Change of Surname

To be able to change the surname the following legal reasons must be present:

• The present surname looks ridiculous or offensive.
• The present surname is difficult to pronounce or write.
• The applicant is of foreign origin and wants a surname, which facilitates his/her classification in the home country.
• The applicant wants a surname, which he/she held previously.
• The first name and surname as well as the day of the birth of the applicant corresponds with another person in such a manner that it can come to mistakes.
• The applicant wishes a double name due to marriage, or wishes to give up the existing double name.
• The applicant wants to receive the surname of his/her parents or one of his/her parents.
• The applicant is under age and is to receive the surname of the person, who has guardianship or is in his/her care and the care is not intended for a short time.
• The applicant can give convincing reasons that the change of his/her surname is necessary, in order to avoid unreasonable disadvantages.
• The applicant wishes another surname for other legal reasons ("Wunschname").

Responsible Austrian administrative authority for the change of family and first names is the district administrative authority (Bezirksverwaltungsbehörde), in which the applicant has his/her domicile or usual stay or had his/her last domicile. If the applicant does not have a domicile in Austria or never had a domicile in Austria, then the Magistrate of the City of Vienna is responsible.

More information is available at Austrian Government Help Site.

Condition: The marriage must be dissolved.

Necessary Documents:

• Birth certificate *)
• Proof of Citizenship (Staatsbürgerschaftsnachweis)
• Marriage Certificate(s) of previous marriage(s) *)
• Proof of dissolution of previous marriage
• Birth certificate of children born-in-wedlock *)

Each surname held before can be regained again. Restriction: A surname taken in the course of a former marriage can only be re-taken if children were born in-wedlock during the marriage.

The Responsible Authority in Austria to send the documents is the register office of the last marriage. Was the marriage ceremony abroad, the responsible authority is the Register Office in Vienna (Standesamt Wien – Innere Stadt).

*) Foreign documents (i.e. documents not issued by Austrian authorities) usually require the relevant legalization to be recognized in Austria. Documents issued by Australian or New Zealand authorities require an "Apostille", issued by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade or a passport office (see Smarttraveller for contact information) or the New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs, Authentication Unit. See Authentication for further information.