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Original poster

Child passport renewal - identity confirmation. Who did yours?

71 replies

BankOfDave · 22/01/2023 16:39

Just doing this online and I need to provide details of someone to confirm DCs identity who has known me/them for 2 years.

Did you ask a teacher or just go with a neighbour/friend? I don’t know many people in the area.

OP posts:
StillWantingADog · 22/01/2023 18:52

Armed forces friend did it. Other options were teacher and police officer friends.

feellikeanalien · 22/01/2023 18:55

Friend's DH did it. He's an engineer and because he is in a particular professional body was able to do it. He did it all online.

Binfluencer · 22/01/2023 18:55

BlackFriday · 22/01/2023 17:13

The teachers in my school have been told (by the Head) that we are not to do passport forms for pupils in school.
But I will do them for friends outside the workplace.

@BlackFriday

Not up to the head what you do in own time, he/she sounds rather controlling.

Interested in this thread?

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General education
FineHairHatesDamp · 22/01/2023 19:06

Binfluencer · 22/01/2023 18:55

@BlackFriday

Not up to the head what you do in own time, he/she sounds rather controlling.

Show quote history

If you only know the child in the capacity of their teacher then it’s not unreasonable for the head to do this. If you know them outside of school that’s different. We had the same rule at the bank I worked for, we could only do them if we knew someone personally, not for customers even if they had banked with us for years.

Dipsydoodlenoodle · 22/01/2023 19:29

I've just got ours done. Your person had to give an email (assuming you are doing it online).

These are the questions she was asked:

Applicants DOB,Current Address. Place of Birth.

Parents names and the year they were born.

MuddlingThrough1724 · 22/01/2023 20:06

I'm one of the registered/listed professions, so am happy tobdonfor friends as needed. Fortunately, I have a friend who is a solicitor so she did the signing off for my kids. I can see how easy it would be to not know anyone who could sign for you though, so it's not an ideal system!

Original poster
BankOfDave · 22/01/2023 20:22

Dipsydoodlenoodle · 22/01/2023 19:29

I've just got ours done. Your person had to give an email (assuming you are doing it online).

These are the questions she was asked:

Applicants DOB,Current Address. Place of Birth.

Parents names and the year they were born.

Yes, just done it online.

There is no way my neighbours knows my DOB or place of birth so worried who I’m going to ask now!!

My and DP are remote WFH with no office. Contractors with no UK based colleagues. We have few friends and none in the professions listed. We are friendly with a few neighbours but not so well they know my birthday and place of birth! I feel like this process has highlighted my lack of network and despite it being a simple renewal (all UK born/residents etc.) I can see how this is quite difficult for some people. Last time I was working in an office and was much easier.

OP posts:
Beezknees · 22/01/2023 20:29

My friend does DS's, he is a teacher. He is not DS's teacher, he's a friend I've known since school.

MrsKrankyPants · 22/01/2023 20:37

Accountant at my husbands work or our police friend does it.

TheYearOfSmallThings · 22/01/2023 20:42

If you only know the child in the capacity of their teacher then it’s not unreasonable for the head to do this.

I agree. The requirement is that the child's parent should be personally known to the person signing. A child's teacher probably knows very little about a child's parents, and shouldn't be vouching for them.

wintersacomin · 22/01/2023 20:44

One of my best friends husband is a retired copper, he did our kids. Handily I am also in a listed profession so did their kids later the same year. Being able to do it online makes it so much easier.

evemillbank · 22/01/2023 20:49

A friend who meets the requirements

ofwarren · 22/01/2023 21:29

I'm autistic and have literally zero friends. When I did ours a few years ago I had to ask my Dad to ask his friend to do it for us. It's so awkward when you don't know anyone personally.

Phos · 22/01/2023 21:35

My friend who is a solicitor did ours for DD. She actually does know her as well though as we met through NCT.

Boomboom22 · 22/01/2023 21:38

They don't have to know your parents info and your middle names off hand. Ask them and if they say yes they might need dob and place of birth plus full name, maybe info about your parents. Hence why they need to know you not very your kids teacher or Dr. But you are allowed to talk to each other, they may nit know your kids middle name and dob but they have to recognise the picture of them.

Triffid1 · 22/01/2023 21:40

But it doesn't have to be someone local. It's all online so anyone from "home" can do it.

A v close.friend who is a teacher does mine. I send her an email reminding her of everyone's DOB and address because we might be close but she doesnt hold those details to hand. You don't need them to already know those details so neighbour etc is fine.

WhenIAmOldIShallWearPurple · 22/01/2023 21:42

The list of people who can do it now is massive. Pretty much anyone in a white collar job counts these days!

MsSquiz · 22/01/2023 21:43

Luckily my best friend is a Dr so she did it for both DDs passports.
DH did it for her children as he is a company director.
I'm fairly sure when I was in school my DM asked a teacher to do it

Princesspollyyy · 22/01/2023 21:44

I've recently renewed my child's passport and I didn't need anyone to countersign. Why do some need it and not others?

autumnboys · 22/01/2023 21:45

Our Vicar did ours.

Starlightstarbright1 · 22/01/2023 21:46

I got a friend who is a dispensing optician.

dementedpixie · 22/01/2023 21:47

Princesspollyyy · 22/01/2023 21:44

I've recently renewed my child's passport and I didn't need anyone to countersign. Why do some need it and not others?

Was your child aged 12 or over?
They don't need a countersignature if they can still be recognised from the old photo

Princesspollyyy · 22/01/2023 21:51

@dementedpixie

Ah yes that must be it, my DD is 12.

So glad I didn't have to faff finding a countersignature now.

Dramaalpacas · 22/01/2023 21:53

Very few of our friends don’t work in one of the required professions so it was easy for us. Have a look at the list.. you might be surprised at who can sign.

It does seem a bit unfair though.. who would you ask? GPs are no longer allowed to sign except for actual friends.

murasaki · 22/01/2023 21:55

I did it for my cleaner's kid, I've known her for 5 years and he's come with her a few times over the last 3 years when childcare was an issue, so I was happy to do it.