Can't get a passport or driving licence

[NoPoshMates]

NC for obvious reasons.

I'm getting really worried about my driving licence. It's still the old paper sort, but I've moved house and married since it was issued. I can now afford to send off for the photocard version, but since the new type came in, I haven't known anyone who's qualified to countersign it. I was born in England, as were my parents, but I can't get a passport for the same reason.

Two years ago I only knew 2 friends who were not relations and they are not 'posh enough' for the DVLA or Passport Office - a barmaid and the unemployed wife of a train driver. Literally just those two people, no acquaintances or anything.

I am a shy person and up to last year I rarely went out (for about 20 years) because we had no money. Although I have some more friends now, I only met them when we moved here a year ago and I don't know them well enough to expect them to lie for me, and I wouldn't want to do something like that anyway.

I'm worried sick that my driving licence isn't legal, and I want to put it right, but what can I do? I can't stop driving because my DH is disabled.

I managed to get married without needing a passport or driving licence. And I honestly don't see why I shouldn't be allowed to drive or leave the country, just because I don't have any friends who are librarians or magistrates.

What can I do?

[DontDribbleOnTheCarpet]

I haven't had a valid passport since 1989, but I got a photocard DL. I used tax credit paperwork I think, and probably some utility bills. My priest countersigned the form for me. Do you know any members of the clergy? Or sub postmasters?

[DennisMailerWasHere]

Aside from the unwarranted comments about "posh" people .. the list of who can sign passport photographs is huge - it doesn't need to be a friend, just someone who can recognise you and meets the minimum period that they've known you for:

Recognised professions
Examples of recognised professions include:

accountant
airline pilot
articled clerk of a limited company
assurance agent of recognised company
bank or building society official
barrister
chairman or director of a limited company
chiropodist
commissioner for oaths
councillor, for example local or county
civil servant (permanent)
dentist
director, manager or personnel officer of a VAT-registered company
engineer with professional qualifications
financial services intermediary, for example a stockbroker or insurance broker
fire service official
funeral director
insurance agent (full time) of a recognised company
journalist
Justice of the Peace
legal secretary (fellow or associate member of the Institute of Legal Secretaries and PAs)
licensee of a public house
local government officer
manager or personnel officer of a limited company
member, associate or fellow of a professional body
Member of Parliament
Merchant Navy officer
minister of a recognised religion (including Christian Science)
nurse (RGN or RMN)
officer of the armed services
optician
paralegal (certified paralegal, qualified paralegal or associate member of the Institute of Paralegals)
person with honours, for example an OBE or MBE
pharmacist
photographer (professional)
police officer
Post Office official
president or secretary of a recognised organisation
Salvation Army officer
social worker
solicitor
surveyor
teacher or lecturer
trade union officer
travel agent (qualified)
valuer or auctioneer (fellow or associate members of the incorporated society)
Warrant Officers and Chief Petty Officers

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

[15YemenRoad]

Your thinking is wrong. You can ask your GP, whether they know you well enough or not, most will do it but it may incur a charge. Your local pharmacy can also do it as can a headteacher if you have children who go to school.

You have options but you're limiting yourself under this false pretence that someone needs to be your friend in order to do this.

I'm sure you could even ask friends if they know someone that could do it. It's not that difficult, just requires some effort on your part.

[taylorowmu]

Your thinking is wrong. You can ask your GP, whether they know you well enough or not, most will do it but it may incur a charge.


It's not just 'thinking'; it's the actual rules.

GP's are not allowed to sign, unless they know you personally, as a friend.

[MollyButton]

Do your children have friends who have known you for long enough? Or boyfriends/girlfriends or partner's parents? Do you know anyone who runs their own business? A cleaner maybe? A shopkeeper of a shop you've used for a few years? The garage where you get your car serviced?

[15YemenRoad]

Also I have to point out that your username is fucking ridiculous.

Please elaborate how being a professional makes you "posh". What a strange way of thinking.

You seem to have a chip on your shoulder over professional people and I'm failing to understand why you would.

[wowfudge]

You mentioned you have adult children. What about a friend of one of them for your passport application? If they've been friends since school, they'll probably have known you for years.

[ddl1]

They don't have to be friends, just to know you. A doctor is nowadays only eligible if they know you well. But other medical-related professionals are eligible if they know you well enough to recognize your photo and are not so closely scrutinized: an optician, a pharmacist, a dentist.

[taylorowmu]

I think @dementedpixie is correct, form D1 doesn't require a countersigned picture.

[Likethebattle]

Again your friends husband can sign it as he is employed in a recognised industry as a TRAIN DRIVER! Seriously he can sign it for you.

[15YemenRoad]

@taylorowmu Actually, most GP's if you are actually registered and have been there for appointments will do it for you, and they often have a charge for this. This has been my experience anyway.

Most cases people will ask around and can usually find someone to get it done for them, without being an actual friend.

[taylorowmu]

Also I have to point out that your username is fucking ridiculous.

Please elaborate how being a professional makes you "posh". What a strange way of thinking.

You seem to have a chip on your shoulder over professional people and I'm failing to understand why you would.

I'm not sure OP is the one with the chip.....

What a nasty, unnecessary post.

[taylorowmu]

Actually, most GP's if you are actually registered and have been there for appointments will do it for you, and they often have a charge for this. This has been my experience anyway

GP'a not accepted by the government as a countersignatory any more. Even if every doctor in the surgery counter signed a assorts photo the office would reject it based on them not being allowed to do it anymore.

[15YemenRoad]

@taylorowmu How on earth is that nasty and what exactly would be my chip?

The posh comments are unwarranted.

[taylorowmu]

How on earth is that nasty

You don't know?

Wow.

[TheInvestigator]

@15YemenRoad
Those GPs will be getting into a lot of trouble then. Doctors are no longer allowed to do it unless they actually know you. I'd someone went up to them with your photo and said "who is This?" Then they need to be able to name you in that moment. They can't just know you in passing as s patient.

[15YemenRoad]

@taylorowmu Really? I just had my daughter's done by our GP and had no issue with her passport at all? This was only a couple of months ago.

[15YemenRoad]

@TheInvestigator I see. I'll definitely check this out. Although I have been with my GP for over 20 years now so perhaps that is why they had no problem to sign.

A friend recently had hers done via our local pharmacy, she's just a regular customer but they had no concerns on signing.

[taylorowmu]

Really? I just had my daughter's done by our GP and had no issue with her passport at all? This was only a couple of months ago

Oh yes, you are absolutely correct.

Everyone, ignore the GOV website, 15 is the person to ask!

[DennisMailerWasHere]

15YemenRoad it depends if the GP is a) aware of the new rule, and b) if so, will accept the risks of it being checked and their being unable to identify someone they've signed for...

[taylorowmu]

Thanks. I will do.

[TheInvestigator]

@15YemenRoad

The pharmacist would have to have known her for me than 2 years and be able to identify her. As long as they can do that, then that's fine. They can know her in passing, just as a customer, as can any other profession allowed to sign. But the rules for doctors have changed and they need to be friends rather than just your doctor.

[15YemenRoad]

@DennisMailerWasHere Thanks for that Dennis, that's definitely good to know for future reference.

I'll definitely speak to my GP about this, I've had no problems with my daughter's passport thankfully, but I had no idea things had changed.

[TheEmperorIsNaked]

My mum is in the same situation OP. Her passport was stolen and she needs her photo countersigned before it can be renewed. She lives in a working class neighbourhood. Her friends are hairdressers and shop assistants, married to postmen and builders. She isn't going to humiliate herself asking people who don't know her from Adam to vouch for her identity.

It's a pain in the arse.