Denmark

If you’re a Danish national

How to change your name

If you’re Danish and you’re resident in the U.K., you can change your U.K. documents and records (e.g. driving licence, NHS records, etc.) to be in your new name, using a deed poll (or marriage certificate, divorce documents, etc.) as proof of your change of name.

If you’ve changed your name by marriage

If you’ve recently got married and taken your partner’s surname, you’ll need to follow these steps:

  1. have your marriage certificate legalised by the Legalisation Office in the U.K.
  2. tell the Danish Civil Register (“Folkeregisteret”) in the area where you used to live (“sidste bop’lskommune”)
  3. apply for a new (Danish) passport ↗ in your new name

(You do not normally need a deed poll.)

Changing your name by deed poll

If you want to change your name otherwise than by marriage, you’ll need a deed poll as proof of your change of name.  You’ll need to follow these steps:

  1. use a (U.K.) deed poll to prove your change of name and update your U.K. documents and records into your new name
  2. sign your deed poll in front of any U.K. solicitor or notary (who will act as your witness)
  3. have your deed poll legalised by the Legalisation Office in the U.K.
  4. tell the Danish Civil Register (“Folkeregisteret”) in the area where you used to live (“sidste bop’lskommune”)
  5. apply for a new (Danish) passport ↗ in your new name

Enrolling your deed poll

Denmark is not a Commonwealth country, so it is not possible to enrol a deed poll at the Royal Courts of Justice (unless you’re also a British national or a national of another Commonwealth country).  We always recommend against enrolling your deed poll, whether you are British or otherwise.  Enrolling is not required by any body or organisation in the U.K.

British nationals living in Denmark

If you’re British and you live in Denmark, you’ll need to have a U.K. deed poll to change your name and update your documents and records in the U.K.

If you’re a dual British / Danish national, and you live in Denmark, you may need to follow the Danish process for changing your name, at the same time as you change your name in the U.K.

Legalisation

You do need to legalise your deed poll (attach an apostille) for use in Denmark.