Obtaining a new passport can be a tricky task, but don’t worry–we are here to help you through it. Although it can require time, focus, and special documentation, the process is not as difficult as it sounds! Read on to find out whether or not signing your middle name on a passport is necessary–and a few other regulations when it comes to applying for your new passport.
Signing a passport – rules and requirements
There is one basic rule when signing your passport: your signature must be the one you use every day, the most typical for you. It should contain your first and last name, so your middle name is not essential. Your signature should also be clear and readable, resembling your signature on your other important legal documents.
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Deciding on a signature
Technically speaking, your legal signature should look the same everywhere ( in all your legal documents), but obviously, our signatures do change over time. So what should be your new signature in a passport? Here’s a list of some of the rules that your signature has to follow. It should:
- be readable and clear
- contain at least your first and last name
- look similar to your previous signature
- be easy and as short as possible
Signing your passport with a middle name summed up
There you have it – your passport always needs to be signed with your normal signature. Even though the booklet you got in the mail with your passport says ‘sign with a full name’, it only means that your signature should contain your first name and your surname (last name). Should you wish to add your middle name, you need to make it so that this new signature resembles your previous one.
FAQs
Can I sign my passport with my middle name?
Your passport should be signed in the most natural way, so you need to use your typical, day-to-day signature. If your normal signature doesn’t involve a middle name and you still want to add it, you need to make both signatures similar.
I don’t have my middle name signed on my old passport – is that a problem?
Even though the instructions to sign a passport say that it should be signed with a full name, the message behind this is that your signature should look like your typical, day-to-day one, only containing first and last name. So if your passport has that, you should be fine and you won’t have to change it.
What if my signature no longer looks like the one in my passport?
If your signature no longer looks like the one on your passport, you don’t necessarily need to change your whole document. It is important, though, that you use your passport signature while signing important legal documents until the moment you can change it.