How to sign a deed poll, enrol it in the High Court for €60, and then update your Public Services Card, driving licence and passport. Enrolment takes 8 to 10 weeks.
The numbers
€60stamp duty on an adult deed poll (€80 for a child)
8-10 wksto enrol your deed poll after you lodge it
By postor by appointment at the Four Courts, Dublin 7
18+age to sign your own adult deed poll
A deed poll is a signed legal document that says you have dropped your old name and use a new one. You sign it before a witness, pay €60 stamp duty and enrol it with the Central Office of the High Court at the Four Courts in Dublin.
Do you need a deed poll?
Irish law does not set out one way to change your name. You can start using a new name, but organisations may ask for proof. A deed poll gives you that proof.
- After marriage or civil partnership: you do not need a deed poll. Your marriage certificate is usually enough.
- Adults: you must be 18 or over and live permanently in the Republic of Ireland.
- Non-EEA nationals: you need a Change of Name Licence from Immigration Service Delivery first. It costs €13 if granted. Irish, British and EU citizens do not need one.
- Children: a child aged 14 to 17 signs with both parents' consent. For a child under 14, a parent signs with the other parent's consent.
What you need
- The Adult Deed Poll form from courts.ie
- A witness aged 18 or over
- An Affidavit of Attesting Witness, sworn by your witness
- Certified photocopies of your birth certificate and photo ID
- Proof of any earlier name change, such as a marriage certificate or old deed poll
- A Request to Enrol Deed Poll form
- A stamped, self-addressed envelope
- Your Change of Name Licence, if you need one
Step by step
- Download the Adult Deed Poll form from the Courts Service.
- Write your old name exactly as it is on your birth certificate, including all middle names.
- Sign the deed in your old and new names in front of your witness.
- Ask your witness to swear the Affidavit of Attesting Witness before a practising solicitor or a Commissioner for Oaths.
- Get your photocopies certified by a Garda, a practising solicitor or a Commissioner for Oaths.
- Pay €60 stamp duty on the deed at a Courts Service office.
- Book an appointment at the Central Office of the High Court, or post everything to the Central Office, Four Courts, Inns Quay, Dublin 7.
- Wait 8 to 10 weeks for your enrolled deed poll to come back.
After enrolment: update your records
- Visit a PSC (Public Services Card) centre in person. Bring your deed poll registered with the High Court. You will give a new signature.
- Update your driving licence with the NDLS (National Driver Licence Service), online or in person. It is free unless your licence is also due for renewal.
- Tell your bank, employer and other bodies. Each sets its own rules.
It’s often said
A deed poll will change the name on my Irish passport.
The figures show
The Passport Service does not accept deed polls. You need 2 original documents from 2 different sources showing at least 2 years' use of the new name, plus photo ID in that name.
How much it costs and how long it takes
€60
stamp duty on an adult deed poll. Pay it at a Courts Service office or the Dublin Courts stamping office.Source: citizensinformation.ie
Deed poll costs
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Stamp duty, adult deed poll | €60 |
| Stamp duty, child deed poll and supplemental affidavit | €60 + €20 = €80 |
| Change of Name Licence (non-EEA adults only) | €13 |
| Solicitor or Commissioner for Oaths | Varies, no fixed rate |
| Changing name on a driving licence | Free |
Source: Courts Service, Citizens Information, Immigration Service Delivery
10 weeks
Wait the full 10 weeks before you contact the Deed Poll Office about your application.Source: courts.ie
Common mistakes
- Leaving out a middle name. Your old name must match your birth certificate.
- Sending originals or uncertified copies. The office will not accept them.
- Posting a child's deed poll without a solicitor's cover letter. It will be returned.
- Forgetting the Change of Name Licence if you are a non-EEA national.
- Getting a deed poll only to update your passport.
If something goes wrong
- Deed Poll Section: (01) 888 6000 or DeedPollQuery@courts.ie. Open Tuesday and Thursday, 10am to 12.30pm, by appointment only.
- If a parent will not consent for a child under 14, the other parent can apply to the District Court.
- Change of Name Licence Section: contact Immigration Service Delivery through its Customer Service portal.
- Citizens Information Phone Service: 0818 07 4000, Monday to Friday, 9am to 8pm.
Related guides
- How to apply for an Irish passport
- How to get a Public Services Card
- How to renew your driving licence
- How to give notice of marriage or civil partnership
- How to get a copy of a birth, marriage or death certificate
Recent changes and what to check
1 January 2027
The Courts Service is due to review its deed poll guides. Check fees and forms again.
Sources
- Courts Service: Deed Poll for adults
- Courts Service: Deed Poll for minors aged 14-17
- Citizens Information: Changing your name
- Immigration Service Delivery: Change of name licence
- Passport Service: Documents for adult passport applications
- Citizens Information: Public Services Card
- Citizens Information: Updating your driving licence or learner permit
