When booking your travel, it's important to align your passport details with the required name fields as incorrect names in the incorrect field could result in being rejected during flight or hotel check in. This can be tricky since not all passports are structured the same way.
Different countries have diverse conventions for naming, and some passports include both the English name and the native name, leading to variations in how names are displayed.
Our main tip is here is to pay attention to the Passport Code instead of the name portion. As in the example above, most (if not all) passports always on structure it in a LAST NAME << FIRST NAME format, separated by <<. So in this example the last name is "NG" and the first name is LINDA ZEE ZEE.
Examples:
| Passport | Country |
China Last name (Family name): Yang First name (Given name): Zhao
On the name fields, the last name comes before the first name, which may from time to time cause confusion. But keep in mind that it's the passport code that should be followed. | |
Vietnam Last name (Family name): Nguyen First name (Given name): Thi Chau Ha
Similar to China's, the last name comes before the first name | |
Singapore Last name (Family name): Ng First name (Given name): Linda Zee Zee
At first glance it may seem that the last name is "Zee", but if you refer to the passport code, it shows the last name is 'Ng' |
Common passport name scenarios and how to enter them
| Name scenario | What this means | How to enter your name |
|---|---|---|
| No given name or no surname | Your passport shows only one name, with no clear separation between given name and surname | Enter the name exactly as shown on your passport. If the booking form requires both fields, follow airline or system guidance. Some systems require the single name to be entered as the surname, or use an accepted placeholder for the missing field. |
| Single-letter or very short names | Your legal name is one letter or very short (e.g. “R”) | Enter the name exactly as it appears on your passport. If the system does not accept a single letter, follow airline or support guidance before completing the booking. |
| Extremely long names | Your given name or surname exceeds typical character limits | Enter as many characters as the system allows, following the order shown on your passport. Do not shorten or truncate unless explicitly instructed by the airline or support team. |
| Hyphenated names | Your name includes a hyphen (e.g. Anne-Marie, Smith-Cook) | Enter the hyphen exactly as it appears on your passport. If the system does not accept hyphens, only remove or replace it if the airline or platform instructs you to do so. |
| Apostrophes or special characters | Your name includes characters such as an apostrophe (e.g. O’Brien) | Enter standard characters where supported. Avoid copying stylised or non-standard characters, as these may cause errors in booking systems. |
| Accents or diacritics | Your name includes accented characters (e.g. é, ñ, ü) | If the system supports accents, enter them as shown on your passport. If not, use the unaccented version only if the system requires it. |
| Transliteration differences | Your name originates from a non-Latin script (e.g. Arabic, Chinese, Korean) | Always use the romanised spelling shown on your passport, even if alternative spellings exist elsewhere. |
| Multiple surnames | You have more than one family name (common in Hispanic or Portuguese naming conventions) | Enter all surnames in the surname field, and given names in the given name field, exactly as shown on your passport. Do not reorder or omit names. |
| Patronymics or generational naming | Your passport includes patronymics or suffixes such as Jr, Sr, III | Enter these exactly in the field where they appear on your passport. Follow the passport layout rather than personal preference. |
| Titles embedded in the name | A title or prefix appears as part of your legal name on the passport | Only enter titles if they are printed as part of your legal name on the passport identity page. Do not add academic or honourific titles that do not appear on the passport. |
For any inquiries, our support team is available. By focusing on your passport code, you ensure seamless travel experiences and accurate bookings. Travel confidently with this simple guideline in mind.
If you have any questions regarding this, feel free to reach out to us via live chat support or contact us at +65 3129 2139, or via email at support@trutrip.co and we'd be happy to help!