Passport - who can counter - sign ?

[54isanopendoor]

Ds, 18, applying for 1st adult passport.
I'm helping as he is ASD & Dyslexic.
Read form, unclear on who can be counter signatory for his ID.
Called helpline. They said 'a personal friend'. Eh?
I thought it had to be a person who has known him for 2+ yrs who holds professional standing. ie his Adult Cadets Instructor?
(he's not at School so cant be a teacher & his college tutor is hopeless so don't want to ask him)

Any thoughts please?

There's literally a huge list with the notes of everyone who can sign for him. Not sure I understand the confusion, friends can have professional jobs too, they aren't mutually exclusive.

His cadets teacher would be fine.
Alternatively you can ask a family friend who's known him for two years who is a teacher/nurse/ accountant/ doctor etc

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

Anyone who does any of these jobs and knows your son personally. I.E could recognise him in the street.

yh just someone who has known him for two years who does one of a list of jobs. Not a relative. Have you a neighbour who can sign for him - if you have lived there 2 years? I signed for kids when I was a teacher.

Example professions:

accountant
airline pilot
articled clerk of a limited company
assurance agent of recognised company
bank or building society official
barrister
chairman or director of a limited company
chiropodist
commissioner for oaths
councillor, for example local or county
civil servant (permanent)
dentist
director, manager or personnel officer of a VAT-registered company
engineer with professional qualifications
financial services intermediary, for example a stockbroker or insurance broker
fire service official
funeral director
insurance agent (full time) of a recognised company
journalist
Justice of the Peace
legal secretary (fellow or associate member of the Institute of Legal Secretaries and PAs)
licensee of a public house
local government officer
manager or personnel officer of a limited company
member, associate or fellow of a professional body
Member of Parliament
Merchant Navy officer
minister of a recognised religion (including Christian Science)
nurse (RGN or RMN)
officer of the armed services
optician
paralegal (certified paralegal, qualified paralegal or associate member of the Institute of Paralegals)
person with honours, for example an OBE or MBE
pharmacist
photographer (professional)
police officer
Post Office official
president or secretary of a recognised organisation
Salvation Army officer
social worker
solicitor
surveyor
teacher or lecturer
trade union officer
travel agent (qualified)
valuer or auctioneer (fellow or associate members of the incorporated society)
Warrant Officers and Chief Petty Officers

When I was teaching, I had a number of pupils who asked me to countersign and I was always happy to do so. However we were warned against it laterally as the rules changed and it meant we would be sharing private information such as address etc and putting the school address wasn't acceptable.

We moved June 2021 (back to original area after a 5 yr gap)
Choices are:
GP who will charge us.
80 y/o Retired family friend who is an Archbishop (don't know if he has passport)
Ds' Cadet Colour Sargeant.
A family friend who's an Accountant (but Ds 'doesn't like' so doesn't want him).

Just to check, although it’s a first adult passport did he have a child one previously? If so it’s a renewal.

It can also be someone miles away as it can all be verified online now. Plus online applications are cheaper.

It doesn't have to be one of the listed professions, just someone with a job and a passport really. I work in admin, I've countersigned before.

No previous child passport no.

@DappledThings @TiredArse

Do I have to put the details on the online form, or is it part of the additional info that I supply later (like birth cert etc) ?

I had a friend countersign for both my children. She did it completely online so it doesn't have to be someone local.

You do the application part and upload digital phone.

you then submit email address and name of countersign.

they will then get a link to go onto view photo. Provide their passport details

Online applications now mean the only information you share is your email address.
The applicant fills in all the details and they give your name & email address, the passport office then email you to fill in your bit, and then the applicatant gets a message you've completed it.

If you do it online there is a list of suitable people. You have to check that the counter signatory is willing to do it then they receive an email, it takes them 10 minutes to complete.
When the counter signatory has done their bit the passport office will tell you where to send supporting documents. Birh certificate etc
It's cheaper online plus I think the prices are going up this week too.

Cadets staff or the family friend accountant he doesn't like would be ideal. It doesn't matter if you like them, they just need to vouch for you!

Thought gps weren’t allowed to do it anymore

Rules specifically say no to GPs unless they know you personally.

A vicar/ priest can do it. Or a religious brother/ sister can do it.

A neighbour, a previous neighbour, small business owner that knows him?

They don't have to be on the list as it also says someone of good standing in the community.

Army cadets guy sounds ideal

It's all done online so doesn't need to be someone local, can be from his past. The person gets sent a link to log in and verify his details.

As well as the extensive list PP has given can also be anyone registered as company director/business owner so if you know anyone who has a small business eg shop, restaurant, plumber, hairdresser etc