A. For Married Women who wish to use their Husband's Surname, any of the following additional documents must be presented:
- ▪ Original* and photocopy of Report of Marriage filed at the Philippine Embassy, Helsinki;
- ▪ Copy of the local register of marriages from the local Magistrate with English translation and authenticated by Finland's Ministry of Foreign Affairs; or
- ▪ Copy of marriage contract/Report of Marriage issued by the Philippines National Statistics Office (NSO) authenticated by the Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and;
- ▪ Original* and photocopy of any valid identification card of husband (i.e. data page of passport, driver's license, Finnish identity card, etc.).
*The original document will be returned to the applicant.
Please note that the Embassy will not process applications for amendment of name in a machine readable passport. Applicants are required to renew the passport instead.
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On the Use of Husband's Surname
A married woman has an option, but not a duty, to use the surname of the husband in any of the ways provided by Article 370 of the Civil Code.
Under Article 370 of the Civil Code of the Philippines, a married woman may use:
- (1) Her maiden first name and surname and add her husband's surname, or
- (2) Her maiden first name and her husband's surname or
- (3) Her husband's full name, but prefixing a word indicating that she is his wife, such as "Mrs."
She is also allowed to use not only any of the three names provided in Article 370, but also her maiden name upon marriage. She is not prohibited from continuously using her maiden name once she is married because when a woman marries, she does not change her name but only her civil status. Further, this interpretation is in consonance with the principle that surnames indicate descent.
- Tolentino, Commentaries and Jurisprudence on the Civil Code of the Philippines, Vol. 1 (1990 edition), p. 675.
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B. For Change in Surname by Reason of Death of Husband, any of the following additional documents must be presented:
- ▪ Original* and photocopy of Report of Death filed at the Philippine Embassy, Helsinki;
- ▪ Original* and photocopy of Death Certificate/Report of Death in security paper issued by the Philippines National Statistics Office (NSO) and authenticated by the Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA); or
- ▪ Original* and photocopy Copy of the local Death Certificate of the deceased spouse, with English translation, and authenticated by Finland's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
*The original document will be returned to the applicant.For Change in Surname by reason of divorce or annulment, any of the following additional documents must be presented:
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C. For Change in Surname of a Filipino Divorced By a Foreigner
- ▪ Original* and photocopy of the petition for divorce and divorce decree, with English translation authenticated, by Finland's Ministry of Foreign Affairs;
- ▪ If divorce decree is obtained in another country, other than Finland, original* and photocopy of the petition for divorce and divorce decree, with English translation, authenticated by the Philippine Embassy/Consulate with jurisdiction over the country/place where divorce decree was issued;
- ▪ If marriage is registered in the Philippines, original* and photocopy of the marriage certificate issued in security paper by the Philippines National Statistics Office (NSO) and authenticated by the Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), with annotation that the marriage has been declared null and void.
*The original document will be returned to the applicant.
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D. For Change in Surname of a Filipino whose Marriage to another Filipino was Annulled
▪ Original* and photocopy of the annotated Marriage Contract issued in security paper by the Philippines National Statistics Office (NSO) and authenticated by the Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
*The original document will be returned to the applicant.