️ Changing First Name or Surname in the Iranian Birth Certificate for Iranians Living Abroad

How Can Iranians Abroad Legally Change Their Name in Iranian Civil Records?

Many Iranians living abroad wish to change their first name or surname for cultural, social, or professional reasons. While this change may be made in the country of residence, it does not automatically update the Iranian birth certificate (Shenasnameh). To align official records, a legal name change must be processed through Iran’s Civil Registration Organization.

Legal Basis for Name Changes in Iran

Under the Law on Civil Registration of Iran and its related administrative regulations, name changes are only allowed in specific and justified cases.

Responsible authorities include:

The Civil Registration Office of the province where the birth certificate was issued

The Supreme Council of Civil Registration, for appeals and complex cases

The Family or General Court in Iran, if the request is denied by the registry

Acceptable Reasons for Changing First Name

The following reasons are generally accepted by Iranian authorities:

The current name has an offensive or inappropriate meaning

The name is inconsistent with the person’s gender identity

The name creates cultural or social problems abroad

The person has been using a different name for years on foreign documents

The person wants to match the name with that used in their foreign passport or ID

Changing the Surname (Last Name)

Changing the family name is more restricted but may be allowed in these situations:

Aligning or shortening the surname for consistency with foreign documents

Reverting to the father’s or grandfather’s original family name

The surname is socially undesirable or problematic

️ Steps to Change Name or Surname from Abroad

Prepare a formal written request in Persian for name/surname change

Submit official translations of foreign passports or documents showing the new name