should retain copies of both the old and new NRIC and the deed poll as evidence of the name change for any future immigration or residency-related matters.
Singapore law does not maintain a statutory list of prohibited names, but ICA has discretion to reject name change applications that involve names considered undesirable, offensive, or contrary to the public interest under the National Registration Act (Cap. 201) and the National Registration Regulations.
ICA will reject names that: contain obscene or vulgar words in any language commonly used in Singapore (English, Mandarin, Malay, Tamil); are likely to cause confusion or offence to the public; are excessively long (ICA systems have character limits for name fields on the NRIC); consist solely of initials, numbers, or symbols; impersonate a public figure or government official; or include titles, honorifics, or designations that are not part of a genuine name (e.g., "Dr," "Prof," or "Dato" unless these are conferred titles that ICA recognises).
For names in non-Roman scripts, ICA requires a romanised version that will appear on the NRIC. The romanisation must be consistent and pronounceable, and ICA may reject romanisations that do not correspond to an accepted transliteration system. Chinese names may follow Hanyu Pinyin or dialect-based romanisation (e.g., Hokkien, Teochew, Cantonese), and ICA has published guidelines on acceptable romanisation practices.
ICA's decision on whether to accept a name change application is administrative and subject to judicial review by the Singapore High Court, though challenges to ICA's name change decisions are extremely rare in practice.
The deed poll name change process in Singapore involves two stages: execution of the deed poll and ICA processing of the NRIC amendment.
Execution of the deed poll can be completed in a single appointment with a lawyer or Commissioner for Oaths. If the deponent has already prepared the deed poll document (using a template or with a lawyer's assistance), the attestation appointment typically takes 15 to 30 minutes. Walk-in attestation services are available at the Supreme Court of Singapore (1 Supreme Court Lane) during court hours, and many Singapore law firms offer same-day or next-day deed poll services.
ICA processing of the NRIC name change typically takes two to three weeks from the date of application for routine cases. Applications can be submitted in person at the ICA Building (10 Kallang Road, Singapore 208718) or through ICA's e-Service portal. More complex cases — such as name changes involving minors without both parents' consent, changes involving multiple name components, or applications requiring additional verification — may take longer. ICA will contact the applicant if additional documents are required.
After ICA approves the name change and issues the new NRIC, the applicant should allow additional time for updating other records. Banks typically process name changes within one to two weeks upon presentation of the new NRIC. The CPF Board updates records within one to two weeks upon notification. Passport replacement takes approximately two weeks if applied for at ICA.
A deed poll name change can be reversed in Singapore by executing a second deed poll reverting to the original name (or adopting a different new name). Singapore law does not limit the number of times a person may change their name by deed poll, though ICA may scrutinise frequent name change applications and may request an explanation for multiple changes.
The reversal process is identical to the original name change: the person must execute a new deed poll declaring that they renounce the current name and adopt the former (or another) name, have the deed poll witnessed by a Commissioner for Oaths, advocate and solicitor, or notary public, and submit it to ICA for NRIC amendment. The same ICA administrative fee applies for each name change application.
Practical considerations for name reversal include: all records that were updated to the changed name must be updated again; some institutions may charge additional fees for processing a second name change; and frequent name changes may cause confusion in credit records, property registrations, and other official databases. The Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) business registry, the Land Titles registry at SLA, and CPF Board records all track name changes, and discrepancies between historical and current names may require additional documentation to resolve.
For persons who changed their name upon marriage and wish to revert upon divorce, the Family Justice Courts' divorce decree may include an order for name reversion, eliminating the need for a deed poll.
This template is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change over time. Consult a qualified attorney for advice specific to your situation.Full disclaimer
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