How to change your name in MyKad
Posted on December 5, 2007
Filed Under MyKad | 66 Comments
People change their names for various reasons. Some have awful names like Lim Ah Kau (Mr dog) or Tan Ah Gu (Mr Cow) or plain silly names like Lim Ko Pee (translated as drink coffee in Hokkien). I am not joking, there is a person with that name.
Often, the approach has been to add an extra name with an alias (@) so that Lim Ko Pee @ Lim Teh Boh or Mr Tan Ah Gu @ Tan Han Sum. Of course there is another way – that is, to replace the original name rather than to add to it.
If you are a Christian, it would be good to read my earlier posting on how to change your religion in MyKad first. If you are not a Christian, you would need to have a very good reason why you want to change your name. Perhaps, you are named after an animal like a pig or a cow and you think it is not a good idea anymore. Or if it sounds like a woman’s name when you are actually a man.
Whatever it is you need to offer a very good reason for the replacement of the old name.
Section 12 of National Registration (Amendment) Regulations 2001 (P.U. (A) 232), amended regulation 14(2) of the principal Regulations with the following:
“(2) Any person registered under these Regulations who applies to change his name under subregulation (1) shall submit to the registration officer a statutory declaration which-
(a) certifies the fact that he has absolutely renounced and abandoned the use of his former name and in lieu thereof has assumed a new name; and
(b) contains the reasons of such change of name, other than a conversion of religion. “;
Although the only requirement stated is a statutory declaration, in practice more documents are required to be furnished as providing support for the reasons in subsection (b). Unfortunately, what is not stated can be determined by policy and standard practice in the department.
Here is the procedure for those going to Putrajaya:
1. Go to the NRD office in Putrajaya and get the Form JPN.KP16 and the template for the Statutory Declaration
2. Complete the forms and Statutory Declaration. I don’t think there is a Commissioner for Oath in the NRD office, so you have to return again to Putrajaya. State the reasons for your change of name.
3. Prepare the following
- the original and copy of your Statutory Declaration for the change of name
- the original and certified copy of your birth certificate
- the original and certified copy of MyKad or NRIC
- the Baptism certificate (if Christian), Conversion to Islam card, Letter from Temple, or Marriage Certificate (original and copy)
- A letter from your church pastor, or temple priest or some one that can support your claim for the change of name. This letter should be in the official letter head.
4. Go to NRD in Putrajaya again, and ask the information counter which counter to go. Don’t take the usual queue number at Level 2, go to Counter 17 at Level 2 and take a number there. It is a different set of numbers and wait outside the door even though there is no sign that say that it is the place to amend your name. There is only a small note at the place where you collect the number that it says so. For other states – please call the offices of the state to confirm if the application be made in those offices.
5. Meet the officer in charge for an interview
6. Pay a RM10.00 fee and wait for 3 month
Please note that the the officer under section 14(6) of the principal Regulation has the discretion to reject your application “after some enquiry, he deems necessary and expedient, he is satisfied or has reason to believe that the purposes for such application is to avoid detection of the applicant’s true identity by the authority.” Perhaps a police record or unpaid summons are some possible reasons for rejection – there may be others I am not certain of.
As a side note, there is now an online system to check the status of your MyKad application, apply for certificates for birth and marriage etc. Link here.
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66 Responses to “How to change your name in MyKad”
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Wow, the information you give here is quite detailed and very helpful! Btw are you serious about the Lim Ko Pee guy? His parents got some sense of humour huh?
Thanks for the compliment. Yes, I went through those procedures myself – it’s first hand information! As for the unfortunate name, the parents must be crazy actually!
Thanks! I know someone I need to pass this info to..
Hi, I’m currently living in Germany and is preparing for my marriage to a German guy. I would like to change my name from Lee Y. K. (Given by parents – fortunately not sounding like an animal) to Alison Y. K. Ney Lee. Ney is my future husband’s surname and we are getting married in Germany. In Germany, when you get married you have 3 choices – 1. change to spouse’s surname, 2. combine both your surnames, 3. don’t change anything.
We have both decided to take choice 2. and have my surname as the last. So, my problem:
a. I am not a Christian and my name don’t sound funny. How can I change my name to Alison (wasn’t there before) Y. K. Ney Lee? (especially for my surname at the back as I encounter much much problems with my surname in the front)
b. I am pursuing my PR in Germany thus it’s not possible to go back and stay in M’sia for 3 months. How?
JC: Lets correspond via e-mail on this.
That was just what I was looking for. I hope you dont mind answering this… But I am planning to apply for university and AUstralia, and also getting a marriage visa to Australia.. Would changing my name ( from a hindu name to a christian) make things difficult.. I hope you get back to me as sson as possible. Thanks
Joanna’s last blog post..Dear Diary
You mentioned alias, is it possible to include aliases on ID card and passport?
I want to add an english name and not wanting to change my name entirely although I do want them to be on my ID and passport. Is that a name change or just an addition. I am unfamiliar with the process. Can we correspond over e-mail?
If i wish to add an alias, do i go through the same process/NRD office mentioned above? Normally, how long would this take, if i just want to add an alias to my present name?
Yes, for those who wish to add alias it is quite straight forward. I believe there isn’t a need to justify using an alias.. do call NRD to find out if there is an easier way.
News Article from the Star -
http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/8/14/nation/18584480&sec=nation
MOST Chinese in Malaysia apply to change their names because of superstitious reasons while the Malays usually do so to add a touch of royalty to their names, Sin Chew Daily reported.
National Registration Department director-general Datuk Abdul Halim Mohamad was quoted as saying that the Chinese hoped that by changing their names via the department, they could alter their destiny and thereby have a better future.
“For the Malays, they apply to add royal titles like Tengku, Raja and Tunku to their names,” he told the daily in an interview.
Abdul Halim stressed that the department would not approve any change in names unless it was under “special circumstances.”
“For example, if an applicant wants to change his name because it sounds like a derogatory word, we will allow him to do it,” he said.
He said the department would check with the relevant authorities such as the Immigration Department on those who wanted to change their names before approving the application.
“We want to make sure they are not blacklisted before we even consider allowing them to change their names,” he said.
Non-Muslims who wanted to amend the religion stated in their MyKad could do so by filling a form and taking an oath, he added.
Josh’s last blog post..Seditious Statements
Anyone has a time duration answer? I am interested in finding out how long it takes. I hear the putrajaya branch is a lot faster. I am abroad and I have called a local embassy. The lady seems to think that the process is all the same. The only difference it seems is less documentation as compared to a religion+name change. She also mentioned all the documents will need to be changed and I can only think of passport and IC. Anyone has more insight?
If there is no reason that prompted a name change aka religion and such, will it most likely be rejected?
is there a way to do it in the local embassy overseas or must i go back to malaysia to do it? while the application is being processed, can i go overseas or will it affect? (do i need to do a new passport?)
Hi Vince & Cer,
I am not sure of the time duration for changes in embassy. Putrajaya is HQ so it is faster. For changes not involving name and religion should be fast. If you change your name, your bank accounts and education certificates is affected. YOu need to keep a letter from JPN as proof of your name change to match your certs.
Any application for religion change will be rejected if made without reasons.
If you change ur name at the embassy, your passport will have to be amended and usually it is via a new application.
I want to add an english name on myKAD.. Do i need a good reason to add alias ?
Hi Hannah Lurve
You dont have to give a reason To add an alias.
Josh’s last blog post..Seditious Statements
Hi Josh,
I’m glad I found your blog. I am soon to marry an Aussie guy and as the custom here the wife will take the husband’s surname but with my custom as a Malaysian Chinese, the wife keeps her maiden name.
So I am wondering, if I am to change my name from Sim S. W. to Vivian(What I’m known here in Aus by everyone) S. W. Carius(Husband’s surname) what will I need to do in Msia? I was told that you would go for court hearing to get your name change entirely on your passport and MyCard? Is that true? It would be greatly appreciated if you can reply to my questions because I can’t make up my mind to whether just keep my maiden name entirely or take over my partner’s surname depending on how complicated things will get.
Thank you very much.
Vivian
Hi Josh,
I’m a christian and would like to add a christian name to my present name. Is it possible to have Hazel O.Y.L on my IC instead of O.Y.L@Hazel??
Can I also have Hazel O.Y.L on all the documents (birth cert, passport and etc.)??
Pls reply via email, Thx!!
Hi Josh,
I’m really glad to have found your post. Having the exact same question as Hazel, I would like to add my christian name Abigail Elizabeth on my IC without the “@”.
for your info, I’ve asked at the NRD office counter about 12 years back, they claimed putting “@” is the only way to add christian name, and there’s no way to change the whole name.
your help is greatly appreciated.
please reply to my mailbox. thank you.
Thanks.. Interesting – and always important to be aware!
Hi Josh,
If my baptism cert doesn’t have a Christian name, could I use the conversion steps to add a name to my present name? Or is it better to just use the alias steps? I’ve lived with the given name which I can’t identify with & have been teased quite frequently.
I’d be grateful if you could reply to my email. I’m glad I found u
.
Regards.
Hi Josh,
Im in the same situation as Allison Lee. Im living in Germany but married to an American and we just had a baby together and I would like to take his name. Im about to renew my passport and would like to do it now at the same time if its possible. Thanks for your help.
Wow! what an idea ! What a concept ! Beautiful .. Amazing ?
hey id like to talk with you about your blog. please email me – thanks.
It seems pretty straightforward adding an alias, but what about removing it? Is it also actually straightforward? I just want to have my chinese name there – nothing more.
do you know anything about if it is possible to change name’s during the process of renewing a passport book?
if it is ok, please explain the process of legally changing one’s name in the usa.
hmmm..i just wanted to add my english name in my IC n my pasport…
how long will it b??
izzit will be complicated?
Do i need a good reason to add my english name??
hope u answer or maybe add me in MSN
babykc_94@hotmail.com
Hello Guru, what entice you to post an article. This article was extremely interesting, especially since I was searching for thoughts on this subject last Thursday.
Hello, just wanted to ask that is the amendment of name on MyKad still applicable? If I’m not Christian, and wanted to add English name on MyKad, what is the way to get the approval on such amendment? Can you reply through email? Thanks.
Answer To Ellycia,
(in the post) “If you are not a Christian, you would need to have a very good reason why you want to change your name. Perhaps, you are named after an animal like a pig or a cow and you think it is not a good idea anymore. Or if it sounds like a woman’s name when you are actually a man.”
Addition of an English name is possible if you can show that you have been using this name in your business or professional dealings.
To KHO,
1. Go to your church and ask them to re-issue another Baptism certificate with “Karen” (it should be back dated to the day of your baptism)
(if this is possible)
2. If not possible, as the pastor of your current church to issue a letter confirming your name as Karen etc..
Take 1/2 together with the steps employed in my blog post to the NRD and speak to the officer.
Dont agree to add @ *alias* as it just makes your name too long.
Hey Josh,i just wanted to know, if i could change my name to an english name(im not christian) for various reasons. isit possible?would they approve it?
Hi,
I a chinese.I am not familiar with the procedure or rule of changing name.Pls advice.
I wish to change my child surname to nature mother or step father surname.Is it possible in malaysia?
Muizz, it is possible to change (add) an English name even if you are not a Christian, but it may be difficult to get an approval unless you have good grounds for the change. You may have to proof that the English name is what your business associates know you as or it is in some legal documents.
Ken, I personally have not seen anyone change their surnames. But you can try it. The important thing is you need to give good reasons for the change.
hey there,
i want to change my name to a christian name in mykad and pasport. my baptism cert have and indian name my father name spell like a womens name. so i went to JPN to change my name to an christian name and change my father name too. there said i only can add infront of my old name in mykad, i cannot amend or change my indian name and my father name or remove them. anyway there said you can try to submit but it would be rejucted what can i do?
need advice?.
I’d be grateful if you could reply to my email.
james_frances18@yahoo.com
I’m glad I found you u finely.
Regards.
james
I wish to change my child surname to nature mother or step father surname.Is it possible in malaysia?If yes,how it prosedure?
very interesting and insightful blog post,
thanks
I like your blog aswell, I might have to bookmark it
I’m a christian and just like KHO i don’t have an english name on my baptism cert.m y problem is that i was baptized at the church in my hometown which i dont go back anymore(since the whole family came to a new place decade ago and its rather far). and i don’t really go to any church here. so is it possible for me to find a pastor to ask for an issue of confirmation letter even if i don’t go to any church?
I’d be grateful if you could reply to my email. moezkay@yahoo.de
thanks for your previous reply. I was wondering if it’s possible to change my name in the msian passport without changing my name in MyKad first? because i won’t have time to wait for 3 months. while the change of name in passport will only take 2-4 weeks. would to hear your response!
Hi Cer,
No you can’t change your name in the passport without the MyKad changed.
Hi Moez,
Yes you can ask your pastor in the current church to support your application by referring to the baptism cert of the initial church.
Josh’s last blog post..Seditious Statements
I would like to add an alias in front my name.
Well my name is C K Yong, and the ‘yong’ this word sounds girl to me and my ‘Christian’ name used it when i was small and people all calling my Christian name now days.
Isn’t that a good reason to add an alias. I would like to hear it from you soon.
Regards
Are there any other methods.
Hi Josh,
Recently i have ADD my name example “alias” to my Singapore NRIC as well as entry permit in ICA. But i not sure if i have to report the matter to Malaysia High Comm for the additional of name.
What i have to, what are the procedures and i have read the rest of the enquiry and states that ave to stay in Malaysia for few mths.If there any ways that i can get it change in Singapore instead of going back to Malaysia to get it done?
Thank you.
Hi Josh,
I have the same questions as Lyn. I am going to Malaysia to request for my English name to be added to my Chinese name as well as adding an alias with my married name, exactly as my name in Singapore IC.. i.e. Mary Tan Bee Bee @ Mrs Mary Albert.
My additional question is, can I use the Singapore NRIC as part of the supporting documents?
Thank you.
hello maybe this may help to you all of you guys,
there’s an easy and legal way to change your name.. more info: Married Name Change
If I just want to add an english name and not wanting to change my name entirely although I do want them to be on my ID and passport. Is that a name change or just an addition? I am unfamiliar with the process. Can we correspond over e-mail?
Hi Josh,
Can it be done in any of the NRD’s branch or strictly thru Putrajaya only ? Thanking you beforehand for your kind assistance. =)
A very insightful post. Thanks !
By the way, i was recently informed that we can no longer add an alias to our MyKad. The only way is to completely forgo our original name and only use the new name once approved which will result in many problems such as bank account information, our school certificates etc.
I am from East Malaysia by the way. Just want to confirm with you if this is true as i’m afraid i’ve been mislead by those working in local JPN office here. I personally find this absurd and double standard. Hope to get a reply from you soon. Thanks !
Hi Lyn, Latonia, Tan, 5Wishes, et al,
I believe i have replied to you folks via email as some of the information may be too sensitive for public exposure.
For Philip, I am surprised by the stop in the use of alias. I will have to get back to you on that one – as this is new information to me.
Why dont you call the Putrajaya branch to inquire first.
It is true that once u complete change your name, your bank accounts and certificates will have to be amended or changed.
JPN will issue an official letter that states the name change and you need to use this letter to initiate change in other documents – such as passport, bank accounts, and certificates if you still use them. Otherwise, just keep the official letter and make copies of them and attach it with the certificates as proof of certificate ownership.
Josh’s last blog post..Seditious Statements
Called JPN Putrajaya. It’s confirmed that we are no longer allowed to adopt an alias name to our MyKad
Apparently, the new rule has been in placed since 2007.
omg josh.. is that really true???? OMG..
I have asked the question back in 2008, and have gotten nowhere with the local officials. I made a call to JPN and they told me there’s no way to add alias but did not elaborate after they trasnferred me 5 or more times. Even though, a junior official told me that it is possible.
I would definately like to know for certain if this is true as well. I think it all depends on their mood at that particular time.
your so funny josh..but thanks for the info!!!
L.TOD SCHLOSSER
fiancee visa marriage visa
Hi Josh,
Thank you for all your info. I have a question though… I am leaving [living] in Australia with my hubby and son but I will be going back to KL to renew my passport next month and I want to add in my husband’s name as my surname. My original name is Melody XXXXX and I would like to add in YYYYY to it. Hence my name: Melody XXXX YYYY. As I do not have much time there,what docs do I need and how long will the procedure take? Can I do it at the same time I make my new passport? Kindly advise.
Pls reply via e-mail. Thanks
Hi Melody,
I believe i have replied to you via email, and your full name have been removed for privacy.
Hi Josh, me and my bf who is US citizen,we are going to register marry in Malaysia.However,i will become christian as well,therefore,can i change my name when register for marriage? i will remain my Mykad name unchange,so any suggestion?
Dear Josh,
I am in the same conundrum as Alison Lee in her previous post (dated December 27th 2007). However, the only difference is that I am already married in Australia a year ago. Basically, I would like to add my Anglo name and change my last name to my husband’s name, i.e. Cooper. I am in Malaysia at the moment and would like to get this sorted soon.
Unfortunately, I’m not Christian. Please advice.
I look forward to receiving a reply via email soon.
Many thanks!
Hi,
I would like to know wheter, it is possible to change the spelling of the name, add 1 more letter 2 the name, but remain the same name, dis is for numerology reasons. Does anyone know bout dis? Please let me noe.
Thx.
Hi ,
I would like to know that is it posible to change my name to another name which is better for me for numerology reasons. please let me know. thank you
Hye Josh,
I’m a muslim and I’m planning to further my education aboard, but there are a few things with my name that’s bothering me…
1st I already have my surname in my full name in addition I’ve my father’s full name in my name which makes my name 36 characters long…
So it’s a bit too long plus if I fill up my UCAS applications it would be rather confusing, where now I’m not sure whether to put my father’s name or my surname in the ‘last name’ section…
so is this a good reason enough to change my name?
I mean exclude my father’s name from my full name?
a lil’ advice will help…
thank you…
Hi Josh,
My name is W K Y.I’m not a christian, but i have a christian name Gary. And I would like to add “Gary” on my “MYKAD” without the @. Can you give me some advice?
I have some reasons:
- I got a music cert that have the name “Gary W K Y”
- My last two name sounds like girl, and my classmate always laugh at my name.
- My friends also call me Gary, even most of the teacher also call me Gary.
Can you help me?? And let me know what should I do right now?
Thanks a lot.
Hi Joshua,
I would like to know, can i change my name for the better numerology.
Thanks
Hi Kru,
You can say that you would like to change your name for you believe that will give you a better fortune or give reasons like it’s your religious belief that it would be important for your fortune. When you use religion (not numerology) , it will give you a better chance.
THANK YOU! I have always been searching for helpful website like this since I’m thinking of changing my name as well…
I’m given a girl’s name instead of a guy… what if i’m not anywhere near Putrajaya??
Do I need to change my religous in order to change my name ? Cause my name’s spelling are wrong .I just want to change the letter Y to J.
religion *
Hi Joshua,
I am a female by the name of Wee Seng, which giving me lots of frustration as when I write in an application or whatsoever to an unknown party, they will always regards me as Mr….. So if I would to apply for a name change, what kind of supporting document I should provide to NRD?
Hi Joshua,
Thank you for your very informative post and pardon my question since this post was written a long while back. I would like to add my christian name into my passport (not a change of name)and didn’t get the entire procedure from your replies above. I hope that you can provide the steps to doing it and the documents needed. Do I have to change my entire passport for that (as I have visas in the current one and that might create more trouble)? Furthermore, how long does this procedure take as I am now residing in Germany and can’t be back in Msia for too long. I look forward to your reply. Thank you in advance.
You mean we need to go all the way to Putrajaya? Can’t we just do it elsewhere? I needa change my name so desperately because no one knows how to pronounce my tongue-twisting Hakka sounding name.
Hi Josh,
Are we still allowed to add aliases? And is the Putrajaya branch the only branch that takes one day?
I will also like to know the answers to Grace’s questions.
Thanks.