Department Of Home Affairs Name Change
Department Of Home Affairs Name Change, Is the processed of changing one’s name and thus ID document still as stigmatised as it was a few years ago.
Name change generally refers to the legal act by a person of adopting a new name different from their name at birth, marriage or adoption.
The procedures and ease of a name change vary between jurisdictions. In general, common law jurisdictions have loose procedures for a name change while civil law jurisdictions are more restrictive.
The process of changing your name and gender in your ID are 2 separate activities.
Firstly, changing your name is not such a big issue. Any person has the right to change their name if they so choose. This however has to be done through the correct channels and procedures. You can apply to the Department of Home Affairs to have you name changed.
The form that is required is BI-85 which is available on the Home Affairs website or at you local Home Affairs offices.They will then consider your application and if there is no legal reason preventing them from changing your name they will.
The process can take anywhere from 3 months to a year if you are lucky. One that has been done you need to apply for a new ID book and Passport in your new name. The changing of you name does not automatically result in a change to your gender. That needs to be applied for separately.
To change your gender in the birth registry you will be required to conform with certain requirements. You would have to provide letters from at least 2 independent medical practitioners confirming that you have undergone some form of medical treatment to alter your gender, being it hormonal or surgical. You will then have to submit these 2 letters together with an application to have your birth registry altered. This takes 3 months or more to be completed.
Procedures set out below.
Anyone who has undergone a sex change operation or medical treatment that causes his or her gender to change can apply to the Director-General of the Department of Home Affairs to have the description of his/her gender changed.
The documents required for this are:
* application form (Bl-526),
* a report by the medical practitioner who applied the treatment or procedures on the applicant, or a doctor who is experienced in such procedures or treatments
* a report by another medical practitioner who has examined the applicant to establish his or her sexual characteristics and
* proof of payment of the fees.
When changing an applicant’s sex, the Identity Number automatically changes. An application for a new identity document must therefore be made as soon as the change has been approved.
The costs are R48 (August 2005), if the person is also changing his or her forename, an additional R75 (August 2005) has to be paid.