Name Change in Malta

I would be very interested in finding out how you proceed as I am in exactly the same situation.

Hi Were you successful if your investigations in applying for a Maltese passport but having a change name by UK deed poll?  I have a similar situation I'm looking into for a family member.  Please can you share any relevant info?  Thank you.

Claudine126 wrote:

Hi Were you successful if your investigations in applying for a Maltese passport but having a change name by UK deed poll?  I have a similar situation I'm looking into for a family member.  Please can you share any relevant info?  Thank you.

I don't suppose they were able to travel to Malta in the first half of this year, but hopefully they may have more information to help you.

This might be a bit late but my name was changed by deed poll in the UK,I took all relevant documents,birth,marriage,divorce certificates,U.K. passport and the deed poll to Evans house,they photocopied the lot and sent me off to get passport photos (not sure why) I took the oath the same day paid my €80 and that was it,two years later I have Maltese citizenship with no problem,hope this helps!

Hi Tessa

That's interesting thank you.  I'm struggling to understand why the UK deed poll/different name wasn't an issue when applying for citizenship, but only now that a passport application is required.  When we're next able to travel, maybe that's the way forward instead of costly solicitors (quote best part of 850 euros today!).  Thanks for the tip.

Best wishes
Claudine

I am an American living in Washington, DC. My great-grandparents were immigrants from Malta to Detroit back in the early 1900s. My grandmother was the first generation born in the States. A couple years ago I went through the process of acquiring Maltese citizenship, which was granted -- and I am so happy about that! However, back when I was 20 years old, I changed my surname for personal reasons. When I received my citizenship certificate my original surname at birth was printed on it. I did not understand why. However, since becoming a citizen, I have been going through the additional process of getting a Maltese passport. Again, for personal reasons, I don't want my original surname on it, but my new surname instead. The consul at the embassy here in DC informed me that "Maltese law does not allow surname changes to be done through the public registry in the absence of a marriage". When my citizenship and my birth were registered, apparently I was put into the public registry as "Firstname Middlename Newsurname Originalsurname", which is what would appear on my passport. Apparently, according to the consul, you have to go through the Maltese courts (hire a lawyer) to have your name changed if you want only your current name to appear on the passport. So that is what I will have to do.

I'm in exactly the same boat, I have my citizenship certificate which has both my current legal name and my surname at birth. I added my mothers surname to my own in the UK by statutory declaration making a double barrelled name.
I don't mind if my passport has my original surname and I've asked if I can be registered simply under my original surname.
It's not much use having citizenship if I can't get a passport and I've no desire to hand a Maltese lawyer a bunch of money for the sake of one word.

Just a thought (and possibly a stupid one), but could someone renounce their Maltese citizenship and then reapply under their new surname?

NadurYoungster wrote:

Just a thought (and possibly a stupid one), but could someone renounce their Maltese citizenship and then reapply under their new surname?

That's the problem though, I applied for my citizenship under my "new" surname which I've actually held for most of my life and  my citizernsship was granted with no problem but the system won't let you then register your birth in the Public Register under your new name which means you can't apply for a passport.

I've told the embassy to just register me under my birth name and they've said they are looking into it.

What the Public Registry said was they couldn't register my current surname so logic dictates that they shouid be able to register my original name.

The embassy have advised I have no choice other than to go through the process of hiring a lawyer. Has anyone gone through this process and can anyone recommend a lawyer ?

Claudine126 wrote:

Hi Tessa

That's interesting thank you.  I'm struggling to understand why the UK deed poll/different name wasn't an issue when applying for citizenship, but only now that a passport application is required.  When we're next able to travel, maybe that's the way forward instead of costly solicitors (quote best part of 850 euros today!).  Thanks for the tip.

Best wishes
Claudine

I received a quote for half that amount with a guarantee of success. PM me and I'll pass on the name of my lawyer.

So my learnings are this.

If you changed your name before applying for citizenship and like me were granted citizenship in your new name if you want your act of birth registered in Malta in order to obtain your passport you must obtain a decree from the court instructing the public registry to register you under your new name.

There is no way around this, this was clearly pointed out to me by the embassy and by my lawyer when they contacted the Public Registry.

Asking to register under your old name is not a runner, if like me your citizenship has been issued in your new name.

The good news is it's not as expensive as you might think and I'm told its a fairly straightforward procedure.

It just means that you have to add on a couple of months after you get your citizenship before you get the passport.

It's unfortunate that the authorities don't point this out when applying for citizenship and it does seem a bit illogical but it is what it is and there are no shortcuts.

My case has been duly filed and I'll update on here when it's completed so people can have an idea of how long it takes.

If anyone want's to message me I'm happy to give an account of my experience if it will help anyone else in the same boat.

My case was heard in court yesterday and was successful. 

It took just under a month from filing the application, once I receive a legal copy of the decree I can go ahead with the my birth registration and passport application.

Quite a painless process really and not very costly. My lawyers have been great keeping me updated every step of the way.

Congratulations Eddie, good to hear it was a quick process.

I anticipate a similar challenge when helping a relative who changed their name by deed poll, whose application is currently with the citizenship unit. Will be sure to ask your advice then if that's okay.

Good luck with the passport application.

luxmlt wrote:

Congratulations Eddie, good to hear it was a quick process.

I anticipate a similar challenge when helping a relative who changed their name by deed poll, whose application is currently with the citizenship unit. Will be sure to ask your advice then if that's okay.

Good luck with the passport application.

Thank you, by all means contact me if you need advice or a lawyer recommendation.

Hi Eddie B-A,
Could you please tell me the solicitors that you used to obtain the the changes that needed to proceed with your successful application though the courts as i have a similar situation and the solicitor i have do not seem  be getting, lets just say very fast as i have waited over one year and still have got nowhere with this, frustration is at the very least an understatement with something so simple as a surname change, Regards, Don.

Hi Don

I've messaged you with details of my lawyer.

It took me just under a month all told, its very much an everyday process so I can't understand why your lawyer would be so slow !

The embassy in Dublin mailed me this morning to let me know that my passport is ready for collection from them, so my journey has come to its successful conclusion.

This forum has been a great help, just knowing I wasn't the only one caught up in Maltese bureaucracy was a comfort of sorts !

Congratulations! 🇲🇹

Congratulations Eddie, how long did it take you in the end - less than a couple of years I think? You've also been very helpful to me and others on resolving a name change issue.

I'm in Valetta at the moment and it's a warm and sunny afternoon. There are worse places of which to be a citizen, as you now are!

I had my appointment on 29th January 2020 so yes less than 2 years.

I'm looking forward to a cold Cisk and a Pastizzi when I'm in Valletta next May.

Well done Eddie, brilliant news,
Regards,
Don

Just an additional datapoint - I follows Eddie's introduction to a Maltese lawyer who helped deal with a relative's name change. It took about five weeks all told, very simple.

@Eddie B-A

Hello folks, I find myself in a similar position, the surname on my Maltese Birth Certificate doesn't match mine - it includes my father's middle name. 

@Eddie B-A Hi Eddie having read your pearls of wisdom regarding getting your birth name changed in order to obtain a Maltese passport . I would be grateful if you could let me have the details of the lawyer who was able to perform this service at a    reasonable cost.

@Eddie B-A @Eddie B-A

Hi Eddie,  I hope you are well and as  promised, I'd get back to you when my name problem was sorted.

The solicitor that you recommend was as you said very professional and fast and in my opinion good quality for the money (not bad really) although when you want something you need, money, dare I say it needs to be payed for the right out come. And boy did she deliver, as you say she tells it as it is ,no frills, yes or no, how much it would cost , etc  and within six weeks, court judgement issued with the name that I go by now, brilliant. one hundred percent better than that other solicitor who gave me the run around for a whole year and had the cheek to pay them more for......well I don't know as I got nothing apart from stress !

After that had then to wait  three  months  for an interview for the Malta High Commission for a passport,

Passport issued within two weeks. I'm, thanks to you sorted, cannot thank you enough,

Best Regards,

Don.

@donclifton Hi Don,

I'm glad to hear it all worked out for you and that I could be of some help to you.

Hi Eddie. Could you please send the details of the lawyer you used for a name change too? Thanks a lot

@JohannaGalea I have sent you a message with contact details. Good luck !

Hello Eddie B-A,

Feel free to register the lawyer in the Malta business directory as well.

Cheers,

Cheryl

Expat.com team

@Cheryl Thanks I will. I'm conscious that I'm not allowed to post the name of the business in the forums, thanks for the tip.

Hi @Eddie B-A could you please send your lawyer's contact details?

Thank you so much!

Thanks from me also, @Eddie B-A.  I went to the office in Valletta, they sorted out my name problem pretty quickly.   Very recently got my passport.  😊

@AndreaZA I've sent you a DM with the details, good luck.