Passport countersignaturies AIBU to think it's a ridiculous system

How would the passport computer know you'd got married, you dont need to change it if you dont want to, just make sure to book tickets in the name on the passport.

You must know that married women dont have to change their name

If you want to actually use it you have to change the name. Fine if it's sitting in a drawer. But signing someone's passport is also using it.

It wouldn't be easier "just to pop to the nearest passport office" if you live in the Highlands, Cornwall, wilds of Wales...

I have renewed my passport and my kids have, asking a family friend to confirm identities without any issues at all, so it does sound like it's a system glitch.

I've only ever counted signed on paper forms, guess it's computer based now is it?

Ive never had any trouble with the online countersigning system and I've done a few for people I know. It really simple if you copy the details from your current passport. The passport office has no idea where you live so it won't be anything to do with that ino

The recognised profession thing is ridiculous. I am most definitely a professional person but apparently don’t count
but whoever does it needs to copy the details from their current passport- for the vast majority of counter signers that is not going to be an issue

No requirement to change name on passport or at all on marriage

This really does seem to be a glitch on the system, nothing to do with who you have chosen. Can you start a new form or have you already paid the fee (presumably you have if you are at that stage?)

Indeed, I'm from there too (hoi) and even my once-in-a-decade trip to the embassy for renewal is less hassle than a British passport seems to be.

I feel it's reinforcing a class-based Who You Know society - if you don't have any Professionals (expensive qualifications, Career jobs) or Upstanding Members of Society (whatever that means) in your network, then you're not allowed to travel abroad

Surely it disproportionately affects people on minimum wage, without a higher level education, no family connections etc.

Pigs will fly before the UK will let go of its pointless bureaucracy. From experience, only Spanish bureaucracy is worse.
I can complete an entire process online and then just go the embassy or local consulate to pick it up in the UK, or it will be sent to my home address within 3 days in my home country if applying from there. Zero need for "outstanding member of community" to verify my identity. They don't care if my passport was lost or expired. I just need a photo and 60 euros.

The signing procedure is stupid anyway. Is there another country that does this?

Its almost like life would be easier with ID cards like other European countries...

Do you have a line manager at work? They can sign it.

Everything to do with proving identity in the U.K. is totally absurd! Don’t even get me started on having to show paper copies of electricity bills and such like if you ever need to “prove” your address…

When you do not need a new passport
You do not need to get a new passport if you:

• change your address or contact details
• get a new job
• change your appearance slightly - for example, dye your hair or grow a beard
• change your marital status (divorce, marry or form a civil partnership) but keep your name
• change your title, for example, doctor or professor
• become a national of another country as well as the UK
• emigrate

I think it's just you. Employ a new hamster/wheel and find a lucky clover next time 🍀

I’ve done it a bunch of times but it’s just happy with my .gov.uk email address.

I've moved and not told the passport people and I regularly sign. Like a pp said, must be a glitch.

It's a stupid system. The whole UK system is stupid. Where I come from (Netherlands), issuing of passports is devolved to local authorities. There are clear requirements for what you need to bring for a first passport or a renewal, slightly different ones for a child passport. It's standard stuff with no countersignatories needed, no nonsense about 'recognised professions' - just an efficient pragmatic setup. And the lead time is infinitely quicker than the UK too - next day for an urgent passport, 3 working days for standard.

High time the UK changed its ways.

Sounds like a temporary glitch. I've signed easily before as have many of my friends.

People get hung up about not knowing anyone on the list but the list is just ideas, it isn't insistent on them.

My friend can do them as a carer. Not on the list…the list is useless.

The address thing is rubbish as passports aren't linked to addresses!
Theres no requirement to update the name on your passport either.

Also the list says "upstanding member of community"... I can do it as a Scout Leader but that's not my profession!

It’s definitely not about changing address and notifying the passport office. I moved 18 months ago and have done about five since then with no issue at all, not having notified anybody!

The system doesn't recognise me either. Been married and living in the same place for over 10 yearss. Called them once to ask what the issue could be and they said they can't access my personal details for security reasons.... So it's a problem without a solution ...

I agree that it's ridiculous, but for another reason: the whole signatory system and sending off your existing, expiring passport. In my home country, we go to the Passport Office, fill out the form, they confirm our identity because we're physically there and showing existing ID, and you keep your old documents until you go to pick up the new one, at which point it gets cut. No searching around for signatories or worrying about the mail.

(The other ridiculous thing is that they demand your passport from another country to, which if they lose will be troublesome and expensive for you. At least they say now that they accept full colour photocopies of every page (🙄) and not your actual document.