To think it could be really tricky for some people to get a passport

[dogscatsandbabies]

Excluding the cost of the thing. Just applied for DD's first passport and her photos have to be certified by a professional person... Doctor, lawyer, teacher, bank manager etc. It specifies that this must be someone who knows you as a neighbour, friend, colleague or similar and NOT someone who only knows you professionally I.e your own GP. This person must hold a British or Irish passport.

I had no bother accessing such a professional but it struck me that it might be a total nightmare for some people from lower socioeconomic areas whose neighbours / friends etc are unemployed or work in "unskilled" or more manual jobs which aren't counted as professional.

Anybody found this?

Yes, I think actually it's moving around that makes it particularly tricky. To those who said 'just send them to your old area' - we'd lived abroad for many years (hence why dd's passport is important as she doesn't have a UK birth certificate!).

Why can't photo verification be a part of the professional passport application checking service? (Or is it already?)

No it isn't, and it would be a good idea. It would be worth paying the extra in a post office if it included this service.

SistersOfPercy if the engineers are chartered, thats fine.
Chartered engineers have counter signed all our passport applications (were surounded by them at both places of work).

Suspect the project managers would also be OK, especially if they have a qualification in PM.

Christ, stop getting all arsey you lot.
The OP hasn't said or done anything remotely worthy of getting your precious little hackles up
I live in a lower socio-economic neighbourhood in a place I didn't grow up and don't know anybody with the criteria mentioned so yes, I would find it difficult to get this signed.

I love all the sneery 'oh OP don't be ridiculous, EVERYONE knows someone that could sign this for them'. Piss off to fuck and stop assuming everyone knows their bloody local nurse.

I remember when got a passport after many years of not having one and struggled to think of someone to countersign. I was a student and so were all of my friends. It can't be family which makes it harder. I think the rules are outdated and ridiculous.

I'd have a problem finding someone to countersign my passport. The only person I know with a degree is my sister and she's obviously a relative. Not that I can afford either a passport or to go abroad but if I could then I'd probably be fucked.

As has been said civil servants can sign passports regardless of grade and I imagine the vast majority don't have degrees nor are they in what would be considered professional careers if they weren't in the civil service (I.e. most civil servants are admin officers/working in contact centres etc).

There tends to be high amounts of civil servants in what tend to be considered as 'poor' areas, Blackpool for example has huge civil service offices so a lot of people who live there are likely to know at leadt 1 person who can sign a passport.Therefore I don't accept this is about being a professional or not, more about who you happen to know. I don't know any nurses. My best friend has a fantastic degree but she couldn't sign my passport as her profession isn't one of those on the list

SistersOfPercy, for straightfoward renewals over the age of 12 a countersignatory is not required, only for first time applicants, children, changes to a passport or replacements of lost or stolen.

teachers? everyone knows one of those

Not if the kid is a baby or toddler

If you're going to use a teacher make sure that it's not just before school holidays as a lot of times they can't get hold of the teacher to verify. (Technically the teacher should know you personally outside of their role as a teacher and it's 2 years not 3 that they must have known you for)

Rules state needs to be a friend, neighbour or colleague not just someone who knows them professionally.

And not related by birth/marriage or live at same address.

I couldn't sign for a long term client at work for example.

It takes time to do/you need your passport and they do check up with a letter to work sometimes in my experience.

I'm not surprised some local authorities/employers have rules saying don't sign.

I agree with op that it must be a real hassle for many people.

I asked our neighbour to sign ds's, I thought she was a teacher, but is actually a teaching assistant. but that was fine, she put down her work address so they took it that she wouldn't lie.

stitch - I haven't known a teacher personally for 2 years.

Do these things get.checked I've signed a few passport forms (i,m a nurse so probably poorer than most!and I've never been asked to provide proof of my registration!

i was 17 when i got my first adult passport....i got a teacher at school to countersign - never needed it countersigned since

I struggled. The teachers only know me by my married name, not maiden name which I use professionally. The few Civil servants I know live far away. Many of the folk I used to work with have died-retired-become so important they don't answer emails.

The guy who signed my passport had to do it 3x because of problems.

I had to get 2 more similar types of reference for work reasons and couldn't ask passport guy again, it's been very stressful finding anyone!!