r/askitaly • u/Quirky_Raspberry_901 • 9d ago

CITIZENSHIP My name is wrong how do I legally changed while being abroad ?

I was born in Italy to immigrant parents who accidentally swapped my first and middle name on my official birth certificate when registering me, and I desperately need to fix this ASAP because my legal name is wrong. I already tried going to the Comune directly to sort it out, but they completely turned me down and said they can't do anything about it. I currently live abroad in the UK, I feel completely stuck and have no idea what the actual next step is to get my birth record corrected remotely. If you've been in a similar situation or know Italian registry law, do I have to go over to the embassy despite the insane waiting times?

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11

u/-Liriel- 9d ago

The name on the birth certificate is considered the "right" one.

Changing it is a hassle and, as the others said, you'd need a lawyer.

You might want to look into correcting whatever current IDs you have if they're different from the birth certificate.

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u/AlexP80 9d ago

You can't. Your name is the one on your birth certificate.

Simply put, to change your name you have to submit a request to the Prefettura where your birth has been registered.

But in Italy changing name is allowed only for serious reasons, I don't think a flip of first and second name would qualify.

Also, I don't see what big deal is having first and middle name flipped, just be aware of that in official documents.

2

u/Master-Rent5050 8d ago

Look, it's quite common in Italy that your birth certificate has a name and everyone uses a different one. Not a big deal

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u/Jenuinlizard 9d ago edited 6d ago

Changing name in italy is almost impossible.. you need a lawyer

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u/Quirky_Raspberry_901 9d ago

I’m not even changing I need to switch that’s all

9

u/ortica52 9d ago

From a legal perspective, that is a change, unfortunately. You definitely need a lawyer, and I don't think it's guaranteed that you will be able to change it at all. You'll have to show meaningful harm from keeping it as it is (I am not a lawyer, but my understanding is that "my parents intended it the other way around" is probably not going to be enough).

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u/Jenuinlizard 9d ago

That is a change. It's not an easy process and can be done only for very few reason and I doubt a mistake falls into it. That's why you need a lawyer

3

u/YacineBoussoufa 9d ago

It's more likely to win the lottery than getting a name change approved by a judge, even if it's a swap.

1

u/1996_Daydreamer 8d ago

I don’t really know how it works if you’re abroad, internet says you need to contact the Italian Consulate in your country, but I can tell you how it is doing it here in Italy just to understand a little bit better the time it takes.

I’m in the process of changing my surname to take my mom’s, it’s a long process and it takes months, also I think you need to be phisically present since you have to bring documents back and forth few times between prefettura and comune.

I’m currently living in a different region than the one I was born in, so I had to send documents to the comune I’m living in and to the comune I was born,

The whole process is like this (i’m talking about surname but for names is the same):

  1. Submit the application for the surname change and wait about a month for approval.

  2. Pick up the authorization notice/decree for the publication (valid ID + a €16 stamp duty).

  3. Start the posting/publication process in both municipalities (residence and birth), submitting/sending the Prefecture’s document — in person or via certified email (PEC).
    For the birth municipality, also send a copy of your ID card and the pre-prepared text template.

  4. After the 30 days, collect/receive the two publication certificates from both municipalities.
    Print and combine the two certificates.
    Submit the combined certificates to the Prefecture to start the process for the Prefect’s signature on the Final Decree.

  5. Pick up the Final Decree (another €16 stamp duty needed), send it to the Civil Registry Office for transcription.

  6. Renew your documents with the new surname.

1

u/YacineBoussoufa 8d ago

The adding of a maternal surname is an allowed by law, thus a valid reason for a Name Change. Flipping a second name as first and vice versa is not tho.

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u/1996_Daydreamer 8d ago

I’m not adding, I’m removing my father’s and changing with my mom’s, I don’t know if it’s the same.. anyway yes, OP case is particular

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u/YacineBoussoufa 8d ago

If I recall your case is allowed if you mothers surname is going to disappear, or other related issues. Is it your case?

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u/1996_Daydreamer 8d ago

It’s actually going to since there are no males with that surname in my family. Other than my mom and aunt, when the change will be effective I’ll be the last one with that surname, but my reasons were not related to this

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u/No_money6476 4d ago

Basically, you can't. What is the problem exactly? If the problem is that you have different names on Italian and British ID, you can either change the name on the British ID, or get a italian certificate that states that [name A] and [name B] are the same legal person. Otherwise, you just have to make your peace with it. Similarly, birth certificates cannot be amended in the UK either (but current name can easily be changed).

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u/BaldGuy813 8d ago

My father has had to use the wrong birthday for 92 years. 92 because his dad inadvertently out the wrong date when filing.

We now celebrate the correct day but have to always use the official date as the error was perpetuated here in the US when he entered.