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Original poster

Anyone managed to get a child passport renewed without the required countersignature?

177 replies

ToodelooMarylou · 17/03/2022 20:00

I need to renew my child's passport (dc will be 5 in a few months) and we don't know anyone from the list of acceptable professions to countersign. My dcs first passport was countersigned by our dentist but we have changed dentist since. Has anyone been in similar circumstances? Has anyone managed to get a child's passport renewed without being countersigned?

OP posts:

BendingSpoons · 17/03/2022 20:20

A childminder would work, although unsure of retired. A hairdresser? Basically someone who has 'something to lose' workwise if they lie. They aren't that strict on professions I don't think.

Teacher might be tricky if he is only 5, probably won't fulfil the 2 years criteria.

Original poster

ToodelooMarylou · 17/03/2022 20:20

Thank you for replying. None of the mums have known me for two years. I find the requirement quite elitist. Sort of like if you don't know anyone of good standing then you are not allowed to travel ? I am happy to go to a passport office (in London if there is one) if they want to see my child but I am an introvert so I don't make friends very easily so what my child can't travel?

OP posts:

Inclinedtochatter · 17/03/2022 20:20

Just applied online to renew DS passport and wasn't asked for a counter signature. Got an email today to say his application was approved and they're in the process of printing it.

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dementedpixie · 17/03/2022 20:21

@Inclinedtochatter

Just applied online to renew DS passport and wasn't asked for a counter signature. Got an email today to say his application was approved and they're in the process of printing it.

What age is he?

bowlingalleyblues · 17/03/2022 20:21

Do you know any teachers? They don’t have to be your child’s teacher. Just any teacher who has known you for more than 2 years.

Do you work? Someone at your work who is a manager, HR, or director of a ltd company could help?

Does your child attend nursery? The manager or owner of the nursery if it’s a Ltd company can sign if they’ve known you more than 2 years.

Grumpysister · 17/03/2022 20:22

Our hair dresser has done several of ours - she suggested it when I was moaning about exactly this problem. She’s done lots apparently and as she has qualifications and is a member of a trade body, she counts as a “person of good standing”. It really isn’t restricted any more.

catfunk · 17/03/2022 20:22

Doctor, teacher. Local shopkeeper.... there are lots of options. It's not elitist. Everyone has access to doctors teachers and corner shop owner surely.

Original poster

ToodelooMarylou · 17/03/2022 20:23

@Inclinedtochatter thank you so much for replying. Can I ask how old your dc is? I think that makes a difference. Seems like when you renew at age 5 you need it countersigned but not after that?

OP posts:

LubaLuca · 17/03/2022 20:25

Do you know any of your local business owners? Landlord or landlady in the pub, corner shop owner, hairdresser? A Guide or Scout leader? Other leaders of groups your children go to ie swimming school owner?

dementedpixie · 17/03/2022 20:25

Under 12s need a countersignature

namechange30455 · 17/03/2022 20:25

@ToodelooMarylou

Do you have a DP? Do either of you work?

Friends of your parents who you've known since childhood?

It does say to contact the passport advice line if you don't have anyone to countersign so I assume they'd be able to advise if you really have no one.

Original poster

ToodelooMarylou · 17/03/2022 20:25

@catfunk it is very much elitist. They don't accept doctors unless you know the doctor personally, so my gp won't sign. My child is still in nursery since September and was in preschool before that , so the teachers haven't known me for 2 years. I don't have a corner shop owner here, it's just Tesco and Co-Op.

OP posts:

CaptainMyCaptain · 17/03/2022 20:26

@MrsSkylerWhite

Pre-school teacher/teacher?

A teacher needs to have known the parent for two years. (This probably applies to other people who can countersign too.) As a teacher I signed if I had known the parent because I'd taught an older child.

mrsed1987 · 17/03/2022 20:27

Who did it first time round?

CrabbyCat · 17/03/2022 20:27

President or secretary of a recognised organisation counts - so president or secretary of the parents association would do. If your child went to preschool, if it wasn't a commercial one then they will similarly have a committee with a volunteer president / secretary that will probably have been other parents.

TheAbbotOfUnreason · 17/03/2022 20:32

It’s not elitist - it’s ensuring that you’re legitimately renewing a child’s passport and not subbing in another person.

The UK list of acceptable counter signatories is more wide ranging than other countries.

weaselish · 17/03/2022 20:35

It can be a "person of good standing in the community" or someone from the recognised profession list. You must know someone in either of those categories? Even a publican is on the list of registered professions and can sign it, it's not that elitist. A childminder would be someone of good standing as they'd have to be registered. Think of anyone who's registered in any kind of organisation/ professional body.

TristesseDurera · 17/03/2022 20:35

@mrsed1987

Who did it first time round?

Yep, this

rattlemehearties · 17/03/2022 20:36

You haven't known anyone outside your family for more than two years? They need to know you, not your child.

rhubarb84 · 17/03/2022 20:36

I sympathize OP. Much as people are saying the list is long so it must be possible to think of someone, sometimes it just isn't. I think if you've moved around a bit, and are new to an area, it's really hard.

I've just renewed both of my children's, and fortunately we have a neighbour who is on the list of professions, who has known us (just) long enough, and who we know enough for it not to be awkward asking. But they were pretty much my only good option.

Original poster

ToodelooMarylou · 17/03/2022 20:38

@namechange30455 thank you for replying. I don't work atm but partner has been in a new employment within the last two years and really he's been wfh mostly due to pandemic. He doesn't keep in touch on a personal basis with his ex colleagues. I don't have family and my partners family aren't very close. One of his uncles lives abroad (hardly any contact anyway) and other has passed away. I think there is just one couple who are friends of his parents and his parents are in touch with but they don't really know much about my dp. So they can't really say that they know him.

OP posts:

rhubarb84 · 17/03/2022 20:41

Just to follow on, to those asking 'who did it first time?' - in our case we've moved to a different city since then.
Some people have a much more fragile network of contacts than others, for various reasons.

Gladioli23 · 17/03/2022 20:41

What about the people who were at your DC's preschool/nursery? If he was there 2 years one of them would have known you two years maybe? Or do you have any old school friends or people from an old job who you still know?

I think you could class anyone who is involved with local church groups or community groups or scout groups etc as of good standing in the community, as well as anyone on the PTA etc.

TheYearOfSmallThings · 17/03/2022 20:42

Could you ask the manager of his old preschool? As a business owner they can sign it, and they have known you and your DC for long enough.

LubaLuca · 17/03/2022 20:48

You need to be acquainted with them is all, not good friends. They don't need to know huge amounts about you, just that you are who you say you are. An old family friend would be acceptable - they can confirm they've known you for more than 2 years.

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