Nobody to countersign passport?

[DenimDuck]

I really need a passport. Mainly for jobs but also travel

I've been applying for jobs for a while and 99% want a passport before offering anything
I don't have one

What do I do?

I ask my doctor and they can't sign for it. same as my dentist.

I don't know anyone that can sign for me

What am I supposed to do?

Never have another job or passport?
I've looked into every option and I can't get a passport. Feeling totally helpless

Just give up? Life on benefits? Nobody seems to have options

And many tradesmen will be operating as a limited company so will be a director of their own limited company. A "director" is on the list of suggested professionals regardless of what their company actually does. So, in theory, the owner (director) of a dog walking business or car washer could countersign a passport if their business was a limited company.

As for someone above mentioning chartered accountant, the list doesn't specify an accountant being qualified - anyone can call themselves and trade as an accountant, so can countersign a passport even if they've never passed any exams nor a member of any professional body!

This might be the case for some but generally on these threads it isn't that people don't have anyone they can ask, they don't believe it when they are told they do. And instead of actually trying with one of their friends who they have been assured meets the criteria will just continue to post a bit about how unfair it is then disappear.

I think it's now more a matter of a current valid passport holder being the counter-signatory, which wasn't the case many years ago. Back then, fewer people had passports, so they needed another criteria for confirming someone was who they said they were, i.e. when it had to be a professional or similar of good standing. Now, the main thing is that the counter signatory has a passport themselves, and their actual job/profession is not really as important. It's all about tracing the person who countersigns - in the old days, that was via professional bodies or respected organisations, nowadays it's a simple electronic cross check of their passport record.

I agree! We were having loads of requests at my school a few years back (from parents wanting the teacher to countersign for the pupil alongside all the family!

Our head put a stop to it completely.

The "I can't get a job without a passport" thing is a new twist on the "can't get a passport, all your helpful suggestions are impossible or I'll just ignore them." posts.

Unless the OP is going to magically return to explain that she's applying for jobs as airline cabin crew.

I'm a childminder and can sign passports

Yes, exactly. And it's why I get so cross that the Home Office is still using the sort of outdated examples and lists that were relevant and necessary 30 years ago. It's so frustrating. Because 30 years ago, your GP or teacher WOULD be happy to sign. I just don't understand why they don't update this online. One wonders how often they get people calling in to say they can't fill out their passport form because of this issue.

I've got a whole bunch of new ones I've thought of while getting my hair cut...

Data scientist or analyst
Chemist
TV repair person
Caterer
Taxi /uber driver
Landscape gardener
Property surveyor
Investment professional
Sports coach
Insurance broker (might be on original list. Not sure)
IT professional
Call center worker (UK based)
Amazon warehouse or delivery driver
Roofer
Mechanic
Chiropodist
Care home worker
Tube/train driver/conductor
Anyone who works for TFL or any of the train companies in any capacity
Book keeper
HR professional

Physiotherapist
Osteopath
Computer salesperson
Project manager

No you can’t. Not to certify they have known you for 2 years you can’t.

It’s also not true that most solicitors have a notary on site.

Notaries are very rare and hard to find. There are only 770 practising in the whole of England and Wales. I’m a qualified solicitor and I only know of one notary in my area and he’s not linked to a solicitors practice.

A qualified solicitor can administer an oath and can certify copies of documents but that’s not the same thing as being a notary public.

Thank you for taking the time to think about this as much as I do every time one of these threads comes up!

If someone has something substantial to lose by being dishonest on a passport application, they can sign. I'm an ombudsman, it would be disastrous for me if I put my name to something fraudulent or even just a bit dishonest. But my job isn't listed. I'm of good standing and I have something to lose, so I can sign.

I also signed forms when I wasn't working because I was a school governor and Scout Leader - just someone of good standing in the community with a reputation to uphold.

Estate agent
Baker
Party entertainer
Florist
Machinist in a widget factory
Customer services professional
Garbage collector
Anyone who works for a local council, in any capacity come to think of it
Librarian
Museum curator
Historian
Anyone who works for a university
Researcher
Receptionist
Wine maker
Brewer
Chef

The guidance should be:

• Someone over 18 who has a current UK passport
• Someone who is not a relative but has known you for two years or more

That's it. What does it matter if they are a butcher, baker, candlestick maker, stay at home parent or terminally unemployable? You are on the system, they are on the system. Bingo.

It pretty much is that. But people don't believe it. They just start threads moaning they don't know anyone who can sign, ignore other posters saying they do when OP lists her friends' jobs and then disappear.

The advice should reflect that then and not honk on about A Recognised Profession, as if it's 1924 not 2024.

I got mine signed by a circus performer. Honestly as long as it's not literally a career criminal or someone who's long term on benefits it's fine!

I sign all my mates' passports and have never been checked. Really it's not such a big deal!

They do do random checks of countersignatories though so it’s very risky to countersign for someone you do not know (eg if a friend asks you to sign for their boyfriend who you have never met). It is a criminal offence to do so and you can be sentenced to imprisonment for doing so.

I worked with a solicitor about 20 years ago who signed the form for his secretary’s boyfriend, was caught by the Passport Authorities doing a routine check, and struck off by the Law Society.

There was also a case a few years ago where a civil servant was sentenced to 3 years imprisonment - he had signed several forms though not just one

Indeed.

But what isn't risky and what loads of people are advised to do is ask someone they do know to sign and be honest about their job. Which the complaining OPs of these threads never do.

Absolutely. And it’s what I suggested @DenimDuck should do several pages ago

Thanks very much, but no although she's housebound she isn't ill and doesn't have a regular nurse (she saw someone for a blood test recently but had never seen them before). She has a small handful of neighbours but none of those are on the list, and she doesn't go to the library or live in sheltered housing! :-(

Unfortunately none of my friends know her, but it would have been a very good idea.

No carers (I go over a couple of times a week and her neighbour collects little bits of shopping in between), she doesn't have a social worker or lawyer (she made her own will) and she has never organised a funeral. (I organised my grandparents')

Hairdresser!! She has a mobile hairdresser, she would be perfect. I missed that on the list. Thank you!!

The very limited list that is supposed to be indicative on the Home Office website or the many many other ideas provided on this thread?

Sounds like you're goign to ask the hairdresser. great.

Personally, Id' sign for a friend's mum even if I didn't know them. I might ask my friend to send me a picture of her and her mum, at best.

Yes you can get people to verify who you are like a neighbour but when you are disabled and house bound it makes it very difficult I live on a council estate were they are mostly elderly people who have never worked do not have a passport I do know a Chatered Accountant and a Police Office one for over 3 years and one for 10 years and theey did not meet the criteria do not know why as they will not tell you why. It is also done over the website so I do not know what was asked of them that would not meet their criteria as both of them have signed to verify other members of my family's passports

If you're qualified to have a job that requires a passport, why don't you already have one?

Or are you a new graduate and therefore first job and first passport?

Can't you look for any other job in the meantime so you don't have to claim benefits?