What is the order of operations for a name change in Ontario?

Order your marriage certificate, then update your SIN (Service Canada, free), then update your ServiceOntario driver's licence and ServiceOntario (OHIP) health card, then apply for a new passport (IRCC -- only after provincial ID shows the new name), then update CRA and your bank.

Do I need to update my passport when I change my name?

Yes. IRCC requires a new passport application at the full fee -- there is no amendment or name-change endorsement option. You must update your provincial driver's licence and health card first, because IRCC requires the submitted provincial ID to already show the new name.

Free guide — ON

How to Change Your Name After Marriage or Divorce in Ontario (2026)

Q: Do I need a legal name change after marriage in Ontario?

No. In Ontario, after marriage you may assume your spouse's surname without a formal legal name change -- simply update your ID with your marriage certificate. A legal name change (through ServiceOntario (Registrar General)) is only needed if you want to change the name on your birth certificate itself.

In Ontario, most people do not need a formal legal name change after marriage. You can assume your spouse's surname simply by updating your ID with your marriage certificate. This guide covers the order of operations, the rules specific to Ontario, and a free downloadable checklist.

Assumed surname vs. legal name change

Assumed surname (what most people do): You may assume your spouse's last name (or their single name) at no cost. This does NOT change your birth registration. You must assume the FULL surname as it appears on the marriage certificate -- a partial hyphenation requires a legal name change.

Legal name change (a separate, formal process): A legal name change through ServiceOntario (Registrar General) is required only if you want to change the name on your birth certificate itself, or to adopt a name not covered by the assumed-surname rule.

Source: www.ontario.ca/page/change-your-last-name

Order of operations

Marry

Officiant registers the marriage with provincial Vital Statistics. This takes a few weeks.

Order your marriage certificate

From the province or territory WHERE you married (not the licence -- the registered certificate issued by Vital Statistics).

Update your SIN (Service Canada)

Free. Can run at the same time as step 4. Your SIN number does not change.

Update provincial driver's licence + health card

Critical: do this BEFORE the passport application. Use your marriage certificate.

Apply for a new passport (IRCC)

Only after provincial ID already shows the new name. Full fee -- no amendment option. Fee as of 2026-03-31: $163.50 (10-yr) / $122.50 (5-yr); indexes annually.

Update CRA, banks, employer

None of these update automatically. CRA: phone (single name) or mail/fax (both names). Banks: online or branch.

Critical: Step 4 (provincial ID) MUST come before step 5 (passport). IRCC requires the submitted provincial ID to already show your new name.

Ontario specifics

Marriage certificate

Step 2

Where to order: ServiceOntario online portal

Cost: $15-$75 range depending on type and delivery -- check the ServiceOntario portal for current fees

Regular delivery: 15 business days. Premium/rush: 5 business days by courier.

Order online →

Legal name change (if you need one)

Agency

ServiceOntario (Registrar General)

Form

Change of Name application (Change of Name Act)

Fee

Processing time

6-8 weeks

Residency

Ontario resident

Min. age

16+

Criminal record check: Required

Gazette publication: Required

Official page →

Driver's licence — ServiceOntario

Step 4 (before passport)

In person at ServiceOntario. Bring your birth/citizenship certificate or marriage certificate (for assumed name). No charge for a name-change licence.

Fee: $0

ServiceOntario →

Health card — ServiceOntario (OHIP)

Step 4 (before passport)

In person at ServiceOntario. Bring a Change of Information form and your marriage certificate. Updated card takes several weeks -- update provincial ID before applying for a new passport.

ServiceOntario (OHIP) →

Reverting to a prior name after divorce

If you assumed a name (no legal change): revert anytime using your birth certificate. If you legally changed your name on marriage: file "Election to Resume Former Surname -- Form 2" at ServiceOntario.

Federal steps (same everywhere)

SIN — Service Canada

Free

Updating your legal name on your SIN record is required by law. Your SIN number does not change. Bring your marriage certificate (or legal change-of-name certificate/court order) showing both old and new name, plus primary and secondary ID.

Online (~5 business days), by mail (~20 business days), or in person at a Service Canada centre.

A name change with Service Canada is NOT automatically shared with CRA or your bank -- update each separately.

canada.ca — SIN update

Passport — IRCC

After provincial ID

A name change requires a NEW passport at the full fee -- there is no amendment or reduced rate. Submit your marriage certificate or divorce order / resumption-of-surname certificate / court order.

Your submitted provincial ID must already show the new last name before IRCC will accept the application. Update your driver's licence and health card FIRST.

Fee as of 2026-03-31: $163.50 (10-yr adult) / $122.50 (5-yr adult). Passport fees index annually under the Service Fees Act. Verify the current fee on the IRCC website before applying.

IRCC live fee page

CRA (Canada Revenue Agency)

CRA cannot update a name fully online. Changing a single name (first OR last) can be done by phone. Changing both names requires mail or fax with a vital-statistics name-change certificate or court order.

Recommended: update your SIN first, then call CRA to confirm (SIN may auto-notify CRA). Takes 4-6 weeks.

CRA does not share your name change with other departments. Update banks, employer, and other accounts separately.

CRA — update personal information

Free download

Ontario name-change checklist

Who to notify in order -- with Ontario agency names, what to bring, and the passport dependency.

Free. General information only -- not legal or regulatory advice.

Free. General information only — not legal advice. No account needed.

Common questions

Do I need a legal name change after marriage in Ontario?▼

No — for most situations. In Ontario, you can assume your spouse's surname by simply updating your ID with your marriage certificate. A legal name change through ServiceOntario (Registrar General) is only needed if you want to change the name on your birth certificate itself.

Why do I have to update my licence before my passport?▼

IRCC (the passport authority) requires the provincial ID you submit with the passport application to already show your new name. If your driver's licence still shows your old name, the application will be rejected. Update your ServiceOntario licence first, then apply for the passport.

How do I revert to my maiden name after divorce in Ontario?▼

Does my SIN number change when I change my name?▼

No. Your SIN number stays the same. You update the name on the SIN record (with Service Canada, free), but the 9-digit number does not change.

Official sources

Data verified 2026-07. Fees and processing times may change — verify with official sources before acting.

Last updated: July 2026

Related guides

Change of Address

Who to notify when you move — free per-province checklist.

Replace Lost Documents

Lost birth certificate, SIN, licence, health card, or passport.

Separation Agreement

Property, support, and parenting when a relationship ends.

Moving to a New Province

Driver's licence exchange, health card enrollment, re-registration.

Name-change guides for other provinces

BC — British Columbia AB — Alberta SK — Saskatchewan MB — Manitoba QC — Quebec NS — Nova Scotia NB — New Brunswick PE — Prince Edward Island NL — Newfoundland and Labrador YT — Yukon NT — Northwest Territories NU — Nunavut

Guidepost is not a law firm. This guide is for general information only. Full disclaimer