Countersigning a passport application

[IamAporcupine]

www.gov.uk/countersigning-passport-applications/accepted-occupations-for-countersignatories

I do not think I know anyone (well enough) who works in any of the professions from the list.
What do you understand by: "be ‘a person of good standing in their community’"

Scout leaders?

People volunteering with charities?

It's pretty open.

Anyone who owns a business? Is a manager? Works in a bank? Can also be a retired person so friends of your parents who know you?

As a teacher & Brownie leader I have countersigned loads. Got Tawny Owl to countersign mine.

As above.
Someone traceable, so a member of a professional body or other organisation.

The list is very extensive, covers every professional job plus business owners pub landlords. Have you moved about a lot?

Thanks!

However:
Do not know any scouts leaders or charity workers
Same for business/manager/bank people

I was not born in the UK so do not have any 'friends from my parents' here either

I work for the university in a research environment. Some of my colleagues are doctors, but it seems they are not allowed?

No nurses? I’m forever countersigning passports.

Drs are allowed if they know you personally, they can’t do it for patients. I would imagine that university research staff would qualify as signatories.

My DIL signed mine, wasn't questioned.

It's a really long list of types of people!

Nurses! That might be an option - I will ask
(although I definitely do not know them that well)

Some of my colleagues are doctors

Medical doctors or PhDs? I think the ruling about doctors applies specifically to GPs.

@TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross - I know!

If you work in a university, a senior academic would be fine - Head of Dept that sort of thing. When I last signed one, it said that the Counter signatory has to have known you for two years and has to hold a passport themselves. But check that still applies.

@TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross - both.
But I do not think PhDs are included anywhere in that list!

@2010Aussie - yes it seems that they have to hold a UK or Irish passport. That's the other thing - half (or more) of my team are foreigners!

Doctors are allowed. It's saying you can't have YOUR doctor (GP). I'd assume if you work in a university these are Phd doctors in science of some sort? Any of those would be fine.

I countersign - I'm an engineer.

Doctors are definitely allowed as long as you're not their patient - I've signed about 15 of these in the last couple of years, all for friends and their children who I know personally or as colleagues but have never treated.

PhDs are included as a member of a professional body usually. Just ask your colleagues if they have ever countersigned.

Lecturers are also allowed. Anyone in your department? Oh and our librarians are experts . Even I have countersigned one, and I only have an academic-related profession.

I recently applied to renew my passport on line and found that they didn't ask for any counter signatories - whereas I was sure that they had done in the past, when I renews using a paper form.

I've had one countersigned by my boss. He has no qualifications but put himself down (quite truthfully) as "company director" and there was no problem.

I've counter-signed as a lecturer (university) for both students and colleagues children - as they've done for me.