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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Countersignatory on passport renewal.

149 replies

phoenix1973 · 23/01/2017 15:16

I've posted here as it's busier.

I'm renewing my child's passport (U.K.).

I don't know who to ask to countersign her application.

Doctor and dentist don't have uk passports. So they can't sign. I'm a temp so I don't know anyone who can sign.

Do you have any suggestions on who I can ask?

OP posts:

endofthelinefinally · 24/01/2017 11:21

If it is a passport renewal you don't need a signature.
Sorry - haven't read the whole thread.
Have you checked with the post office passport service whether a signature is definitely required?

dementedpixie · 24/01/2017 12:08

Children aged 11 and under always need a countersignature as does anyone whose appearance has changed significantly since the last photo

Socksey · 24/01/2017 12:54

I'm not sure if I'd be able to do that now as I know you now have to be a British citizen to countersign British applications. Nobody has ever called me about British passport applications.
Irish people with a valid passport can sign a British passport form.... I do lots of them. I've also done Australian ones. I've had the phone calls from the Home Office and Embassy.
Happy to do it for a friend but wouldn't do it otherwise as it does take time. Even though I've done it many times, I still like to check and be thorough to make sure it's done properly and nothing has changed since last time.

Manumission · 24/01/2017 13:15

I renewed two of my DCs passports last year. DS (7) needed a countersignature. DD1 (12) didn't as she could countersign her own. Second and third passports respectively.

I think you're muddling applicant's signature up with counter signature.

Over 11s can sign their own application but they might sometimes need a countersignatory too. Nobody can act as their own referee.

RebootYourEngine · 24/01/2017 13:30

I dont know anyone on the list well enough to ask. I want to my ds 12 yrs old his first passport but the countersignature is holding me back.

Also why does the person need to know me for 2 years and not my son.

dementedpixie · 24/01/2017 13:36

How else would a child under 2 get a passport? They need to say it is a good likeness of the child and have to have known the parent for 2 years.

It isn't limited to the list as anyone with good standing in the community can sign too. Know anyone who runs a business or works in the post office, etc?

lalalalyra · 24/01/2017 13:42

Also why does the person need to know me for 2 years and not my son.

Because you are applying for the passport. A child can't apply for their own.

How would I get a passport for my 5 month old if someone had to know her for 2 years?

lalalalyra · 24/01/2017 13:43

OP does your child go to nursery or a childminder? Or to a children's group/club? Lots of the staff there can sign them.

Looneytune253 · 24/01/2017 13:47

My friend is a civil servant so just ask her generally. Do you not know anyone that has a responsible job? No one at all. I read yesterday that doctors aren't allowed to do them anymore as they don't usually know the patient personally and can't really sign to say they genuinely know their patient. If the doctor is a family friend though it's still ok.

JSLI · 24/01/2017 13:53

It says that the person can't be closely related eg: related by birth or marriage.

Does that mean my brother in law can't sign my kids photo?

StillRabbit · 24/01/2017 13:59

The problem with teachers countersigning passport applications is the "follow ups". We used to do them at my school (we did charge £8 per form) but almost every time we would subsequently get a letter with a bad quality black and white photo attached asking us to name the person in the photo and asking questions, sometimes the photocopy was of such bad quality that we simply couldn't tell which of the many children we had signed forms for it was... we also had staff called for additional home office checks. Now we simply say we can no longer countersigned applications.

VacantExpression · 24/01/2017 14:03

Accountant? Financial adviser, Insurance broker? One of my neighbours is Director of his own plumbing company he can do it (and he drive a van, pp!)

drspouse · 24/01/2017 14:34

Phoenix

They do not need to have known your child for 2 years (as otherwise how would babies get passports?). Just you.

If your dad owns his own company he would be eligible for someone else (but not you as you are a family member). For the same reason your brother won't do. But maybe a friend of his with the same qualifications?

Any of your friends in manual trades that own their own businesses. Any of the drivers that work for local government - they are local government officers. Any of the admin people who are managers.

Your hairdresser or the friend that owns a beauty salon, the local shop owner where you go in every weekend for milk and bread and pay with a card (so they know your name), someone you volunteer with if you do Sunday School/Brownies or help with a sports club? The person that owns your gym if you've been going there a while?

5OBalesofHay · 24/01/2017 14:47

Pub landlady did ours as she sees us plenty

RebootYourEngine · 24/01/2017 15:43

I was thinking more about my 12 yr old rather than a baby.

thatdearoctopus · 29/01/2017 10:22

I was asked to sign one by my neighbour for her very small baby, around 18 years ago, when baby passports first came in. I subsequently got a phone call from the passport office asking how I could possibly have known the baby for two years, given that she was only a few months old. I'm afraid I rather curtly told her that they needed to amend the question on the form then, as it asked quite specifically about the applicant (not the parent), with no allowance made for babies or space to elaborate. Clearly, they have now changed the guidance.

PixieMiss · 29/01/2017 11:01

I am in process of getting a passport for my 10 month old and also struggling with someone to countersign despite DH and I being "professionals". I gave up work and don't have any contact with previous employers and my DH has only been in his current role for 4 months.

Can a retired professional countersign?

queenvomit · 29/01/2017 11:02

Mine was done by an ex police officer

londonrach · 29/01/2017 11:04

We had that problem recently having just moved to a new area. We had to post the passport to a friend to sign. It is hard for some people as you cant use family.

londonrach · 29/01/2017 11:06

Jsl...yes you right your bil cant sign the passport as we had that problem too.

CointreauVersial · 29/01/2017 11:08

I got a chap at work to sign ours - he's a qualified Accountant.

Astoria7974 · 29/01/2017 11:14

A 'manager for a VAT registered company' - means anyone effectively who works for a large company and has some kind of management responsibility (even if they don't have manager in their job title). My dsd's application was signed by a friend who's a shift supervisor at Sports Direct

dowhatnow · 29/01/2017 11:21

As an ex professional currently working in a retail job, can I still sign?

flappynewyear · 29/01/2017 11:32

A friend of mine who was fairly new to the area walked into a police station and got her dd's signed.

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