Can I Get a Passport With a Single Name (Without Surname)?

The passport itself probably isn't the difficult part. The bigger headache can be using a single name with foreign systems.

I have a single-name Indian passport and have had to deal with forms asking for “First Name” and “Last Name.” Different websites handle it differently, so I don't think there's one universal way to enter a single name for every airline or visa system.

For the Indian passport application, though, the official instructions are quite clear: if you don't use a surname, leave the surname field blank and put your full name in the Given Name field.

I would also avoid putting “NA,” “N/A,” “None,” or repeating your name in the surname field unless the particular system specifically tells you to do that. Those can create inconsistencies between your passport and other records.

If you're applying for a foreign visa, follow that country's own instructions. The fact that your Indian passport has no surname doesn't automatically mean you should alter your Indian passport name.

And if you're considering adding a surname permanently, that's a different question from simply filling out the passport form. A name change can affect your other documents, so I'd make that decision carefully rather than doing it just to satisfy an online field.

Mine was slightly different because I already had an Indian passport with only my given name.

When I renewed it, I kept the same name rather than splitting it into first name and surname. There was no reason for me to add a surname that wasn't part of my existing documents.

One thing I found interesting in the Passport Manual is that India does allow applicants who previously had a single-name passport to split the existing name into given name and surname in certain circumstances, provided they have the required supporting public documents. The manual gives examples of people whose entire name was previously in the Given Name field.

But that's different from saying everyone should split their name.

If all your documents consistently show Aarav as your name, I'd be very careful about suddenly changing it to something like “Aarav Kumar” unless you actually have supporting documents establishing that name.

Also, remember that the passport application has separate Given Name and Surname fields, but the existence of the Surname field doesn't mean every Indian applicant must have a surname. The current Passport Seva application instructions explicitly provide for applicants who don't use one.

I'd keep the name consistent with your documentary evidence unless you deliberately want to go through a name-change process.

Yes, it is possible to have an Indian passport without a surname. I had the same situation because my name has always been a single name.

The important thing is not to invent a surname just to make the application form look complete.

The current Passport Seva instructions specifically say that if you do not use a surname, you should leave the Surname column blank and enter your full name in the Applicant's Given Name column.

That's what I did when I applied.

My passport ended up showing my entire name in the Given Name field, with the surname field blank.

The issue I would think about separately is international travel. Having a single-name passport is not necessarily a problem with the Indian passport itself, but some foreign visa systems may handle first name/last name fields differently. The Passport Seva instructions themselves even warn that some embassies, including the U.S. Embassy, may insist on a surname for visa issuance.

So I wouldn't change your Indian name just because of the passport application. If you are planning to apply for a particular country's visa soon, check that country's current requirements before deciding whether a legal name change makes sense.

I would suggest reviewing all your current documents before deciding. A friend of mine added a surname during passport renewal in Australia, and it was treated as a name change rather than a routine renewal.

He had to provide additional documentation supporting the revised name format. The process wasn't difficult, but it did require extra verification.

If your visa records, bank accounts, tax documents, and foreign residency documents all use a single name, changing the passport name format could mean updating several other records later. That's something worth considering before submitting the application.

My experience was different. I'm based in Canada and renewed my Indian passport earlier this year with the same single-name format as my previous passport.

The passport office did not ask me to change my name. Since I wasn't requesting any modification, the renewal was processed normally. However, I've noticed that some airline booking systems don't handle single names very well. I occasionally have to follow the airline's instructions for entering my name exactly as it appears in the passport.

Requirements can change, but in my case, keeping a single-name passport was possible because I wasn't making any changes to my existing records.