Forms to change your name under the amended Act to be available from today

With the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Amendment Act passed in parliament, the forms to change your name will be available from today.

Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says the application for the change of name could take up to five days because they need to make sure that they go through all the records properly.

Sayed-Khaiyum says there is no fee involved and people do not need to give a reason for the name change.

He adds the Fijian Elections Office can also receive applications from applicants and they are setting up their offices around the country.

Meanwhile the Fijian Elections Office is now expanding their services to ensure people get voter services in the most convenient way and business houses can now register for the services to be taken to their employees in their offices.

Supervisor of Elections, Mohammed Saneem says they have engaged with over 3,000 voters in the first 3 days of registrations and upgrading of registrations.

He says business houses can make appointments through their website, www.feo.org.fj to ensure the elections officials visit their offices for the services.

The Births, Deaths and Marriages Amendment Act removes the requirement for a deed poll and requires a person who wishes to change his or her name to do so by applying to have the change of name registered.

This has to be done at the Births, Deaths and Marriages Office.

The amendment also reduces the age from 21 to 18 years for those that want to change their name.