A Media Release dated 12 October 2012 issued by the Malta High Commission in Canberra highlighted changes made to the Civil Code of Malta to provide for a simplified process that allows individuals to amend their name that appears in Maltese public documents, such as passports, to the name they are commonly known as, other than that as registered on their Birth Certificate.
Article 253 (2A) of the Civil Code provides this opportunity through an application process to the Director of Public Registry, Valletta.
This simplified process is restricted to those whose “to be called” name is a translation in any European language of their name appearing on their Birth Certificate and can prove the use of this name through a previous Maltese ID card, passport or it results from another Act of Civil Status.
Those wishing to avail themselves of this regulation are to fill in a prescribed form addressed to the Director of Public Registry, Valletta, requesting this change. The form is to be endorsed by a declaration/oath stating that the name requested had been in use by the applicant in documents issued prior to 31 December 2011 and signed by a Commissioner of Oaths.
Where the name is not a translation of the name in a European Language, the current system of applying for a change of name to a Maltese Court of Law is still being retained.
This regulation is expected to become effective shortly.
This measure is being put into effect following discussions held during the Convention for Maltese Living Abroad held in Valletta in March 2010 when the issue was raised by some of the delegates and is another step forward in streamlining bureaucratic procedures.
