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Original poster

Renewing passports

80 replies

TheChosenTwo · 11/04/2023 11:02

I need to renew 2 of my dcs passports. Sil did her 2 recently and said she didn’t need a counter signature, is this no longer a thing then? I’m going to the post office where they do the application for you, take the photos and send off the old one. She did hers online. Haven’t really looked into it to be honest so could google and find out for myself but just curious to know if anyone else has done this recently and not needed it countersigned?

OP posts:
Astepaway · 11/04/2023 11:54

We used the post office service for all of our renewals a couple of months ago and my youngest aged 11 needed a counter signature but my daughter aged 14 didn’t. We just had to provide contact details of who was going to counter sign (his teacher). On the day we went to the post office and completed the applications his teacher got an email the same day and was able to fill her bit in online.
We found the post office service really straightforward and it took less that two weeks from start to finish.

HadEnoughOfBears · 11/04/2023 11:56

We did online, went to Timpsons to get the photos done so we knew they would be OK and they gave us a code to enter online. Added cost obviously but peace of mind that the photos wouldn't be rejected.

JuniperHill · 11/04/2023 12:15

Just got DD's back from an online application within 2 weeks. DS's is proving more of a pain due to our photo being rejected, but hopefully the passport booth ones I've had done now will be OK. Online is seriously easy and even the rejected photo just means I needed to upload a new one (or a code) to the open application - a 2 minute job.

IsaiditwasLighthearted · 11/04/2023 12:16

We got photos done at a booth in a supermarket, then less than 10 mins to fill in the application online. Much easier than I expected!

prettybird · 11/04/2023 12:26

It's cheaper to do it online than in a post office and the process is so straightforward, it's difficult to make a mistake Grin It won't let you go to the next step if you do! Wink

You don't need a white wall, just a "light coloured" wall. Just make sure there is good light and the shadows aren't too strong (although that combination can be difficult Confused) and that the subject is absolutely straight on to the camera. Key thing is that you can see both ears equally Wink The passport office's online system will crop the photo as appropriate.

If your kids had a passport before, they won't need a counter-signatory, provided they've not changed too much between passports. If they have, they'll let you know - so have someone in mind, plus their email address, in case they ask.

ShowOfHands · 11/04/2023 12:33

I did mine last week and it was easy peasy. Counter signing was quick as you like via email and I used a photo booth to get a code.

You almost can't get it wrong. Hardest bit was finding my marriage certificate!

Original poster
TheChosenTwo · 11/04/2023 12:47

Okay I’ve done it online, was actually a lot more straightforward than I anticipated! Ds needs a counter signature and I just need to send off the old passports so fingers crossed all done by the end of the day.
The photos are hideous and although they said they were in the green ‘good’ category I will be surprised if they pass to be honest!

OP posts:
Original poster
TheChosenTwo · 11/04/2023 12:48

I got them both to sit against the end of a white unit in my office 😂 they both look like they’re being held at gunpoint 🫣

OP posts:
gogohmm · 11/04/2023 12:55

Do use signed for delivery, means you have proof they arrived

dementedpixie · 11/04/2023 13:04

If they are age 12+ they don't need a countersignature unless their appearance has changed drastically. Online applications are easy and cheaper

bellsbuss · 11/04/2023 13:07

Children over 12 don't need to have it countersigned

HavfrueDenizKisi · 11/04/2023 13:08

You need a countersignature for those children who have 'changed significantly' from their previous passport photo.

Although that's bloody hard to tell. Just redid my DD who is 15 and I did have it countersigned as although she looked similar enough for me, who knew what the passport office would say?? As it was, I actually did the whole thing in person at the passport office as it was when Royal Mail were striking and I didn't want to leave anything to chance for summer. The dude said it was always better to get it countersigned for kids as it could be hit and miss.

Picassa · 11/04/2023 13:11

Definitely go the post office to renew! I’ve done it online absolute nightmare in comparison! it’s so simple they basically do the form for you on an iPad and take your picture there and then etc. I didn’t need to countersign mine although when they send you a new one through you have to sign the second page in black ink.

RJ57 · 11/04/2023 13:12

Just did our kids a couple of week's ago using the online renewal. One came back within the week and the other we've just been told has been approved and is being sent back. So at the moment, they're taking a couple of weeks.

TooOldForThisNonsense · 11/04/2023 13:14

Neither of mine needed countersigned, this was only a couple of months ago. I was surprised as both passports had expired a number of years ago and the kids have changed a lot - they are now 14 and 17 and were in primary school when the previous photos were taken. But no, we didn’t have to get them countersigned

2reefsin30knots · 11/04/2023 13:19

We've just done 12yo DS's online and it was really easy. I brightened his photo with a filter to get rid of shadows.

It came back today, just over 2 weeks turnaround time.

Original poster
TheChosenTwo · 11/04/2023 13:30

I think it’s because he’s 11, just said we need it countersigned.
fingers crossed it’s a smooth process to get that done and the old ones sent off!

OP posts:
lemonsaretheonlyfruit · 11/04/2023 13:41

The passport office won't start processing your application until they receive your old one so do that quickly if you haven't already (sorry if I have misunderstood)

Thenoseymother · 11/04/2023 14:06

I’ve just renewed my dd’s and didn’t need to be countersigned again. I did my ds and dd2’s first passport at the same time and they needed to be countersigned. I sent them all off last week unaware of the strikes!! Here’s hoping it’s not too long a wait :(

handsoffate · 11/04/2023 14:08

We have recently done a renewal for an adult online, no countersignature needed.

handsoffate · 11/04/2023 14:10

Ours was back within 2 weeks, done end of March.

Scot75 · 11/04/2023 14:26

I sent my passport 2 weeks ago (live abroad). I tracked it and it arrived on Thursday at their office. Seems they are still working as I’ve just got an email to say that my passport has been received.

Original poster
TheChosenTwo · 11/04/2023 14:58

Don’t worry @lemonsaretheonlyfruit -
i just got the text through to say my counter signature has done their bit so I’m on my way to the post office (as we speak, in the pouring rain! Thought I’d get some fresh air, didn’t realise I was also signing up to my second shower of the day too!) to send the old ones off. I’ve put them in the same envelope, did them separately as there didn’t seem to be an option to add another one to renew at the same time, does anyone know if they will need to be sent separately?

OP posts:
Original poster
TheChosenTwo · 11/04/2023 14:59

Sorry, that should say they were ordered/applied for as separate applications as there didn’t seem to be a way of applying for more than one on the same order if that makes any sense!

OP posts:
RJ57 · 11/04/2023 15:02

TheChosenTwo · 11/04/2023 14:58

Don’t worry @lemonsaretheonlyfruit -
i just got the text through to say my counter signature has done their bit so I’m on my way to the post office (as we speak, in the pouring rain! Thought I’d get some fresh air, didn’t realise I was also signing up to my second shower of the day too!) to send the old ones off. I’ve put them in the same envelope, did them separately as there didn’t seem to be an option to add another one to renew at the same time, does anyone know if they will need to be sent separately?

You should send the passports separately. You will have received an email for each with the address to send the old passport and that will have a reference number as part of the address and its different for each passport.

I'd consider sending them tracked signed for as that gets them there tomorrow and you know they are there as opposed to normal signed for which just shows you posted it and then nothing further until the passport office signs for it (which they only do when they are ready to work on it, not when they receive it). So it can make you panic and think its got lost.