How your name and surnames appear once you are Spanish

Key rules

• Surname order: As an adult you can change the order of your surnames once, by simple declaration at the Registro Civil.
• Other name changes: Any other change to your name or surnames needs a separate procedure.
• Foreign passport: Your foreign passport stays valid, but a mismatch can cause problems with banks, property and travel.
• Errors: Check your inscription when it is issued and ask for a rectification if anything is wrong.

How your name is recorded

Your name and surnames are entered in the Registro Civil as they appear in your official foreign documents, usually your birth certificate or passport. The inscription follows your legal identity at the time you become Spanish. It also records your birth place, parents and date of birth.

• If your name uses the Latin alphabet, the spelling is kept as it is.
• If your name uses another alphabet, it is transliterated. Ask the Registro Civil how yours will be written before the inscription is issued.
• If you have only one surname, you are registered with that one.

The registry officer applies the rules, so the exact outcome can vary. If you want an adaptation of your name, ask for it when you apply, not afterwards.

Can you choose the order of surnames?

The order follows the order of your original surnames. Once you are an adult, you can ask to change that order with a simple declaration at the Registro Civil. You can do this once.

Changing your name itself, or changing surnames in any other way, is a separate procedure with the Ministry of Justice or the Registro Civil. A simple declaration is not enough.

What if your Spanish name differs from your foreign documents?

Your foreign passport stays valid. But a different spelling or surname order can cause trouble with banks, property purchases and travel. You have these options:

1. Correct an error. If the inscription is wrong, ask the Registro Civil for a rectification. Errors can also go to the Dirección General de Seguridad Jurídica y Fe Pública.
2. Update your foreign documents. Ask your home country to change your passport or certificates to match.
3. Keep both and carry proof. Show your certificate of nationality together with your certificate of the oath.

Read your inscription as soon as it is issued. Check the spelling, the order of surnames and your birth place. Errors are easier to fix early.

The decision, documents, checklist and FAQ below go through these choices step by step.

Choosing between options

How do you fix a difference between your Spanish name and your foreign documents?

• Change the order of surnames: Your surnames are right but in the wrong order.

• Ask for a rectification of the inscription: The Spanish inscription has an error or different spelling. Ask the Registro Civil to correct it.

• Update your foreign documents: The Spanish inscription is correct and you want your home-country passport to match it. Ask your home country to update it.

• Keep both and carry proof: You accept the difference. Use your certificate of nationality and certificate of the oath with your foreign passport.

If the Spanish inscription is wrong, rectify it. If it is right but the order is not what you want, use your one-time change of order. Otherwise update your foreign documents or carry proof.

Check with the Registro Civil which route applies to your case.

Documents you need

• Your foreign birth certificate or passport, showing your name and surnames as they appear in your official documents. The inscription follows these.

• Your certificate of nationality, used to prove your Spanish name when it differs from your foreign passport.

• Your certificate of the oath, used together with the certificate of nationality when a bank, property office or border check questions a mismatch.

Checklist

• Compare the name and surnames on your foreign birth certificate and passport with the spelling you want inscribed.

• Ask the Registro Civil how a non-Latin name will be transliterated.

• Read your inscription once it is issued and check the spelling, the order of surnames, and your birth place, parents and date.

• Keep your certificate of nationality and certificate of the oath with your foreign passport to show a bank or property office if the names differ.

Frequently asked questions

Can I change the order of my surnames after I become Spanish?

Yes, as an adult you can ask to change the order of your surnames once, by a simple declaration at the Registro Civil. It is allowed only one time. Do it before you apply for your DNI and passport so every document matches.

Can I change my name itself, not just the order of surnames?

Yes, but only through a separate procedure with the Ministry of Justice or the Registro Civil, because the one-time declaration covers only the order of surnames. Ask the Registro Civil which procedure fits your case.

What happens if I have only one surname?

If you have a single surname, it is registered as it is. You are not required to invent a second one. You can ask at the time of nationality to adapt it.

Is my foreign passport still valid if my Spanish name differs?

Yes, your foreign passport remains valid, but a different spelling or surname order can cause problems with banks, property and travel. Carry your certificate of nationality and certificate of the oath as supporting proof.