Cost & Time for Karnataka Gazette Name Change Notification (2026 Rates)
By Aditi Rao, Documentation Consultant | 6 years handling Gazette filings across Karnataka | Based in Bangalore
If you are trying to get an idea of what it costs to get a name change notification in Karnataka through the Gazette in 2026, and how long it will take to wait for it, this is the only page that will give you real numbers, not estimates.
I've assisted clients with Karnataka Gazette notifications for name changes over the past couple of years. The costs have varied. So has the process, slightly. What I am putting down here is what we've found this year, not what I recall from 2024, nor is it an estimate.
Table of Contents
What Goes Into the Cost: Break It Down First
The total cost of the Karnataka Gazette notification name change is not one but three or four different items that most people think of as one item. This is where the confusion begins.
Let's look at the actual cost of what you are paying for:
- Gazette publication fees, which are paid to the Karnataka Government's Printing, Stationery, and Publications Department. This is the actual cost of getting your announcement published in the Karnataka Gazette.
As of early 2026 (verified through the Karnataka Government Press), the base cost of the publication fees for the name change announcement is around ₹400 to ₹600, depending on the length of the announcement. If your announcement is lengthy, with many aliases, addresses, etc., the cost may be slightly more. (This is per word or per line, depending on the office you go to. It's best to ask first before preparing your announcement.)
- Affidavit cost, which is notarized, usually done at a notary's office. This varies between ₹100 to ₹300 in Bangalore. If you are not in Bangalore, the cost is generally less.
- Newspaper advertisement charges – this is optional, but banks and passport offices often demand it separately. For a classified advertisement in a Kannada newspaper, the cost can vary from ₹500 to ₹1,500, depending on the newspaper and whether it is a Bangalore edition. For English newspapers in Bangalore, the cost can increase to ₹2,000 or more.
- Agent or facilitation fees – if you use an agent, you'll have to pay an extra ₹1,000 to ₹3,000.
The total cost of doing it yourself: approximately ₹1,000 to ₹2,000.
The total cost of doing it yourself, including newspaper ads: approximately ₹3,000 to ₹5,000.
Total Cost — Realistic Numbers for Bangalore, 2026
Here's what a complete Karnataka Gazette name change notification costs end-to-end in Bangalore:
|
Component |
Approximate Cost |
|
Government Gazette publication fee |
₹600 – ₹1,200 |
|
Stamp paper (₹100 non-judicial) |
₹100 |
|
Notary fee |
₹100 – ₹300 |
|
Agent/service fee |
₹800 – ₹1,500 |
|
Total (typical range) |
₹1,600 – ₹3,100 |
If anyone quotes you ₹4,000 to ₹5,000 for a basic name change Gazette without newspaper publication, object. Or ask them for another quote.
For online platforms for Gazette notification for name change online, costs can vary from ₹1,800 to ₹2,800. There is some convenience in using these online platforms. You don't have to waste your time going to Government Press or figuring out submission schedules. How much your time is worth to you is your call.
What the Process Actually Looks Like
To get your Karnataka Gazette notification for a name change, it's not a difficult process, but it's a slow one. To start, you need to draw up an affidavit stating your previous name, your new name, your reason for the name change, and your address. This then needs to be notarized. It then needs to be sent, along with a covering letter, your id, and the fee, to the Karnataka Government Press office in Bangalore (the location is in the Gulbarga Road area, though it's always best to check as departments are constantly moving locations). If you are not in Bangalore, there are agents that can help you submit your papers. The Gazette Notification for name change online does not currently exist as a proper online service, so you need to think of this as an offline service for the time being, even though there is a portal being developed.
The process of getting your Karnataka Gazette notification for name change is not complex. It is just slow.
First, you need to draw up an affidavit with your old name, new name, reasons for the name change, and your address. This needs to be notarized. Then you need to submit it along with your application letter, ID proof, and the application fee to the Karnataka Government Press office in Bangalore. The office is located in the Gulbarga Road area. The address needs to be confirmed since offices are prone to relocating.
For those who are not in Bangalore, there are agents who can assist with the submission.
The Gazette Notification for name change online process does not exist. You will need to physically submit your documents. The process is in development and needs to be treated as offline until the development is complete.
How Many Days Does It Take?
This is the most common query I get asked. And the truth is: it’s a tad more than what the government promises.
The Karnataka Gazette is released every Thursday. After your ad is accepted, it is kept on a queue to be included in the next available issue. So, if your ad is cleared by Monday or Tuesday of that week, you can make it to the next issue. Otherwise, you have to wait for the following Thursday.
Realistically, from the day you submit your ad to the day your ad is featured in the Karnataka Gazette, you’re talking about 2 to 6 weeks.
And then, from the day your ad is featured in the Karnataka Gazette, to get your PDF version or certified version of your ad, which you would need for passport changes, bank KYC, school records, etc., you’re talking about 1 to 3 weeks.
One of my clients took three weeks to get their ad featured in the Karnataka Gazette, only to discover that their affidavit was in the wrong format for the notary. Get the affidavit format from the government press itself, or from an agent you can trust, before you get it notarized. It saves your full cycle
Do You Need a Newspaper Ad Alongside the Gazette Notice?
Technically speaking, only the notification in the Karnataka Gazette is what is needed. But, no, I would say not always in theory either.
Banks are quite erratic on this issue. The HDFC bank branches I have interacted with in Bangalore only require the notification in the Gazette. Some SBI branches require the newspaper ad in addition to the notification in the Gazette. The passport office requires the circular from the Ministry of External Affairs, which in turn requires only the notification in the Gazette. However, some officers in the passport office require the newspaper ad in addition to the notification in the Gazette.
Honest suggestion: It would be best to contact the institution you are updating your records with to see what they require before you splurge on a display ad. The classified section would suffice in most cases if you feel you do need to use a newspaper. Display ads for a name change announcement are a waste of money in most cases.
Can You Speed It Up?
Not officially. There's no tatkaal or priority track for Gazette publications. The Government Press works on its own schedule.
What does help:
- Make sure your document is complete and submit it for the first time. Incomplete or incorrectly formatted submissions are returned, and you lose your turn in line.
- Make your submissions early in the week. Submissions received Friday afternoon or later may not be logged until Monday.
- Use an agent familiar with the current format requirements. The draft format is important, and errors in the notice text result in rejection.
- What does not help:
Calling the office frequently. The people there are busy handling a high volume of submissions. A polite follow-up after 15 working days is okay. Calling every other day is not.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)
What are the Karnataka Gazette name change notification fees in Bangalore 2026?
The publication fees of The Gazette are around ₹400-₹600 for a standard entry. Add notary fees, which range from ₹100-₹300, and you are looking at less than ₹1,000 if you are doing it yourself. The agent fees and ads are additional and optional, depending on your specific requirements.
How many days for Karnataka Gazette notification approval?
The Gazette publication occurs every Thursday. It may take you anywhere between 2-6 weeks from the time of document submission until publication, depending on the Thursday your document clears for publication. Getting a certified copy or a PDF extract of your document from The Karnataka Gazette publication may take another additional week or so. Stop planning your passport appointment for two weeks from today. It may be that long. It may not be.
Can I file a Gazette notification for name change online in Karnataka?
Not entirely, at least until 2026. Physical document submission is still required. There is a portal called Karnataka Rajyapatra, but that is only for download and viewing. It is best to check with the Karnataka Government Press for the latest updates. This is one part of the process where the system has not yet entirely caught up with the digital age.
Is a newspaper ad mandatory alongside the Karnataka Gazette notice?
No. Notification in the Gazette is the legal requirement. However, individual institutions, such as banks, passport offices, and universities, may ask for newspaper ads. Gazette Notification for name change alone is legally sufficient according to most central government circulars. Whether the individual branch officer complies is another question altogether. It is best to check with the institution you are dealing with.
Where do I get the Karnataka Gazette PDF of my published notice?
After publication, the Karnataka Rajyapatra website will carry the published issue. However, it requires knowledge of the publication date and issue number to find your specific notice. For obtaining certified copies – which most institutions actually require – it is necessary to get in touch with the Government Press or arrange for an agent to collect it. One phone call to clarify the process before your notice is published can save considerable time later.
What if I made an error in my gazette notification after publication?
File a corrigendum. It is another notification that corrects the original one. The process and charges are similar. Not the most convenient. It is advisable to double-check all spellings of names, dates of birth, and addresses before submitting your notice for the first time.
Rates verified through direct inquiry and agent confirmations, March 2026. Government fees are subject to revision — confirm at the Karnataka Government Press before filing.
