Introduction
One of the first questions people ask when considering a legal name change is: “How much will the government charge me?” Understanding the official fee structure helps you budget correctly and avoid overpaying. While various service providers quote different total costs, the government’s official fees are fixed and transparent. This guide breaks down exactly what the government charges for processing your gazette name change online application, eliminating confusion and helping you understand where your money goes.
Official Government Fee Structure
The Government of India charges different fees depending on the category of the applicant. For adults above eighteen years of age, the official gazette publication fee is one thousand one hundred rupees. This fee is paid directly to the Department of Publication and covers the cost of processing your application, verifying documents, and publishing your name change in the official Gazette of India.
For minor children below eighteen years of age, the fee is higher at one thousand seven hundred rupees. The increased fee for minors reflects additional verification requirements, as the government scrutinises applications for children more carefully to prevent misuse. Parents or legal guardians pay this fee on behalf of the minor.
Fee categories at a glance:
- Adult name change: Rs. 1,100
- Minor child name change: Rs. 1,700
- Government employee name change: Rs. 1,100
- NRI or overseas applicant: Rs. 7,500
Government employees pay the same fee as regular adults—one thousand one hundred rupees—though their notification may include additional information about their employment. For Non-Resident Indians or overseas applicants, the fee is significantly higher at seven thousand five hundred rupees, reflecting the additional processing and verification required for applicants living abroad.
What the Government Fee Covers
Your gazette notification for name change fee pays for several services provided by the Department of Publication. First, government officials carefully review your submitted documents to verify authenticity and completeness. They check that your affidavit is properly notarised, that your newspaper advertisement is genuine, and that your identity proofs are valid. This verification process ensures that only legitimate name changes are published.
The fee also covers the actual publication of your name change in the Gazette of India, which is printed and distributed to government offices across the country. Your name change becomes part of the permanent public record maintained by the government. Additionally, the fee includes the digital publication on the e-Gazette portal, making your notification accessible online forever. You can download your published notification free of charge from the official website after publication.
Payment Methods Available
The government provides convenient payment options for the gazette fee. The primary method is online payment through bharatkosh.gov.in, the government’s official payment portal. This platform accepts credit cards, debit cards, net banking, and UPI payments. Online payment generates an instant receipt that you must download and print for inclusion in your application file.
If you’re submitting your application in person at the Gazette office in Delhi, you can also pay by card at the office itself. However, the Gazette office doesn’t accept cash payments—only card or online payments are permitted. This cashless policy prevents corruption and ensures transparent transactions.
When making your payment online, carefully enter the correct department code and purpose of payment. Select “Name Change” or “Gazette Notification” from the dropdown menu and enter the exact amount as per your category. After successful payment, save the receipt PDF and take a printout. This receipt must be submitted as part of your complete application file.
Common Fee-Related Misconceptions
Many people are confused by the difference between the government fee and the total cost of the name change process. The government fee of one thousand one hundred rupees is just one component of your total expense. This fee only covers the gazette publication itself. You’ll have additional costs for stamp paper, notary charges, newspaper advertisement, photographs, and other documentation, which together typically add another one to three thousand rupees.
Some applicants mistakenly believe that paying extra money to agents can speed up the process or guarantee approval. This is false. The government processes all applications in the order received, and no amount of extra payment can accelerate your name change gazette online application. Officials follow strict timelines—four to five weeks for in-person submissions and eight to twelve weeks for courier submissions—regardless of who submits the application.
Another misconception is that the fee is refundable if your application is rejected. Government fees are non-refundable. If your application is rejected due to errors or incomplete documentation, you’ll need to pay the fee again when reapplying. This makes it crucial to ensure your application is perfect the first time.
Fees for Special Circumstances
Certain situations may affect the applicable fee or require additional payments. If you’re changing your name due to marriage and already have a marriage certificate, you still pay the standard adult fee of one thousand one hundred rupees. The marriage certificate serves as supporting documentation, but doesn’t reduce the fee.
For name changes after divorce, the fee remains one thousand one hundred rupees for adults. You’ll submit your divorce decree as additional documentation, but this doesn’t change the government charge. If you’re correcting a spelling error in your name rather than adopting a completely new name, the fee structure remains the same—one thousand one hundred rupees for adults.
If multiple family members are changing their names simultaneously, each person must pay the applicable fee. There’s no family discount or group rate. Each application requires separate documentation and a separate fee payment. However, if you’re travelling to Delhi to submit in person, at least you can submit multiple family members’ applications in one trip, saving on travel costs.
Avoiding Fee-Related Scams
Unfortunately, dishonest agents sometimes exploit people’s lack of knowledge about government fees. Some agents quote inflated “government fees” of five thousand or ten thousand rupees, pocketing the difference. Always remember the real government fees: one thousand one hundred rupees for adults, one thousand seven hundred for minors, and seven thousand five hundred for NRIs.
Other agents promise “expedited processing” for additional fees. No such service exists officially. The government doesn’t offer fast-track processing for name change applications. Anyone claiming they can speed up your application for extra money is lying.
Red flags indicating potential scams:
- Claims that government fees have recently increased to three thousand or more
- Offers to submit your application without proper documentation for higher fees
- Promises of publication within one week or two weeks
- Requests for cash payments rather than official online payments
Always insist on making payment directly through the official government portal rather than paying cash to agents. If you’re using professional services for help with documentation and filing, they should provide you with the official payment receipt from bharatkosh.gov.in showing the correct government fee amount.
Conclusion
Understanding the official government fee structure for your name change helps you budget accurately and avoid being overcharged by dishonest agents. For most adults, the government charges just one thousand one hundred rupees for processing and publishing their name change in the Gazette of India. Combined with other necessary expenses like stamp paper, notary fees, and newspaper advertisement, your total cost should range between five thousand and seven thousand rupees when using professional services, or as low as two thousand five hundred to four thousand five hundred rupees if handling everything yourself. The key is knowing exactly what the government actually charges versus what service providers add for their assistance. With this knowledge, you can make informed decisions about whether to handle the name change process in India independently or invest in professional help while ensuring you pay fair prices for services rendered.
