What Is a Deed Poll?
In Singapore, a deed poll is a binding legal instrument that enables individuals to change their name. It is a personal declaration that requires no approval from the court or government authorities. At the same time, the ICA may reject name changes that are misleading, offensive, or contrary to public interest.
Deed polls receive full legal recognition in Singapore. When a name change is made through a deed poll, individuals can update their personal records, including identification documents such as passports, NRIC (National Registration Identity Card), and driver’s licenses.
What Name Changes Can Be Made Through Deed Polls?
When you make a deed poll in Singapore, you can change your name in multiple ways, including:
- Adding, deleting, or modifying the punctuation in your name
- Adding, deleting, or modifying your name after marriage or divorce
- Adding, deleting, or modifying the Chinese or Tamil characters in your name
- Adding, deleting, or otherwise modifying your Chinese pinyin name
- Changing the order of the words in your name
- Adding, deleting, or otherwise modifying your English/Western/Christian name
- Correcting misspelt names
- Inserting Baptism or religious names
What Are the Limitations on Name Changes in Singapore?
When you change your name through a deed poll, you are free to choose your new name and how you want it to appear in your documents. At the same time, the ICA may refuse name changes with deed polls in cases involving:
- Offensive, vulgar or inappropriate names
- Misleading names, for example, those resembling names of famous politicians or containing honorary titles (e.g. “Sir” or “Datuk”)
- Names changed with fraudulent or deceptive intent
- Frivolous name changes, for example, if the ICA considers that the applicant changes names too often.
Changing Name with Deed Polls for Foreigners
Foreigners residing in Singapore can change their names through deed polls as well. The procedure of name change for foreigners includes executing and signing a deed poll with a lawyer and notifying the respective authorities.
At the same time, foreigners need to consult with embassies or consulates of their countries to ensure that their name change through a deed poll in Singapore is recognised and reflected in official documents in their home countries. Foreigners seeking to change their name in Singapore are advised to consult a lawyer to explore their options and any additional requirements specific to their nationality or immigration status before proceeding with a deed poll in Singapore.
The Process of Changing Name Through a Deed Poll with the ICA
Step 1: Choosing a new name
Before executing a deed poll, you need to carefully choose your name according to your individual preferences while avoiding inappropriate, misleading, or offensive variants.
Step 2: Submit your details to deed poll lawyers in Singapore
Contact deed poll lawyers, submit your details for drafting a deed poll, and make an appointment for signing.
Step 3: Sign the deed poll
Visit the law office and sign the deed poll before the lawyers.
Step 4: Apply to ICA to update your name in the NRIC and other documents
Change the name in your NRIC by submitting an application on the ICA website by choosing the Change IC Particulars (Self) option, logging in with your Singpass within 28 days after signing. During the electronic application process, you will need to submit a digitally scanned deed poll and supporting documentation, including your current NRIC, passport, or other documents.
Step 5: Inform other authorities and institutions of your name change
After your name change, you need to inform other authorities, such as MOM, and relevant institutions, including your bank, school and other entities.
Step 6: Request copies of your deed poll
You may need to obtain certified copies of the deed poll from your lawyers as evidence of your name change, as required.
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My sincere thanks to Mr Baiross for genuinely listening to my issue and willing to provide honest feedback and clarification
I had a great experience having IRB Law to assist my sons in the inheritance matters . Mr Baiross and the teams assist me throughout the journey til everything goes smoothly . Mr Fadil too was very patient in addressing my concerns . He help me with all the doubts and explain well . Thank you 🙏
Thank you for the excellent support and service. From my first meeting with Baiross to the continued support and advice by Crystal over a 12 month period and to achieve a excellent result I would recommend IRB Law and Crystal to anyone looking for a legal advisory and support 🙏🏼👍🙏🏼
I would like to sincerely thank Mr. Mohamed Baiross and his law firm. At a time when we were feeling extremely helpless and urgently needed assistance, he was willing to step in and offer help, even during the weekend. His entire team was also incredibly cooperative and supportive throughout the process, making everything much smoother and reassuring. This clearly shows that his firm is not just about business, but is genuinely committed to helping people in need. It gave us comfort and hope at a very critical moment, and we are truly grateful for their sincerity, dedication, and teamwork. Thanks you🙏🏻
I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Mr Baiross, Mr Basheer and Team IRB who handled my case with a positive outcome that was beyond my expectations. Mr Baiross and Mr Basheer provided me with detailed sound legal analysis, offered the available options, recommended the actions I needed to take to strengthen my case and strategized the approach taken. They were always patient in explaining the legal jargons to me so that I can make informed decisions. IRB's charges were also highly competitive and they often graciously go the extra mile. IRB indeed lives up to be a Singapore's Best Law Firm, and I highly recommend them to anyone in need of legal advice.
We hired IRB to draft an agreement and handle a commercial dispute. IRB proved to be efficient, fast and responsive, including replies over the weekend and public holidays. Comparatively, our legal opponent's lawyers were slow and often cut off work at 5 pm, despite the fact that the settlement negotiation proposed by their client had a short deadline - they also claimed to be Straits Times Singapore's Best Law Firms. We had used other lawyers and notaries in the past, including hiring a well-advertised law firm to handle a fraud case, but it turned out to be disappointing because they gave poor advice and were expensive. Overall, IRB proved to be outstanding in giving speedy, concise advice and was cost-effective. Thanking Baiross, Crystal and team!
Our company recently had the pleasure of working with Mr Baiross, Ms Crystal, Mr Quek and Mr Desmond from IRB for our civil case, and we cannot recommend IRB team highly enough. From the moment we walked into their office, we felt welcomed and understood. The team took the time to listen to our concerns and explain the legal process in a way that was easy to comprehend. Their expertise in civil law is evident; IRB guided us through every step with professionalism and care. IRB team was always quick to respond to our emails and calls, making us feel like a priority throughout the entire process. Their attention to detail is remarkable, and we appreciated how they prepared for each meeting with comprehensive notes and strategies. One of the aspects we were most impressed with was their negotiation skills. They were able to secure a favorable settlement that exceeded our expectations. It was clear that they had our best interests at heart, which made a stressful situation much more manageable. The fees were transparent, and there were no hidden costs, which we greatly appreciated. IRB provided a clear breakdown of their charges from the outset, and we felt that their rates were reasonable for the level of service provided. Overall, we are extremely satisfied with the outcome of our case and grateful to have had Mr. Baiross by our side. If you're looking for a knowledgeable, compassionate, and dedicated team of lawyers, look no further than IRB Law.
Expressing my sincerest gratitude for the excellent legal support and professionalism provided by Sharifah Nabilah throughout our case. Nabilah joined our team later but at a crucial point. She was so committed to our case and got herself up to speed in no time. I enjoyed having her on my team and working with her, making my entire case ordeal that much more bearable. Her legal arguments and writing are cogent - she is definitely born to be a lawyer, as I always tell her. Such a blessing to have met her and to have had her fight our case for us. Also a special mention to Mr Baiross, without whom none of this would be possible. He is such a compassionate lawyer, and always reminded us that all of this is a test from God, and to be patient. It kept us grounded and gave us strength to go through this ordeal. Well, thanks to the awesome team at IRB, we won our case and got a rather favourable outcome. Very thankful and would recommend to anyone in need of expert legal counsel.
I had an excellent experience with IRB Law LLP, particularly with Mr. Baiross, Ms. Sharifah, and their team. From the very beginning, the communication and process were incredibly swift—setting up a meeting with the lawyers was seamless. They were highly responsive, addressing all my queries promptly and providing clear, practical advice on how to navigate my situation. Their guidance gave me confidence and clarity during a challenging time. I am truly thankful and grateful for their professionalism, expertise, and unwavering support. I highly recommend their services to anyone in need of legal assistance.
The lawyers Mr Baiross and Ms Simran have help me with a criminal charge case. My maximum sentence was 4 years and it drop to 3 months and it drop even further to just 10 days. My case was ongoing for 10 months plus and I'm glad that it is finally over now 😊👍
Deed Poll Fees
Change your name for:
| OVER 21 | UNDER 21 |
| S$ 40 | S$ 50 |
Why Us
Why Choose IRB Law
Proven Track Record
Consistently achieving smooth, hassle-free name changes for clients.
Constructive, Solutions-Focused Approach
Our experienced team focuses on minimizing delays, reducing paperwork stress, and ensuring your name change is completed quickly and correctly.
Transparent Fees
At IRB Law, we offer competitive pricing and transparent legal fees for change the name with no hidden charges.
Full Steps
How does our online deed poll service work?
Fill in the form
Drop by our office
Submit your deed poll to ICA
Our Lawyers
Meet Some of the IRB Team Handling Deed Poll
Mohamed Baiross
Mohamed Baiross is the managing partner of IRB Law and one of the nation's leading lawyers in multiple practice areas, including civil, corporate, and commercial law. With over three decades of experience as a business lawyer, Mohamed Baiross has built a renowned corporate law firm in Singapore, providing expert legal services to global corporations and local businesses.
Kulvinder Kaur
Kulvinder Kaur is a prominent commercial and corporate lawyer and an expert in litigation matters. Kaur is well-known in all courts of Singapore for strong legal representation in the most complex cases across multiple practice areas.
Deed Poll Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my name through a deed poll if I am married or divorced?
Is a deed poll recognised internationally?
Can I change my name through a deed poll if I am under 21 years old?
Can I change my name through a deed poll if I am in the process of naturalising as a Singapore citizen?
Can I change my name through a deed poll if I am bankrupt?
Can I use a deed poll to change the name of a deceased person?
What are the costs and timeframe for changing name through a deed poll?
Do I need to change my name in my passport?
How can I change my name while I’m overseas?
Does my child need to attend your office for a deed poll signing?
What documents should I bring when signing a deed poll?
What can I change in my name?
- Adding, deleting, or modifying the Chinese or Tamil characters in your name
- Adding, deleting, or modifying the punctuation in your name (e.g. Audrey See-Toh)
- Adding, deleting, or modifying your English/Western/Christian name (you can have an English name, such as John, without being Christian)
- Adding, deleting, or modifying your Hanyu Pinyin name (e.g. Chen Shu Ling)
- Changing the order of the words in your name (e.g. Albert Ong Li Ming instead of Ong Li Ming Albert)
- Correcting misspelled names
- Inserting married names, and
- Inserting Baptism or religious names
Can I change my name through a deed poll if I have outstanding legal obligations?
Can I change my child’s name without the consent of the other parent?
Can I change my name through a deed poll if I am a Singaporean living abroad?
Can I change my name to a non-English name through a deed poll?
Can I change my name through a deed poll if I have a criminal record?
How can I get a copy of my deed poll after changing my name?
My child doesn't have an NRIC yet. What would be the steps for a name change?
If your child does not have an NRIC yet, it is good practice for the parents to do the following:
- Change the name of your child in the Passport or apply for a new Passport for the child so that the new name will be updated at the ICA records, or
- Visit the Registry of Births and Deaths at ICA to update the name with the deed poll (note that if your child is above 1 year old, you can’t change their name in the Birth Certificate, but only the ICA record).
If your child has an NRIC, you should attend the ICA to change their name within 28 days from the date of the deed poll.
