Can a GP countersign a passport application ?

[mycatsbestfriend]

I don't know anyone that can do this the only people I know are related to me. But I heard a doctor can't do it anymore is this true ? It's crazy I can't apply for a lot of jobs or have ID for so many things. I feel like I have a right to one and I can't get it. But I can pay tax, work, claim benefits just feels ridiculous. Someone told me I can just state I have no countersign and the application can still be processed but I asked the passport office and they said this isn't true

I've put off learning to drive as well as I can't get a provisional countersigned

No. Not unless you know somebody who happens to be a gp. Most people do not visit their gp regularly enough for them to ‘know’ them. I’ve not seen a GP for years they wouldn’t have a clue who I am.

Says it cant be a doctor anymore unless you have a friend who is one

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

Do you not have any friends? Don’t have to be professionals

You or your kids must have friends and acquaintances surely?

A GP (or any doctor) can only do it if they know the applicant personally i.e. not just as a patient. But the list of other people who can do it is quite extensive now - do you not have any friends who might meet the criteria?

OP, do you really know nobody in life other than family? If so, do you family not know any people who also know you?

No I don't have friends anymore

My brother in law did get someone they know to agree to do it but they then changed their mind because they don't really know me well and didn't want to get a call at their workplace

Employer, neighbour, local business owner?

Do you work? I've been asked to do it by work colleagues before

I am surprised there's no one at all you know - not even a corner shop owner or a neighbour or anything?

I'm an accountant and I end up countersigning things All The Time because I am a "recognised profession" - I never mind at all if someone asks me as long as I have known them long enough because I know it can be hard to locate the right category of person.

But taking what you've said at face value:

Could you decide to get to know some people? It wouldn't solve the problem now but if you don't know anyone at all this problem isn't going to go away. So maybe start trying to solve it now and it will be deal with able in a couple of years?

I joined the WI when I moved locations and didn't have any friends. I was only mid twenties but I found a "young" WI that ran in the evenings and I found most people were looking to get to know other people.

I don't work at the moment I'm on sickness benefits. I don't talk to my neighbours at all I really don't know anyone

I have actually thought about helping the church sometimes with food donations just so I can ask the priest to do this in two years

Previous colleague? Friend of your parents? Parent of a child’s friend?

Good idea.
What about a former teacher?

How long have you lived next door to them? Maybe you should say hello, and then you could ask them?

There isn't a solution that involves not having a counter signatory so you either do something or you don't get a passport

There is one teacher I can think of who liked me but I think he will have retired by now

That's ok, retired people can still be a signatory.

My son does have a friend whose mother I have met a couple of times. Maybe I should ask my son to ask her, it just feels intrusive not knowing each other very well. I really do think people should be issued with ID automatically when they're born

Can the postman do it? Do you know your postman, like to see them? They’ll know what you look like and will have known you for 2 years.

I will think about trying to contact him. He must be at least 70 by now

Is it ok to just ask people like this though ? I mean why should they bother

But what's the worst they can say? You ask them "Hey, sorry this is a bit out of the blue, but I'm looking for someone to countersign my passport application, do you think you might be able to do it?" They either say yes, or no, and if they say no, you try somebody else. No drama needed!

Do you have any siblings with partners they're not married too? It says not if you're related by marriage, so might mean you can use say an uncle or aunt or partner of a family member who's not married to the person you're related to by blood. I'm sorry you're struggling with this OP. When I first got really sick I lost all my friends, just had parent and sibling still in my life for a few teams years.