Page 4 | Can a GP countersign a passport application ?

mycatsbestfriend · 2024-09-25T21:23:06+00:00

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

Anisty · 26/09/2024 09:44

IUsedToBe · 26/09/2024 09:09

On the government's website it says a passport can't be signed by a doctor, 'unless they state that they know you well (for example they’re a good friend) and that they recognise you easily from your photo'.

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Maybe that's a new thing. Although i have never personally used a GP, i know that it is included on the fee list for GP charges and i think it's worth op contacting the reception as usually surgeries will do anything to bring in extra cash.

I would be willing to bet they will do it for a charge!

DeliciousApples · 26/09/2024 09:46

I was at the doctor yesterday and he has a price list on the wall, passports £30. So it's worth a phone.

Guess it would be up to him if he felt he knew me well enough or not. I'm a frequent flyer in his surgery for one ailment or another so I imagine I'd be ok if I needed that help lol

LaMarschallin · 26/09/2024 09:50

Anisty
It definitely used to be a thing that a GP would sign for a fee - I remember my parents getting that done and work colleagues would ask a relative who's a hospital doctor to sign their forms to avoid paying a fee to their GP (quite reasonably).
I don't think it is now. I recently renewed my passport and I'm fairly sure that the rules now don't include a GP who isn't a personal friend.
Maybe your practice haven't updated their list of charges?
As PPs have said, though, it would be worth the OP asking.

GiantHornets · 26/09/2024 09:59

CherryValley5 · 26/09/2024 09:31

For British passports anyone who has worked in or retired from a recognised profession, along with being of good standing in the community can countersign. Notaries tick these boxes - ours was a recently retired solicitor. I have checked the website of the one that we used for DD’s Irish passport, and others - they all say that they are able to sign for British.

They verify your identity since you must bring along valid photographic ID to show them. I forgot this slight detail so it’s unlikely that this strategy will work for OP..!

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Of course a notary can do it if they know you personally.
You imply that OP can simply make an appointment with a notary who will be able to verify her identity without knowing her at all

NotMyDayJob · 26/09/2024 10:15

The list of professions is broader than it looks. A local government officer is anyone who works for the council (or a local authority agency eg TfL) and a civil servant is a very broad term (driving examiners and people in job centres are civil servants, it's not just people in Whitehall).

You are not wrong that it should be a bit easier to get some sort of issued ID but unfortunately this is what the system is and if you want a passport you need someone to countersign.

LadyQuackBeth · 26/09/2024 11:10

Can you put a message on Facebook asking if any of your friends are qualified to sign it?

Neighbours are also a good shout, they'll recognise you - that's all they're asking, not a strong friendship.

There will be someone, you just need to get over the awkwardness about asking.

SoupDragon · 26/09/2024 11:18

CherryValley5 · 26/09/2024 09:17

You do, unfortunately. Was a massive PITA trying to get DD’s provisional license application countersigned during Covid lockdown!!

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It doesn't need countersigning if you just have it use your passport. Which was countersigned at some point.

CherryValley5 · 26/09/2024 11:19

SoupDragon · 26/09/2024 11:18

It doesn't need countersigning if you just have it use your passport. Which was countersigned at some point.

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We’re in NI. We have the DVA instead of the DVLA so procedures are likely different. There is no option to go off your passport here.

Irrelevant to the OP anyway as she doesn’t have a passport.

SoupDragon · 26/09/2024 11:20

IUsedToBe · 26/09/2024 09:02

I would have thought that anyone who isn't a convicted criminal could be classed as a 'person of good standing in the community', but I looked up the official meaning of it and found various websites discussing it, even one forum for legal professionals. They said it was a very vague statement which was open to interpretation, but the general consensus seemed to be that it meant a professional person or member of a professional body - so basically someone who would be on the list of accepted countersignatories.

I don't know any scout masters! 🙂

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My point was that a scout master is not a professional nor on the list of specific occupations. He was just a person of good standing and perfectly acceptable so the assumption that they have to be "professional" isn't right.

crumblingschools · 26/09/2024 11:51

I think it used to only include professionals, so they were easy to prove their occupation and more to lose if caught lying. However, it is much broader now, a person of good standing can pretty much include anyone, as long as they have a passport and aren't a criminal! The important thing is that they have known you for at least 2 years and therefore would be able to verify the photograph is a likeness of you.

Pixiedust1234 · 26/09/2024 12:47

@mycatsbestfriend - do any of your neighbours recognise you (and say hi, or take in your parcels)? Have you known them for two years or more? Do they have their own passport (so the passport office can verify them through internal checks, it's just easier).

If all are yes, then ask your neighbour if they would do it. Mine did, and after a teams online check I got approved for my first passport yesterday.

Original poster

mycatsbestfriend · 26/09/2024 16:19

Pixiedust1234 · 26/09/2024 12:47

@mycatsbestfriend - do any of your neighbours recognise you (and say hi, or take in your parcels)? Have you known them for two years or more? Do they have their own passport (so the passport office can verify them through internal checks, it's just easier).

If all are yes, then ask your neighbour if they would do it. Mine did, and after a teams online check I got approved for my first passport yesterday.

Edited

I do have a set of neighbours that I will say hello to if I see them about, and they are nice people. I've only seen them a few times though. Maybe I could ask. It just feels a bit much to ask someone I don't really know

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Original poster

mycatsbestfriend · 26/09/2024 16:21

IUsedToBe · 26/09/2024 07:53

I feel your pain OP, I’m currently in the same situation. I have various health problems which means I can’t travel so I don’t have a passport, but there have been so many occasions recently where I’ve been unable to do basic things like open a bank account, register with NHS online, access my pension details – all because I don’t have photo ID, i.e. a passport or driving licence. I have plenty of other ID, just nothing with my photo on. I don’t drive (and my health problems would prevent me from doing so), so a passport is my only option.

I’ve been almost housebound for 20 years, so all my ‘friends’ have gradually disappeared. Of the few neighbours I know, none of them works in any of the recognised professions who are allowed to countersign passport applications.
Of the people I occasionally have dealings with who ARE on the list of approved professions such as doctors, dentists, opticians, solicitors, local business owners, I only know them ‘professionally’ (I’ve used their services occasionally). A countersignatory is supposed to have known you as a friend, neighbour or colleague for at least 2 years, so technically they wouldn’t be allowed to countersign for me. Even if I asked, it would be a bit embarrassing having to ask someone I don’t really know for a favour, especially when they’re probably going to say no because I’d basically be asking them to lie to the government for me! I’ve also heard quite a few parents saying they had trouble getting their kids’ passports countersigned, because a lot of schools don’t allow their teaching staff to sign passport applications, unless they know the child/parent socially, outside of school.

One of the options on the list of approved countersignatories is ‘local government officer’. I looked up the definition of that, and it means anyone who works for and is paid by the local council, so they don’t necessarily need to be a ‘qualified professional’, they could be someone like a bin man, cleaner or library assistant. My husband works for the local council, but he can’t sign for me because we’re related by marriage. One of his colleagues knows me very slightly (I’ve said hello to her in the supermarket a couple of times!) but she can’t sign for me as she doesn’t have a passport of her own. So the only way we can think of for me to get a passport is if he asks someone at work who I’ve never met to sign for me - which is against the rules, but I don’t see that I have any other option.

It is ridiculous that people have to go through all this palaver to verify their ID (not to mention the expense, as a passport costs nearly £90) just to be able to access basic services. I hope you get yours sorted soon, OP!

Yeah, I've been unable to get NHS online services, and I did want to vote but I found I was too late to get voter ID by the time I'd heard of it. I don't understand how the government could have done that, and let me vote, can take tax from me, can prosecute me in a court but can't give me a passport

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Original poster

mycatsbestfriend · 26/09/2024 16:24

And if I use someone that doesn't know me well well I could use a fake name anyway if I wanted and still get an illegal passport

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JohnTheRevelator · 26/09/2024 16:30

A pharmacist? I'm just about to apply for a passport (I don't drive,so therefore no driver's licence and I'm sick of not having any photo ID!) and apparently a pharmacist can countersign it. I've been using the same pharmacy with the same pharmacist for 15 years so hopefully he will agree to do it for me.

OrdsallChord · 26/09/2024 16:42

It may not be the most sustainable system. Relies on people who have no actual obligation to participate. I don't know what would happen if more professionals just didn't want to engage.

sharpclawedkitten · 26/09/2024 16:42

LadyLolaRuben · 25/09/2024 23:44

Yes OP that's another option too

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You have to prove ID for money laundering purposes to a solicitor, so what did you use then?

Original poster

mycatsbestfriend · 26/09/2024 16:45

sharpclawedkitten · 26/09/2024 16:42

You have to prove ID for money laundering purposes to a solicitor, so what did you use then?

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I never gave my solicitor any ID. Actually when I was in court the judge the judge said "How do you know it's her"

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sharpclawedkitten · 26/09/2024 16:45

And you can get an ID card for voting purposes. www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate

You don't need a passport to get a job, you just need to prove you are allowed to work here, which could be done via UK exam certificates, birth certificate, NI number etc.

VanWeezer · 26/09/2024 16:46

The list is extensive now. Do you know anybody who is a manager? Could be the local shop? Estate agents, , PTA members, leaders of groups your children attend. All would be an option.

Have a think about who you do know for over 2 years. Think about what jobs they do, rather than the job then trying to find someone who fits.

Doctors who don't know you personally haven't been able to sign for a few years. Some still charge you for it but then the passport office would ask for another counter signatory. So would just be a waste of money

sharpclawedkitten · 26/09/2024 16:46

mycatsbestfriend · 26/09/2024 16:45

I never gave my solicitor any ID. Actually when I was in court the judge the judge said "How do you know it's her"

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Well that's not good, but you can ask him/her to countersign for you. Problem solved (assuming they have a valid British passport).

Original poster

mycatsbestfriend · 26/09/2024 16:49

Yeah I guess I can ask but I wouldn't be surprised if he said no. I can't even remember his name or what he looks like at the moment

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OrdsallChord · 26/09/2024 16:51

sharpclawedkitten · 26/09/2024 16:45

And you can get an ID card for voting purposes. www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate

You don't need a passport to get a job, you just need to prove you are allowed to work here, which could be done via UK exam certificates, birth certificate, NI number etc.

A birth certificate could if it was from before 1983, but the other things don't. Having an NI number just means you were entitled to work in the UK when you got it, and GCSEs don't even do that. It can be quite difficult, which I think is why some organisations play it safe and want passports or driving licences.

DappledThings · 26/09/2024 16:52

mycatsbestfriend · 26/09/2024 16:19

I do have a set of neighbours that I will say hello to if I see them about, and they are nice people. I've only seen them a few times though. Maybe I could ask. It just feels a bit much to ask someone I don't really know

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It really isn't. It's a 5 minute online task. I quite like doing it. It's really no imposition

Boomer55 · 26/09/2024 16:54

I’m allowed to countersign a passport etc, because I was a civil servant. It is just supposed to be someone of good character.

Can a GP countersign a passport application ?

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