Name Change Procedure in West Bengal
West Bengal is one of the few states that gives you a real choice. You can use the Kolkata Gazette Part II, a state route that publishes in about 7 days, or the Central Gazette of India, which works everywhere in the country and abroad. This guide explains both, with the real charges, the exact affidavit each one needs, and how to pick.
Video: the name change procedure in West Bengal
Prefer to watch rather than read? This walkthrough covers the affidavit, the newspaper notice and the Gazette notification for West Bengal, in the order you actually have to do them. Seven more videos sit further down this page, each one placed next to the section it explains.
Name Change Procedure in West Bengal পশ্চিমবঙ্গে নাম পরিবর্তনের পদ্ধতি • every video on this page loads only when you press play, so none of them slow it down
All eight West Bengal videos on this page
Each video sits next to the section it explains, so you can jump straight to the one you need. None of them load until you press play.
- Name Change Procedure in West Bengal the three legal stages from affidavit to published notification
- How to Make Gazette Notification in West Bengal the Kolkata Gazette Part II route and what the online application needs
- Child Name Change in Birth Certificate why a birth certificate error is a Registrar correction, not a Gazette job
- How to Name Change in School Record how a board or school record follows the Gazette, on its own procedure
- Name Change in Aadhaar Card the first record to update once the notification is published
- How to Name Change in Passport re-issue with a changed name, and why this one needs the Central Gazette
- Name Change of Government Employee the departmental deed that updates the service book
- Name Change Agent in West Bengal what an agent can and cannot do for you
Everything shown in the video is written out in full below, with the West Bengal charges, both office addresses and the Government sources it is all checked against. The fast state route has its own video in the Kolkata Gazette Part II section below.
West Bengal residents have two routes. The state route: swear an affidavit before a First Class Judicial Magistrate, publish one newspaper advertisement, and apply through the Kolkata Gazette Part II portal, with publication in about 7 days if the file is in order. The central route: a notarised affidavit, two newspaper notices, and an application to the Gazette of India in Delhi, published in 30 to 45 days and valid across India and abroad.
Most guides treat every Indian state the same way, and that is exactly why they get West Bengal wrong. The name change procedure in West Bengal actually gives you two working routes, including a fast state route that most websites never mention. This page explains both, with the charges published by the Government of West Bengal, the affidavit rule that catches people out, and honest timelines.
A Gazette notification is a formal announcement of your name change printed in the official journal of a Government. Once it carries a number and a date, it becomes the document that Aadhaar, PAN, banks, schools, the passport office and employers work from. An affidavit on its own is the beginning of the change, not the end of it.
At a glance
- State route
- Kolkata Gazette Part II, through wbgazettepart2.in
- Published by
- Saraswaty Press Limited, Belghoria, Kolkata 700056
- State affidavit
- Attested by a First Class Judicial Magistrate
- State charge
- Rs 1,100 name, Rs 1,400 gender, Rs 1,700 religion
- State speed
- About 7 days, with an SMS alert
- Who can use it
- Age 18 and above, domiciled in West Bengal
- Central route
- Part IV of the Gazette of India, Delhi 110054
- Central fee
- Commonly Rs 1,100 adult, Rs 1,700 minor
- Central payment
- BharatKosh, the Non-Tax Receipt Portal
- Where to download
- egazette.gov.in, free of cost
Key takeaways
- West Bengal is one of the few states with a genuine online route for individuals: the Kolkata Gazette Part II, run through wbgazettepart2.in and published by Saraswaty Press Limited, a Government of West Bengal enterprise at 11 B T Road, Belghoria, Kolkata 700056.
- The state route publishes within about 7 days when the documents are in order, and you are told by SMS on your registered mobile number. The Central Gazette takes 30 to 45 days.
- State printing charges are Rs 1,100 for a change of name, Rs 1,100 for a change of surname, Rs 1,400 for a change of gender and Rs 1,700 for a change of religion. Confirm the current amount on the portal before you pay.
- The state route needs an affidavit attested by a First Class Judicial Magistrate, not a plain notary affidavit. This single detail is what most rejected applications get wrong.
- The state route is only for applicants aged 18 and above who are domiciled in West Bengal. A minor child's name change has to go through the Central Gazette.
- There is exactly one Central Gazette office: Department of Publication, Civil Lines, Delhi 110054. The Gazette of India has been digital only from October 2015 and downloads free from egazette.gov.in.
- A birth certificate mistake is a Registrar correction under Section 15 of the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969, through the body that issued it. It is not a Gazette matter.
A state that is still waiting for its own name change
A story that puts your paperwork in perspective, and explains why a Gazette notification matters.
West Bengal has been trying to change its own name for over a decade. In 2011 the state proposed Paschim Banga, and the Central Government turned it down. In 2016 the Assembly passed a resolution for three names, Bangla in Bengali, Bengal in English and Bangal in Hindi, and the Centre asked for a single name instead. In July 2018 the Assembly unanimously chose Bangla in all languages. That proposal is still pending with the Central Government, and the state remains legally West Bengal.
The lesson is simple. A name change is only real when the right authority notifies it. A state needs the Central Government and Parliament. You need a Gazette notification, and unlike the state, you can have yours done in weeks.
West Bengal gives you two routes: Kolkata Gazette Part II and the Central Gazette of India
This is the first real decision, and picking wrong costs you money because neither charge is refundable.
Most states have no practical gazette route for private citizens, which pushes everyone to the Central Gazette. West Bengal is different. The Kolkata Gazette Part II exists specifically so residents can notify a change of name, a change or deletion of a surname, a reversion to a maiden name after divorce, separation or the death of a husband, a change of religion, and a change of gender. The published guidelines say it applies to Government employees as well.
Part II was earlier printed at the West Bengal Government Press, Alipore. It is now published by Saraswaty Press Limited, a Government of West Bengal enterprise under the PE and IR Department, with its registered office at 11 B T Road, Belghoria, Kolkata 700056.
| Point of comparison | Kolkata Gazette Part II | Central Gazette of India |
|---|---|---|
| Published by | Saraswaty Press Limited, 11 B T Road, Belghoria, Kolkata 700056 | Department of Publication, Civil Lines, Delhi 110054 |
| How you apply | Online through the portal at wbgazettepart2.in | Signed file sent by post, courier or by hand to Delhi |
| Who can apply | Age 18 and above, domiciled in West Bengal. Government employees included | Any Indian citizen, including a minor through a parent |
| Affidavit | Original affidavit attested by a First Class Judicial Magistrate | Notarised affidavit on stamp paper |
| Newspaper | One recent advertisement in a daily local or national newspaper, uploaded as a scan | Two notices, one regional language and one English, complete original pages sent |
| Charges | Rs 1,100 name, Rs 1,100 surname, Rs 1,400 gender, Rs 1,700 religion | Commonly Rs 1,100 adult and Rs 1,700 minor, revised each financial year |
| Payment | Online through the portal | Only through BharatKosh, the Non-Tax Receipt Portal |
| Speed | About 7 days from a complete submission, with an SMS alert | Commonly 30 to 45 days after the file reaches Delhi |
| Best for | Fast legal proof for records used within West Bengal | Passport, visa, central Government jobs, banks and boards outside the state |
Kolkata Gazette Part II, step by step
The state route. Fast, online, and open only to adults domiciled in West Bengal.
Magistrate affidavit
The original affidavit must be attested by a First Class Judicial Magistrate and must show your father's or husband's name along with your residential address. A plain notary affidavit belongs to the central route, not this one.
One newspaper notice
Publish one recent advertisement about the change in a daily local or national newspaper, then keep a clean scan of it. Only one notice is needed here, unlike the two the Central Gazette wants.
Apply on the portal
Submit the affidavit scan, the newspaper scan, a photo identity document and a passport size photograph through wbgazettepart2.in, and pay the printing charge online.
Published in about 7 days
If all documents are found in order, the notification is issued within 7 days of submission and you are told by SMS on your registered mobile number.
What the state route covers
The published guidelines list these categories, which is wider than most states allow:
- A change of name, including a correction to the spelling
- A change of surname, an addition, or a deletion of a surname entirely
- Reversion to a maiden name after divorce, separation or the death of the husband
- A change of name following a change of religion
- A change of gender
- Notifications by a Public Sector Undertaking or a Government organisation
What you upload
- Scanned copy of the original affidavit attested by a First Class Judicial Magistrate
- Scanned copy of one recent newspaper advertisement on the subject
- Scanned photo identity document: Aadhaar card, passport or driving licence
- Passport size photograph
- Supporting papers for your category, such as a decree or a death certificate for a maiden name reversion
Watch: how to make a Gazette notification in West Bengal
A walkthrough of getting the notification made, which is the stage most people find hardest to picture from written instructions alone.
How to Make Gazette Notification in West Bengal পশ্চিমবঙ্গে কীভাবে গেজেট বিজ্ঞপ্তি তৈরি করবেন
Central Gazette of India, step by step
Slower, but this is the notification that works outside West Bengal, on a passport, and abroad.
Notarised affidavit
An affidavit on non-judicial stamp paper stating your old name, your new name, your father's or husband's name, your full address and the reason for the change, signed before a notary. Stamp paper and notary together usually cost Rs 100 to Rs 500.
Two newspaper notices
The same wording in two dailies that circulate where you live: a Bengali paper and an English paper for most of West Bengal. Keep the complete original printed page of each. A cutting is not accepted.
File to Delhi, fee on BharatKosh
The signed file goes to the Department of Publication in Delhi and the fee is paid only through BharatKosh. Once printed in Part IV, you download the PDF from egazette.gov.in.
What goes into the central file
- The complete original newspaper pages carrying your notice
- A signed undertaking that the facts stated are true
- Two copies of the prescribed proforma, signed by you and attested
- A soft copy of the notice text, in the form the Department currently asks for
- Self-attested photo identity of the applicant and of the witness
- Two passport size photographs
- A request letter addressed to the Controller of Publications
Keep every document recent. The Department expects supporting papers that are not older than one year, so an affidavit or a newspaper page from an earlier attempt will usually not carry the file.
Pay through BharatKosh only
The fee is paid only through bharatkosh.gov.in, the Government's Non-Tax Receipt Portal. It is commonly Rs 1,100 for an adult and Rs 1,700 for a minor. The Department of Publication revises these amounts each financial year, so confirm the current figure on deptpub.gov.in before you pay. The fee is not refundable.
Do not send a demand draft. The demand draft and direct bank transfer routes were discontinued years ago, yet many pages ranking for West Bengal still tell you to make one out to a Controller of Publications in West Bengal. That instruction is wrong twice over: the payment method is closed, and there is no Controller of Publications in West Bengal.
Download your notification
Send the complete file by post or courier to the Department of Publication, Civil Lines, Delhi 110054, or hand it in there. Applications are accepted from the applicant directly rather than from agents. Once processed, your change appears in Part IV of the Gazette of India. Since October 2015 the Gazette has been digital only. You download your notification free from egazette.gov.in and that PDF needs no further certification. No paper copy is posted to you, so ignore anyone promising an original certificate by courier.
Which route should you choose in West Bengal?
Four rules that settle almost every case.
Take the Kolkata Gazette Part II when
- You are 18 or older and domiciled in West Bengal
- You need fast legal proof, mainly for records inside the state
- Your case is a surname deletion, a maiden name reversion, a religion change or a gender change, all of which it expressly covers
- You want the whole thing done online without posting originals anywhere
Take the Central Gazette when
- The new name has to work on a passport or a visa
- You deal with central boards, central Government service records, or banks that operate outside West Bengal
- You are applying for a child under 18, because the state route is limited to adults
- You live outside India, or plan to move state later
Documents required for a name change in West Bengal
The two routes want different things, so check the column that applies to you. Send clear, flat scans.
Kolkata Gazette Part II, state route
- Original affidavit attested by a First Class Judicial Magistrate, showing your father's or husband's name and residential address
- Scan of one recent newspaper advertisement about the change
- Photo identity: Aadhaar card, passport or driving licence
- Passport size photograph
- Proof that you are 18 or above and domiciled in West Bengal
- Divorce decree, separation papers or the husband's death certificate, for a maiden name reversion
- Supporting papers for a religion change or a gender change, as your category requires
Central Gazette of India
- Notarised name change affidavit, hard copy
- Aadhaar or other Government photo identity in the old name, self-attested
- Address proof in West Bengal: electricity bill, water bill or rent agreement
- Complete original newspaper pages of both notices
- Filled proforma, two copies, plus a soft copy of the notice text
- Two passport size photographs and a self-attested witness identity document
- Marriage certificate, divorce decree, or the child's birth certificate where the case needs it
- Departmental deed for a Central Government employee, or an Embassy-attested deed if you are abroad
Why people change their name in West Bengal
Every one of these is a normal, accepted reason. You do not need an unusual story to apply.
Errors on record
A mistake in a birth certificate, a school certificate or a mark sheet, or a spelling that drifted across documents over the years.
Marriage and divorce
Taking a husband's surname after marriage, or reverting to a maiden name after a divorce, a separation or the death of a husband.
Adding or dropping an initial
Very common where old school records mix a title, a paternal surname and a village name across three documents.
Adoption
Recording a child's name after an adoption, so the school and identity records agree.
Numerology or astrology
A widely used reason in India, and the Gazette route treats it like any other stated reason.
Change of religion
Adopting a name that matches a change of faith. The Kolkata Gazette Part II covers this category directly.
Gender change
Handled quietly and without a lecture. The state route lists this as its own category with its own charge.
Surname change or deletion
Adding, changing or dropping a family name entirely, which the state guidelines expressly allow.
You simply want a different name
A perfectly valid reason. The affidavit states it, and the process is the same.
Who can apply
- Any Indian citizen, through the Central Gazette, at any stage of life
- Adults aged 18 and above domiciled in West Bengal, through the state route
- A husband or a wife, independently of each other
- A parent or legal guardian on behalf of a child under 18, through the Central Gazette only
- An applicant living abroad, through an Embassy-attested deed
What you need to qualify
- Indian citizenship
- A valid Government photo identity document
- A stated reason for the change, written into the affidavit
- For the state route, proof of West Bengal domicile and of being 18 or above
- For a minor, a parent or guardian who signs and takes responsibility
What you can change is equally broad: the full name, the spelling of an existing name, or just the surname. The affidavit states exactly what the old full name was and exactly what the new full name will be, so a partial change is handled the same way as a complete one.
Name change fees in West Bengal: what it really costs
Government charges and market costs are different things. Here is both, separated, with nothing hidden in a bundle.
| Item | Typical amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Affidavit, stamp paper and attestation | Rs 100 to Rs 500 | Magistrate attestation for the state route, notary for the central route. |
| Newspaper notice | Rs 400 to Rs 4,000 | One advertisement for the state route, two for the central route. |
| Kolkata Gazette Part II, name | Rs 1,100 | Printing charge published on wbgazettepart2.in. A surname change is also Rs 1,100. |
| Kolkata Gazette Part II, gender | Rs 1,400 | Its own category on the portal, with its own charge. |
| Kolkata Gazette Part II, religion | Rs 1,700 | The highest of the state categories. Confirm the current amount before paying. |
| Central Gazette fee, adult | Commonly Rs 1,100 | Paid through BharatKosh. The Department of Publication revises it each financial year, so confirm on the day you file. |
| Central Gazette fee, minor | Commonly Rs 1,700 | Applies to anyone under 18. Also paid through BharatKosh. |
| Applying from abroad | Around Rs 7,500 to Rs 9,000 | Plus embassy or consulate attestation of the deed. |
| Realistic self-done total | Rs 2,000 to Rs 6,000 | Depends on the route and the newspapers chosen. |
| Documentadvisor assistance | Quoted per case | Charged separately from Government charges. Call 9540005002 for a fixed quote before you commit. |
Neither charge is refundable. If a notification prints with an error that came from your own file, you pay again for a correction. That is exactly why we confirm the spelling in writing and refuse to rush a file with an unresolved question in it.
How long the name change takes in West Bengal
Realistic timings for both routes, not the best case that almost nobody gets.
Day 1 to 3
Documents collected, affidavit drafted, spelling confirmed in writing, then attestation arranged: a Magistrate for the state route, a notary for the central one.
Day 3 to 7
Newspaper notice booked and published. One advertisement for the state route, two for the central route, with the complete original pages collected.
State: about 7 days more
Application uploaded on the portal with the charge paid. If the documents are in order the notification issues within 7 days, and an SMS reaches your registered mobile number.
Central: day 30 to 45
File dispatched to Delhi and acknowledged, then printed in Part IV. We download the PDF from the e-Gazette portal and send it to you with the update checklist.
End to end, the state route is roughly 2 weeks and the central route is 3 to 7 weeks. The Gazette of India prints Part IV in weekly issues, so your notification appears in a weekly issue rather than on a date you can pick. Anyone promising a Central Gazette in three days is describing an affidavit, not a Gazette.
Areas we serve across West Bengal
The state route runs on a portal and the central file goes to Delhi by post, so your district does not limit you.
Call 9540005002, WhatsApp 9540005064, or write to support@documentadvisor.in. Monday to Saturday, 9 AM to 6 PM. For the all-India process, see our complete guide to changing your name legally in India.
Related guides
Neighbouring states and the national process, in case your records sit in more than one place.
Key terms explained
The words that appear on every name change website, in language people actually use.
- Gazette notification
- A formal announcement printed in the official journal of a Government. For a name change it is the document that Aadhaar, PAN, passport offices, banks and employers accept as legal proof.
- Kolkata Gazette Part II
- The part of the West Bengal official gazette where residents notify a change of name, surname, religion or gender. It is applied for online at wbgazettepart2.in and published by Saraswaty Press Limited.
- Central Gazette
- The Gazette of India, published by the Department of Publication in Civil Lines, Delhi. It is accepted everywhere in India and by foreign missions.
- Part IV
- The section of the Gazette of India that carries notices from people rather than from the Government. Personal name change notifications appear here. Part IV belongs to the Central Gazette only, and a state gazette has its own numbering.
- First Class Judicial Magistrate
- A judicial officer who can attest an affidavit. The Kolkata Gazette Part II route requires this attestation, which is a higher requirement than a notary.
- Affidavit
- A written statement you swear is true. For a name change it records your old name, your new name, your father's or husband's name, your address and the reason for the change.
- Domicile
- The state you are legally settled in. The Kolkata Gazette Part II route is open only to applicants domiciled in West Bengal who are 18 or above.
- BharatKosh
- The Non-Tax Receipt Portal at bharatkosh.gov.in. It is the only accepted channel for the Central Gazette fee, because demand drafts and direct bank transfers were discontinued.
- e-Gazette
- The portal at egazette.gov.in where published Central notifications are searched and downloaded. The Gazette of India has been digital only from October 2015, so the PDF is the official copy.
- Maiden name reversion
- Going back to the surname you held before marriage. The Kolkata Gazette Part II guidelines expressly allow this after divorce, separation or the death of the husband.
- Registrar correction
- A correction to a birth or death record under Section 15 of the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969, made by the municipal body that issued the certificate. It is not a Gazette matter.
- Deed of change of name
- A formal deed used mainly by Government employees and by applicants abroad, executed and routed through the department or attested by the Indian mission.
After the Gazette: update your records in this order
The Gazette is the middle of the journey, not the end. Doing this in the wrong order turns a four week job into a four month one.
| Order | Record | Why it comes here |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aadhaar | Almost every other service verifies against Aadhaar. Update it first at an enrolment centre with the notification, the affidavit and your identity document. |
| 2 | PAN card | The correction form asks for proof, and an updated Aadhaar makes this straightforward. |
| 3 | Bank accounts | Banks check the PAN and Aadhaar pair. Updating the bank before both agree creates a mismatch. |
| 4 | Passport | Re-issue with a change of name. Passport Seva looks for the Gazette of India, which is why passport cases take the central route. |
| 5 | Voter ID and driving licence | Straightforward once Aadhaar carries the new name. |
| 6 | EPFO or UAN and insurance | Employer-linked records. Your HR department usually needs the notification on file first. |
| 7 | School, board and university records | Slowest of the lot. Each board runs its own correction form and its own fee. |
| 8 | Property, GST and business records | Handle last, once the identity documents all agree with each other. |
Aadhaar rules are published on uidai.gov.in and passport re-issue rules on passportindia.gov.in. Both are listed in the sources at the foot of this page.
Watch: updating Aadhaar and the passport after the Gazette
The two records people ask about most once the notification is published. Aadhaar comes first, and the passport is the one that needs the Central Gazette rather than the state notification.
Name Change in Aadhaar Card in West Bengal পশ্চিমবঙ্গে আধার কার্ডে নাম পরিবর্তন
How to Name Change in Passport in West Bengal পাসপোর্টে কীভাবে নাম পরিবর্তন করবেন
A birth certificate mistake is not a Gazette matter
This is the single most common thing people in West Bengal are sold wrongly. If the error sits in a birth certificate, a wrong spelling, a wrong parent's name or a missing child's name, the fix is a Registrar correction under Section 15 of the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969. You apply to the body that issued the certificate: the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, your district municipality, or the gram panchayat for your area.
A Gazette notification will not change the entry in the birth register. The two documents live in different systems. The Civil Registration System portal is crsorgi.gov.in. Agents who push every birth certificate case into a Gazette application are charging you for the wrong process. Where a case genuinely needs both, which happens when you want a new name going forward and a corrected record going backward, we say so and quote the two separately.
Watch: birth certificate and school record corrections
These two are the cases most often sold as a Gazette when they are not. The first covers a child name in a birth certificate, the second covers a school or board record.
Child Name Change in Birth Certificate in West Bengal
How to Name Change in School Record in West Bengal পশ্চিমবঙ্গে স্কুল রেকর্ডে নাম পরিবর্তন
Special situations in West Bengal
Five cases we see constantly here, and the state route handles more of them than most states do.
After marriage, or back to a maiden name
Both directions are covered. A woman taking her husband's surname attaches the marriage certificate. The Kolkata Gazette Part II guidelines expressly allow reversion to a maiden name after divorce, separation or the death of the husband, which very few states put in writing. Attach the decree, the separation papers or the death certificate as applicable.
Name change for a minor child
The state route is limited to applicants aged 18 and above, so a minor's name change in West Bengal has to go through the Central Gazette. A parent swears the affidavit, attaches the child's birth certificate, and the minor fee applies, commonly Rs 1,700 with the usual revision caveat. Both parents signing avoids objections later.
Surname change or deletion
Dropping a surname entirely, adding one, or changing it is expressly listed in the Part II guidelines and carries the same Rs 1,100 charge as a name change. This matters in West Bengal, where many applicants are harmonising records that mix a title, a paternal surname and a village name across old school certificates.
Religion or gender change
The Part II route covers a change of name following a change of religion, at Rs 1,700, and a change of gender, at Rs 1,400. Both are their own categories on the portal rather than being squeezed into a general name change. For records outside West Bengal, follow up with the Central Gazette.
If you are a Government employee in West Bengal
Good news on the state route: the published Kolkata Gazette Part II guidelines say the route applies to Government employees as well, with a Government-issued photo identity accepted as proof. That is not true of every state, and it saves a lot of back and forth.
Central Government employees follow the Ministry of Home Affairs Office Memorandum No. 190016/1/87-Estt.(A) dated 12 March 1987: a deed of change of name is executed and routed through the department, so the service book is updated alongside the Gazette.
Either way, do one thing before you spend anything: ask your own establishment section which notification they will accept on the service record. Departments differ, and a notification in the wrong series means paying twice. We prepare the file to match whatever your department confirms.
Watch: name change for a Government employee
Covers the departmental route and the deed that keeps the service book in step with the notification.
Name Change of Government Employee in West Bengal পশ্চিমবঙ্গে সরকারি কর্মচারীর নাম পরিবর্তন
What the law does not allow, and what you gain by doing it properly
You may take almost any name you like. Almost.
Names that will not be accepted
- A name taken in order to hide your identity
- A name taken to escape a debt, a liability or a legal proceeding
- A name that is obscene or offensive
- A name containing punctuation marks or symbols
- A name that impersonates another person for gain
A change of name does not erase anything behind you. Your old records stay linked to you through the notification itself, which names both the old and the new name. That is the point of publishing it.
What you gain by doing it legally
- Official recognition that every department works from, public or private
- A permanent published record that never expires and never needs renewal
- Straightforward updates to Aadhaar, PAN, bank and passport records
- Marriage, divorce and inheritance paperwork that matches your identity documents
- No lawyer and no court order needed, because this is an administrative process
Common mistakes that get West Bengal applications rejected
Every one of these is avoidable, and every one of them costs the charge again.
State route problems
- Using a notary affidavit where a First Class Judicial Magistrate attestation is required
- An affidavit that does not show the father's or husband's name and the residential address
- Applying for a child, when the route is limited to applicants aged 18 and above
- Applying without West Bengal domicile
- Uploading a blurred or cropped scan of the newspaper advertisement
- Paying the name charge when the case is actually a religion or gender category
Central route problems
- Newspaper details not matching the affidavit, even by a single letter or initial
- A newspaper cutting sent instead of the complete original printed page
- Only one newspaper, or two papers in the same language
- Paying by demand draft or direct bank transfer instead of BharatKosh
- Supporting documents older than one year
- Sending the file to a fake Kolkata Gazette address carrying the Delhi pin code 110054
Doing it yourself or taking professional help
We will say it plainly: some people should do this themselves.
| Point of comparison | Doing it yourself | Using Documentadvisor |
|---|---|---|
| Money out | Rs 2,000 to Rs 6,000 if nothing goes wrong | Government charge plus a quoted service charge |
| Your time | Several days across the Magistrate or notary, the newspaper office, and the portal or the dispatch to Delhi | About 30 minutes of sending scans and confirming spelling |
| Choosing the route | Yours to work out, and getting it wrong is the expensive part | We tell you which route fits, and when a case genuinely needs both |
| Risk of paying twice | Real, because neither charge is refundable and the attestation rule catches people out | We check the spelling and the attestation with you in writing before anything prints |
| Best if | You are in Kolkata, have time, and your case is a plain adult name change on one route | You are working, outside the metro, or the case involves marriage, a minor, a service record or a surname deletion |
Both routes are doable on your own. The risk sits in the details: the right attestation, matching wording everywhere, the correct payment channel, and choosing the route that actually fits your case. One mismatch means the file comes back after weeks. You can compare the whole range of name change services we run before deciding. Because the Central Gazette accepts applications from the applicant directly, an honest service prepares, checks and tracks your file, which you then sign and send. That is exactly how Documentadvisor works.
Watch: what a name change agent in West Bengal actually does
Useful before you pay anyone, because the Central Gazette accepts applications only from the applicant directly.
Name Change Agent in West Bengal পশ্চিমবঙ্গে নাম পরিবর্তন এজেন্ট
Your Trust and Security First
A name change means handing your identity documents to someone you have never met. We take that seriously, and we would rather be slow and correct than fast and wrong.
Your documents stay private
Your scans go to one advisor and one file. We do not resell your details, we do not add you to a marketing list, and we do not share your papers with anyone outside your case.
Nothing prints without your written yes
We send you the exact wording, letter by letter, and wait for your confirmation before the affidavit is typed or a notice is booked. The charges are not refundable, so this step protects your money.
Government charge shown separately
Our charge and the Government charge are always quoted as two lines. You see exactly how much reaches the Government and how much is for our work, before you pay anything.
We recommend the cheaper route when it fits
If the Kolkata Gazette Part II does your job at Rs 1,100 in a week, we say so, even though the central file is more work for us. We would rather be right than upsell.
One advisor, start to finish
The same person handles your file from the first scan to the published notification, on the same number you first called. You never repeat your case to somebody new.
Your originals come back to you
Original newspaper pages and the affidavit are returned once the file is accepted, and we keep a scanned set so a lost document years later is not a fresh problem.
Everything You Need, In One Place
One place for the paperwork people find hardest: gazette notifications, affidavits, newspaper advertisements, rental agreements and property papers. Drafted, checked and filed by a team that does it every day.
Document Services
India's trusted documentation consultant and newspaper ad portal
How It Works
Booking a service with Documentadvisor is as easy as 1-2-3. Sit back and let our team do the work.
Book
Call, WhatsApp or fill the form. Tell us your old name, your new name and your district, and send clear scans. It takes about ten minutes.
Schedule
We confirm the route and the exact spelling with you in writing, then arrange the right attestation, the newspaper notice and the filing in the right order.
Relax
We track the application and send you the published notification, along with a written checklist of which record to update next. No travel, no queues.
The questions Google gets asked most about West Bengal
How can I change my name legally in West Bengal?
Use one of two routes. State route: an affidavit attested by a First Class Judicial Magistrate, one newspaper advertisement, and an application through the Kolkata Gazette Part II portal, published in about 7 days. Central route: a notarised affidavit, two newspaper notices, and a file to the Gazette of India in Delhi, published in 30 to 45 days and valid everywhere.
What is the fee for a gazette name change in West Bengal?
The Kolkata Gazette Part II printing charge is Rs 1,100 for a name change and Rs 1,100 for a surname change, Rs 1,400 for a gender change and Rs 1,700 for a religion change. The Central Gazette fee is commonly Rs 1,100 for adults and Rs 1,700 for minors, paid only on bharatkosh.gov.in and revised each financial year.
How many days does a name change take in West Bengal?
About 7 days after a complete application on the state route, with an SMS alert to your registered mobile number. The Central Gazette takes 30 to 45 days after your file reaches Delhi, so plan 3 to 7 weeks end to end.
Is newspaper publication mandatory for a name change?
Yes on both routes. The state route needs a scan of one recent advertisement, and the central route needs two notices with the complete original pages submitted.
Can I change my name online in West Bengal?
Largely, yes. The state route runs entirely through the wbgazettepart2.in portal. On the central route the fee is paid online and the notification is downloaded online, with only the signed file going to Delhi by post.
Is there a Central Gazette office in Kolkata?
No. The only Central Gazette office is the Department of Publication, Civil Lines, Delhi 110054. The state route is a portal, not a walk-in gazette counter, and Part II is printed by Saraswaty Press Limited at Belghoria.
Is the Kolkata Gazette valid outside West Bengal?
It is a lawful state notification, but offices outside the state and foreign authorities look for the Gazette of India. If your new name has to work everywhere, use the Central Gazette, or do both.
Does India use deed poll like the United Kingdom?
No. India does not use the deed poll system. The Indian equivalent is the affidavit, newspaper and Gazette route explained on this page. A deed of change of name is used mainly for Government service records and for applicants abroad.
What does a name change agent actually do?
The Central Gazette accepts applications from applicants directly, so what you need is a service that prepares, checks and tracks your file, which you then sign and send. Anyone claiming they can submit it as your agent is describing something the Department does not do.
Do I need a lawyer or a court order?
No. A simple name change, including after marriage, is an administrative process. You need an attestation, not a court order. A lawyer becomes relevant only where there is a custody dispute or an existing court matter involving the name.
Can I change my name more than once?
Yes. There is no legal limit, and each change follows the same stages and the same charges. Repeated changes can attract questions during passport and background verification, so keep every notification you have ever been issued.
Start your West Bengal name change today
Tell us your old name, your new name and your district. We will tell you which route fits your case, what it will cost in total, and how long it will take, before you pay anything.
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Frequently asked questions on name change in West Bengal
The questions we are asked on the phone every day.
Does West Bengal really have its own gazette route for individuals?
Who can use the Kolkata Gazette Part II route?
What kind of affidavit does the state route need?
How fast is the Kolkata Gazette Part II?
What does the state route cost?
Is the Kolkata Gazette valid outside West Bengal?
How do I change my minor child's name in West Bengal?
How do I pay the Central Gazette fee?
Will I get a printed Gazette certificate by post?
Can I revert to my maiden name after a divorce?
My birth certificate has a spelling mistake. Do I need the Gazette?
Do board mark sheet corrections need the Gazette?
I am a Government employee. Which route applies to me?
Can I apply from abroad?
Are the Rs 999 gazette offers real?
Is the charge refundable if my application is rejected?
Why is the state still called West Bengal if it voted to become Bangla?
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Official sources
Every fact above can be checked at these Government sites. Please do check them.
- Kolkata Gazette Part II official portalThe application portal for a change of name, surname, religion or gender in West Bengal, run by Saraswaty Press Limited.
- Kolkata Gazette Part II guidelinesThe published guidelines: the 18 and above domicile rule, the First Class Judicial Magistrate affidavit, the newspaper advertisement requirement, the charges and the 7 day publication rule.
- Kolkata Gazette Part II process manualThe full list of printing charges by category, and the documents to upload for each one.
- Saraswaty Press LimitedThe Government of West Bengal enterprise that publishes Part II, with its registered office at 11 B T Road, Belghoria, Kolkata 700056.
- The Gazette of India, e-Gazette portalSearch and download published Central Gazette notifications free of cost.
- Department of Publication, Government of IndiaThe single Central Gazette office, at Civil Lines, behind the Delhi Vidhan Sabha Metro Station, Delhi 110054. Carries the change of name guidelines, the proforma and the current fee.
- BharatKosh, the Non-Tax Receipt PortalThe only accepted channel for the Central Gazette fee. Demand drafts and direct transfers were discontinued.
- Government of West Bengal official portalDepartment listings and district information for the state.
- Unique Identification Authority of IndiaAadhaar name update rules, accepted proofs and enrolment centre locations.
- Passport Seva, Ministry of External AffairsRe-issue of a passport with a change of name, and the documents required for it.
- Civil Registration System, Office of the Registrar General of IndiaBirth and death registration, and the framework for Registrar corrections under the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969.
The short version
Everything on this page in ten lines
- West Bengal has two working routes, which is rarer than most guides admit.
- State route: an affidavit attested by a First Class Judicial Magistrate, one newspaper advertisement, and the wbgazettepart2.in portal.
- The state route publishes in about 7 days with an SMS alert, and is open only to applicants aged 18 and above domiciled in West Bengal.
- State charges: Rs 1,100 name, Rs 1,100 surname, Rs 1,400 gender, Rs 1,700 religion. Confirm before paying.
- Part II is published by Saraswaty Press Limited at 11 B T Road, Belghoria, Kolkata 700056, not the old Alipore press.
- Central route: a notarised affidavit, two newspaper notices, and a file to Delhi, published in Part IV in 30 to 45 days.
- The Central fee is commonly Rs 1,100 adult and Rs 1,700 minor, paid only on BharatKosh, and revised each financial year.
- There is one Central Gazette office, in Civil Lines, Delhi 110054. Any Kolkata address quoting that pin code is copied.
- A minor's name change has to use the Central route, and a birth certificate error is a Registrar correction under Section 15 of the RBD Act, 1969.
- After publication, update Aadhaar first, then PAN, then bank, then passport, then everything else.
Change your name once, and change it properly
Send us your documents on WhatsApp today. We will confirm the route, the total cost and the timeline before you pay anything. Kolkata, Howrah, Siliguri, Durgapur, Asansol and every West Bengal district.