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regarding name change

kkeinjk

Newbie
Sep 30, 2009
1
0
Hello,

I'm currently a landed immigrant, and will plan to get Canadian Citizenship.
When I apply for my citizenship, I'd like to change my first name. Is this
possible? If not, can I at least add my english name to my legal name?
(ie. if my legal name on my home country's passport is "Li, Tao Jung,"
can I change my legal name to "Li, Daniel Tao Jung," or "Li, Daniel" when I apply for citizenship?)

I've been in Canada for quite a while, and I'm actually much more used to be called by
my english name (the name Daniel was just an example, btw). Sometimes I even hate to
be called by my legal name.

So, is either way (changing the entire name or adding an english name
to legal name) possible?

Thank you in advance!


Best regards,

kkeinjk
 

PMM

VIP Member
Jun 30, 2005
25,494
1,948
Hi

kkeinjk said:
Hello,

I'm currently a landed immigrant, and will plan to get Canadian Citizenship.
When I apply for my citizenship, I'd like to change my first name. Is this
possible? If not, can I at least add my english name to my legal name?
(ie. if my legal name on my home country's passport is "Li, Tao Jung,"
can I change my legal name to "Li, Daniel Tao Jung," or "Li, Daniel" when I apply for citizenship?)

I've been in Canada for quite a while, and I'm actually much more used to be called by
my english name (the name Daniel was just an example, btw). Sometimes I even hate to
be called by my legal name.

So, is either way (changing the entire name or adding an english name
to legal name) possible?

Thank you in advance!


Best regards,

kkeinjk
You have to change your name formally, so "google" name change plus the province where you reside,

PMM
 

trinityB

Newbie
Oct 15, 2009
9
0
I think the easiest way is:

you can just apply the citizenship by your legal name.

After you get your card, you apply for the legall name change.
Once you got the name changed (it dodes not take lone to get a new first name:))
you can apply for the new driver licenec, health car, sin car, all stuffs. but your citizenship card still keep the old legal name, since it was more like a birth certificate.

If you want to get a new name before you get the citizenship card, I do not know how complicated the process is. You might even have to reply your PR from the scrach. (this piece of information is not 1005 accurate, you should ask the immigration officer)
 

toby

Champion Member
Sep 29, 2009
1,671
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If you have been using your chosen English name in Canada for a long time, just show a notary some sort of record (bank statement, etc) and get an affidavit (takes 30 seconds) certifying that you go by your English name. Then apply for citizenship using your English name (attaching the affidavit).

This is easier than getting citizenship in your Chinese name, and re-doing everything later.

If you have been using your Chinese name legally (driver’s licence, bank accounts etc.), then still, ask a notary about a name change BEFORE applying or citizenship. And if course follow PMM’s suggestion of researching the process yourself.

My main point is that the later you leave the name change, the more documents you need to re-do, the more work you will have, obviously.
 

Suin

VIP Member
Sep 14, 2008
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is it possible to change name being just a PR?
 

Suin

VIP Member
Sep 14, 2008
4,037
285
Ontario, Canada
Category........
Visa Office......
CIC Etobocoke, H&C Grounds
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
24-03-2014
File Transfer...
31-07-2014
Med's Request
09-12-2014
LANDED..........
24-02-2015, PR Card Received: 02-04-2015
thank you for your reply, Karlshammar. will not be it a problem having different names in PR card an passport, especially while travelling?
 

Karlshammar

Champion Member
Sep 3, 2009
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No problem!

It could be, yes, so after changing the name it's best to make sure that you update all your documents to reflect your new name.

Suin said:
thank you for your reply, Karlshammar. will not be it a problem having different names in PR card an passport, especially while travelling?