Book a daily newspaper that circulates where you live — and if this is for a passport, expect to need two: one English daily and one regional-language daily. That is the short answer, and the rest of this guide explains how to pick the right ones so the ad is right the first time.
A name change ad in newspaper is a public notice you publish before your new name becomes official on documents. It usually comes after a notarised affidavit — the affidavit comes first, and you arrange it with a notary yourself. Most offices accept the affidavit only if it is recent, often within six months. The ad then announces the change exactly as the affidavit states it.
The process is simpler than most first-timers expect. You pick the newspaper (or newspapers) your office asks for, write the notice using the details from your affidavit, book online, and the ad prints in the city edition you chose. There is no need to visit a newspaper office in person. releaseMyAd gives ready sample formats and publishes exactly what you approve — it does not provide, draft, notarise or translate the affidavit or the legal wording.
So, which newspaper for name change ad — the short answer?
If your office asked for one newspaper, book the daily that most people in your own district actually read. For many passport cases, the requirement is two newspapers: one in English and one in the regional language of the state you live in. The exact rule — one or two, and which languages — depends entirely on the office handling your file, so confirm it with them before you book. Choosing a well-known daily that circulates in your own district is the safest bet when your office gives you a free choice.
Which English newspaper should I pick for a name change ad?
Pick an English daily that circulates in your own city. The English newspapers that carry name change ads include:
- The Times of India
- Hindustan Times
- The Hindu
- The Telegraph
- The Tribune
- Deccan Chronicle
Any of these works when your office accepts an English daily — the deciding factor is circulation in your district, not prestige. If your office names a specific paper, follow that instruction exactly rather than substituting another.
Your best newspaper for name change ad is the one your office will recognise and your neighbours actually read. When in doubt between two, ask your office which it prefers.
Which regional-language newspaper should I pick?
The regional-language paper follows the same rule: a daily in the local language of your state that circulates in your own district. An English daily and a regional-language daily together is the pair many passport cases need. Options include:
- Hindi: Dainik Bhaskar, Amar Ujala, Dainik Jagran, Punjab Kesari
- Bengali: Anandabazar Patrika, Pratidin, Uttarbanga Sambad
- Marathi: Lokmat, Sakal, Maharashtra Times
- Telugu: Sakshi, Eenadu
- Malayalam: Malayala Manorama, Mathrubhumi
- Tamil: Daily Thanthi, Dinamalar
- Gujarati: Gujarat Samachar, Sandesh
- Kannada: Prajavani, Vijay Karnataka
- Odia: Sambad, Dharitri
Choose the language your state office or passport office recognises. A Tamil resident booking a Marathi daily, or vice versa, defeats the purpose — the notice must be readable by the local community and the officials reviewing it. If your office has specified the language, treat that as fixed and only choose between the papers in that language.
Why does the city edition matter more than the newspaper’s name?
This is the detail that trips up most first-timers. A classified ad prints only in the city edition you book — not in every edition of the newspaper across India. Booking the “Delhi edition” may not reach Gurgaon or Greater Noida, so the edition must circulate in your own district. Your own address in the ad, your edition, and your office should all point to the same place.
Before paying, check the edition name on the booking page. If you live in Lucknow, book the Lucknow edition, not the Delhi one, even for the same newspaper. An ad printed in an edition that does not reach your district may not serve its purpose, and that is entirely avoidable.
Should I confirm the number and language of newspapers with my office before booking?
Yes — always. Passport offices, gazette offices, schools and banks each have their own rules, and the rules vary. One office wants a single English daily; another wants one English plus one regional-language daily; a third may accept only specific papers. Because the rule depends on the office, confirm these three things with them before you book:
- How many newspapers: one or two?
- Which languages: English only, or English plus a regional language?
- Any named newspapers or named editions?
Getting this confirmed in writing (even an email or a printed instruction sheet) saves you the cost of re-booking. The affidavit wording and the ad details — old name, new name, father’s or husband’s name, address, affidavit date — must match exactly, so keep the affidavit beside you while booking.
How much does a name change ad cost?
Most name change ads cost Rs 300 to Rs 700 plus 5% GST. The price depends on three things: the newspaper you choose, the city edition, and the number of words in your ad.
Keep the wording short but complete. A standard format that offices recognise is:
“I, [OLD NAME], S/o / D/o / W/o [father’s or husband’s name], residing at [full address], have changed my name to [NEW NAME] vide affidavit dated [date]. Both names refer to one and the same person.”
Extra words add cost, so do not add explanations, greetings or extra details beyond what your office requires. The price shown before payment is the price you pay — no hidden additions. After payment, the ad goes to the newspaper’s editorial team for approval and prints on the next available date, often the very next day when booked before the cut-off time.
Once it prints, save your proof: download the page from the newspaper’s e-paper with its date and edition visible, or buy a printed copy. The GST invoice for the booking is emailed to you.
Common questions
Can I book a name change ad online without visiting a newspaper office? Yes. The entire booking happens online — you choose the newspaper and edition, enter the ad text from your affidavit, and pay. The ad prints in the newspaper’s city edition on the next available date, subject to the newspaper’s editorial approval.
Do I need one newspaper or two for a passport name change ad? Many passport cases need two: one English daily and one regional-language daily. But the rule depends on the office, so confirm the number and languages with your passport office before booking.
Which newspaper for name change ad after marriage?
The same rule applies as for any name change ad: book the daily (or dailies) your office asks for, circulating in your district. If your bank or the gazette office wants a regional-language daily alongside English, book both. Confirm their exact requirement first.
What if my office rejects the ad?
Two things to check first are the edition (did the ad print in an edition that covers your district?) and the wording (does it match the affidavit exactly?). Rebook with the correct edition and the exact affidavit wording. We cannot promise that any office will accept an ad — acceptance is their decision.
How long after booking does the ad print?
After payment, the ad goes for the newspaper’s editorial approval and prints on the next available date — often the next day when booked before the cut-off.
Conclusion
Choosing which newspaper for name change ad comes down to three checks: the languages your office asks for, the dailies that genuinely circulate in your district, and the correct city edition at booking. Confirm the requirement with your office, keep the affidavit wording exact, and book the edition that covers your own address. To book, go to the name change ad page on releaseMyAd and complete the booking online.