Countersigning passport application

Countersigning passport application

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Discussion

ro250

Original Poster:

2,864 posts

63 months

Monday 20th March 2023
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Surprisingly little info online on this (and contradictory too).

I just applied for my son's first Adult passport (he has a Child passport due to expire soon). I was surprised it didn't ask for his photo to be countersigned/verified. I had our nominated person's email address ready as I know it's done online these days but I wasn't asked for it.

So is it the case the countersigning isn't needed even though it's his first adult passport? Maybe because he has a valid child one? Or do they ask later in the process?

LuS1fer

41,539 posts

251 months

Monday 20th March 2023
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I had to send details of a contersigning person (a police officer) when I upgraded my son's passport to adult.

ro250

Original Poster:

2,864 posts

63 months

Monday 20th March 2023
quotequote all
LuS1fer said:
I had to send details of a contersigning person (a police officer) when I upgraded my son's passport to adult.
Thanks - Was that during the initial application process?

croyde

23,701 posts

236 months

Monday 20th March 2023
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My 17 year old's first adult passport application last summer involved having to supply the email of the witness to be, who was contacted by the passport office the next day.

My 20 year old lost his passport a couple of months ago and he still had to do the witness thing, even though it was a replacement.

LuS1fer

41,539 posts

251 months

Monday 20th March 2023
quotequote all
ro250 said:
LuS1fer said:
I had to send details of a contersigning person (a police officer) when I upgraded my son's passport to adult.
Thanks - Was that during the initial application process?
I can't remember, if I'm honest. I know I sent details of a local small business owner, which they appeared to ignore so I sent the second (cop) and it was processed.

ro250

Original Poster:

2,864 posts

63 months

Monday 20th March 2023
quotequote all
Interesting - thanks all. Let's see if they ask as part of the process - just trying to get in before a quarter of their staff go on strike...

surveyor

18,061 posts

190 months

Monday 20th March 2023
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Did my 17 year olds renewal a few weeks ago online.

No counter signature was required.

Road2Ruin

5,410 posts

222 months

Monday 20th March 2023
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I have been the witness. They emailed me regarding my godsons's application. Asked me loads of questions, my passport details and had to verify a picture of him

ro250

Original Poster:

2,864 posts

63 months

Wednesday 29th March 2023
quotequote all
Thought would be useful to update as I hate threads which don't get a follow up. My son's passport is now at the printing stage so they did not require counter signatory for the photos. Judging by some of the comments here, and the mixed info online, I suspect they only do this for a random selection.

This was moving from a child to a first adult passport.

Also, I know I got in just before the planned strike, but it was really quick - applied last Monday and passport printed the following Wednesday.

bloomen

7,212 posts

165 months

Wednesday 29th March 2023
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There must be many people who can't track down anyone who fits the bill to vouch for who you are, and that person has to be willing to do it.

I can't think of one single candidate if I had to do it now. I'd probably have to track down a bent copper and pay them off.


markymarkthree

2,497 posts

177 months

Wednesday 29th March 2023
quotequote all
bloomen said:
There must be many people who can't track down anyone who fits the bill to vouch for who you are, and that person has to be willing to do it.

I can't think of one single candidate if I had to do it now. I'd probably have to track down a bent copper and pay them off.
Do you know any nurses ?

bloomen

7,212 posts

165 months

Wednesday 29th March 2023
quotequote all
markymarkthree said:
Do you know any nurses ?
Nope. The only 'professionals' or respectable people I know are either relatives or in law types.

Everyone else is an insane scumbag. Or dead.

Scabutz

8,056 posts

86 months

Wednesday 29th March 2023
quotequote all
bloomen said:
There must be many people who can't track down anyone who fits the bill to vouch for who you are, and that person has to be willing to do it.

I can't think of one single candidate if I had to do it now. I'd probably have to track down a bent copper and pay them off.
It makes me laugh the list of recognised professions and why it hasn't moved with the times much. A chiropodist, or optician, professional photographer, or a person who works in a bank can, but I who works in IT manages 85 people, responsible for a budget in the millions, responsible for the security of personal data and confidential data of multinationals, cant.

MarcoD

200 posts

218 months

Wednesday 29th March 2023
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Scabutz said:
bloomen said:
There must be many people who can't track down anyone who fits the bill to vouch for who you are, and that person has to be willing to do it.

I can't think of one single candidate if I had to do it now. I'd probably have to track down a bent copper and pay them off.
It makes me laugh the list of recognised professions and why it hasn't moved with the times much. A chiropodist, or optician, professional photographer, or a person who works in a bank can, but I who works in IT manages 85 people, responsible for a budget in the millions, responsible for the security of personal data and confidential data of multinationals, cant.
If you work for a VAT-registered or a limited company you do qualify as a manager.

bloomen

7,212 posts

165 months

Wednesday 29th March 2023
quotequote all
I seem to recall they changed the requirement to it being an actual friend/ acquaintance type thing rather than being any official person who should know who you are.

Which discounts your doctor, post master etc. Not that I've seen a doctor for well over a decade. And I think they stopped doing it before because so many people were asking them.

I don't really see how else it can be done, but it's a pretty onerous and narrow set of outlines. Maybe they should look at your school photo and if there's enough resemblance - colour, number of eyes - that'll do.

Scabutz

8,056 posts

86 months

Wednesday 29th March 2023
quotequote all
MarcoD said:
If you work for a VAT-registered or a limited company you do qualify as a manager.
Ah I only read the director bit and didn't see manager. OK so I can. Carry on.

Won't advertise that as everyone will be asking me.

98elise

27,835 posts

167 months

Wednesday 29th March 2023
quotequote all
Scabutz said:
bloomen said:
There must be many people who can't track down anyone who fits the bill to vouch for who you are, and that person has to be willing to do it.

I can't think of one single candidate if I had to do it now. I'd probably have to track down a bent copper and pay them off.
It makes me laugh the list of recognised professions and why it hasn't moved with the times much. A chiropodist, or optician, professional photographer, or a person who works in a bank can, but I who works in IT manages 85 people, responsible for a budget in the millions, responsible for the security of personal data and confidential data of multinationals, cant.
It is a bit odd.

When I was a Petty Officer in the RN (so years of service and managing teams doing fairly responsible stuff) I wasn't able to countersign. When I was a Director of my one man band Ltd Company (about £200 and a couple of days to set up), I could!

Pixelpeep Electric

8,600 posts

148 months

Wednesday 29th March 2023
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plain old civil servant can do it for you i think - there's over 483,450 of us, apparently smile

croyde

23,701 posts

236 months

Wednesday 29th March 2023
quotequote all
My son is 20, never worked, no real mates, all online.

I was stumped as to who to get to countersign his passport.

In the end his mum's mate who is a one man Ltd company.

The days of knowing your bank manager, local councillor, judge, doctor are long gone for the young.

Also paper bills to prove your address and not accepting online versions.

ro250

Original Poster:

2,864 posts

63 months

Wednesday 29th March 2023
quotequote all
From the .gov website, the rule on doctors is that are not permitted "unless they state that they know you well (for example they’re a good friend) and that they recognise you easily from your photo"