Legal Gazette Process in Kerala
Citizens residing across Kerala seeking to change their legal name, surname, or rectify spelling discrepancies in sovereign documents must comply with both central statutory directives and state-specific stamp regulations. Under the Kerala Stamp Act, 1959, all formal affidavits for name changes must be sworn on a ₹100 Non-Judicial Stamp Paper before a registered Notary Public or Executive Magistrate within Kerala.
While the state maintains the Kerala Gazette (Government Central Press, Thiruvananthapuram), publication in The Gazette of India (Central Gazette, Civil Lines, Delhi) is strongly recommended for all citizens. Only the Central Gazette is unconditionally accepted by the Ministry of External Affairs for passport re-issuance, foreign embassies for immigration dossiers, and nationalized financial institutions.
Select Your District / City in Kerala
Click your district or city below to view location-specific legal guidance, local newspaper requirements, Regional Passport Office mappings, and stamp duty instructions:
Thiruvananthapuram
Regional Passport Office: RPO Thiruvananthapuram (Vazhuthacaud)
Kochi
Regional Passport Office: RPO Cochin (Panampilly Nagar)
Kozhikode
Regional Passport Office: RPO Kozhikode (Erhipalam)
Kollam
Regional Passport Office: PSK Kollam
Thrissur
Regional Passport Office: PSK Thrissur
Alappuzha
Regional Passport Office: PSK Alappuzha
Palakkad
Regional Passport Office: POPSK Palakkad
Malappuram
Regional Passport Office: RPO Malappuram
Kannur
Regional Passport Office: PSK Kannur
Kottayam
Regional Passport Office: PSK Kottayam
Kasaragod
Regional Passport Office: POPSK Kasaragod
Pathanamthitta
Regional Passport Office: POPSK Pathanamthitta
Idukki
Regional Passport Office: POPSK Idukki
Wayanad
Regional Passport Office: POPSK Wayanad
Thalassery
Regional Passport Office: PSK Kannur
Kayamkulam
Regional Passport Office: PSK Alappuzha
Nedumangad
Regional Passport Office: RPO Thiruvananthapuram
Tirur
Regional Passport Office: RPO Malappuram
Changanassery
Regional Passport Office: PSK Kottayam
Koduvally
Regional Passport Office: RPO Kozhikode
Standard 3-Step Legal Procedure across Kerala
Step 1: Execute Legal Affidavit on ₹100 Non-Judicial Stamp Paper
Draft a comprehensive declaration stating current name, new adopted name, residential address in Kerala, and reasons for change. Sworn before an active Notary Public.
Step 2: Dual Newspaper Insertion (English & Malayalam)
Publish classified public notices in one English daily and one Malayalam daily circulating in your district. Retain full intact newspaper sheets.
Step 3: Central Gazette Submission (Civil Lines, Delhi)
Compile digital CD with Word proforma, execute Section 65B Indian Evidence Act certificate, pay BharatKosh fees (₹1,100 adult / ₹1,700 minor), and dispatch to Controller of Publications.