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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:
Im2022 · 17/03/2022 20:48

What is a “person of good standing in the community”? Can their profession be anything?

Asking because I need to renew dd’s passport and I don’t know anyone from the listed professions. I work in a professional environment in a university, so could I ask a colleague?

Doctors signatures aren’t allowed anymore; they all must have bandied together and told the HM to take them off the list as they were probably getting too many requests 😂

Original poster
ToodelooMarylou · 17/03/2022 20:50

@TristesseDurera Our dentist. But we have changed dentist and don't know them for 2 years.

@rattlemehearties yes that's correct, I don't know anyone from that list, shop owners etc. We are both introverts so keep to ourselves which is not great for our dc I know. But we are sending dc to clubs etc so that hopefully dc won't wind up like us. We don't go to pubs so don't know any publicans either.

@rhubarb84 thank you for understanding. People who think 'surely you know someone of good standing' should check their privilege.

OP posts:
TheAbbotOfUnreason · 17/03/2022 20:52

@Im2022

What is a “person of good standing in the community”? Can their profession be anything?

Asking because I need to renew dd’s passport and I don’t know anyone from the listed professions. I work in a professional environment in a university, so could I ask a colleague?

Doctors signatures aren’t allowed anymore; they all must have bandied together and told the HM to take them off the list as they were probably getting too many requests 😂

Lecturer is one of the listed professions. They just need to have known you for 2 years.

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Original poster
ToodelooMarylou · 17/03/2022 20:54

@Im2022 I have no idea sorry. Worth contacting passport office and asking I suppose. I am sure I read somewhere on there that you shouldn't know them professionally, now if that's the case, that's really elitist.

OP posts:
LubaLuca · 17/03/2022 20:55

I wouldn't call knowing people in your community as 'privilege'. Check your own situation.

Original poster
ToodelooMarylou · 17/03/2022 20:55

I dont even know one professionally for 2 years apart from my gp which they don't accept.

OP posts:
QuillBill · 17/03/2022 20:56

You can't get a passport then. You have to have known the person for two years and like someone said before they have to have 'something to lose if they lie'.

If you haven't known anyone who runs a business or has a professional qualification then you can't get a passport. Whether you think it's elitist or not.

I can see how it would be elitist if you had to be related to them, but pretty much everyone knows someone who can countersign a passport. It doesn't have to be a doctor you are also friends with. Confused

WotgunShedding · 17/03/2022 20:58

I think the preschool is the best place to find someone, if your DC was there at least two years ago.

loopsdefruit · 17/03/2022 20:58

OP - Your child's Health Visitor?

lm2022 - You should be able to ask someone at work, check the list and see if there's anyone you can use. You can have a doctor sign, but only if you know them personally (as friends) not if they're just your doctor.

Original poster
ToodelooMarylou · 17/03/2022 20:58

Of course it is previlege. How often do you get to know people in that list for 2 years. Can I ask my tesco check out colleague to countersign the form? no? I didn't think so

OP posts:
Gladioli23 · 17/03/2022 20:58

When it says they should know you "not just professionally" they allow colleagues (and indeed specifically state colleagues are fine) - I think the idea is that they should be able to recognise you without looking your name up first essentially!

bellsbuss · 17/03/2022 21:00

Do you know any trades people who are a ltd company or vat registered ? People are always surprised when I say I can countersign as I'm a SAHM but listed as a Director for DH company. You'll find someone

Fabtasticfanatic · 17/03/2022 21:00

I think it is a bit elitist, but then so is international travel.

TheAbbotOfUnreason · 17/03/2022 21:00

@ToodelooMarylou

Of course it is previlege. How often do you get to know people in that list for 2 years. Can I ask my tesco check out colleague to countersign the form? no? I didn't think so
So who signed the original application?
wishuponastar1988 · 17/03/2022 21:01

Do you know anyone that works in a care home or as a community carer? My friend had hers signed by another friend who is a carer last year and it was accepted.

Original poster
ToodelooMarylou · 17/03/2022 21:02

@loopsdefruit thank you so much for your suggestion. I don't know if she'll sign really, don't even know if she works there anymore.ive seen her just about 3-4 times about 4 years ago and that's it. After that I tookdc to the baby weighing clinics for weighing and that's it. Never heard from them after those 3-4 initial visits

OP posts:
Mocara · 17/03/2022 21:03

@Theworldisfullofgs

School?
All of my childrens passports untill they were over 18 were signed by the head or on one or two occassions the teacher. They know you and your child .
weaselish · 17/03/2022 21:03

You're missing the point - it's not just that list of professions - it's that OR someone of good standing that you've known for 2 years - eg the example earlier of the hairdresser who's a business owner and member of professional associations.
You can pretty much choose anyone that is of "good standing" - this is NOT defined. I don't think knowing someone for more than 2 years is privileged.
What about from your childhood? One of your former teachers? Someone somewhere must have known you for more than 2 years, even if from ages ago.
If there is genuinely no one, no friend, no old acquaintance, family friend of parents or whatever then you can't get a passport I guess!
It'll be easier when your child starts school properly as your circle will have to widen. Equally if you get a job.

Geezabreak82 · 17/03/2022 21:04

You need to get a photo countersigned for a child's first passport and for any renewals under the age of 11. I am sorry that you are struggling to think of someone who can sign, and that makes it feel elitist.

It sounds to me like your best bet would be the manager of your child's pre-school so long as they attended for at least two years. The person doesn't need to know your child, they need to know you or your OH (whoever signs the form) for at least two years so your partner's parents friends could do it.

If you use facebook or any other social media you could post there and ask if any of your friends can do it. Get your OH to do the same. The list of who can sign is pretty long so there may someone you haven't thought of.

@Im2022 I don't know what the definition of a person of good standing is, but I'm sure someone working in a university would qualify. You shouldn't countersign for someone who you only know through work, but if they are also a friend then that's fine.

Thethingswedoforlove · 17/03/2022 21:04

We have just renewed and haven’t needed a counter signature but that might be because it was age 10 to age 15 so the photo wasn’t very different. I did wonder if it was still a requirement though?

Original poster
ToodelooMarylou · 17/03/2022 21:04

@TheAbbotOfUnreason I've address this in the original op and subsequent replies as well, our previous dentist, who we changed less than 2 years ago.

OP posts:
camelfinger · 17/03/2022 21:05

I’m with you OP. I’ve always asked the same friend who happens to be on the list. I’ve wondered about trying a different person to see if it would work but I’ve always chickened out. I think that the person who works in Tesco is a person of good standing as they need to be very trustworthy to do that job. And a supermarket worker is the modern day equivalent of corner shop owner.

CrabLegs · 17/03/2022 21:05

People who think 'surely you know someone of good standing' should check their privilege.

It's not privilege to build a relationship with your hairdresser or the bloke who services your car.

I've moved countries loads of times. You have to build up networks so that if you need someone to pick your child up,from school in an emergency or the roof blows off your house or you need someone to countersign your passport you are not completely isolated.

Isn't Tesco one of the biggest employers in the UK? You are hardly an anomaly because you work for Tesco.

TheYearOfSmallThings · 17/03/2022 21:06

Can I ask my tesco check out colleague to countersign the form?

If they have a British passport and NI number and have known you two years you probably can. I have a bog standard public sector job (not professional) and I have signed many. The only one ever queried was a first UK passport for an adult, and even that was approved in the end.

My signing days are done now because of Brexit (Irish passport so can no longer sign).

dementedpixie · 17/03/2022 21:06

@Thethingswedoforlove

We have just renewed and haven’t needed a counter signature but that might be because it was age 10 to age 15 so the photo wasn’t very different. I did wonder if it was still a requirement though?
If your child is age 12+ then you don't need a countersignature