To not understand whether or not I need passport photo countersigned (driving licence)

[berTens]

I shouldn’t be confused about this but I am. If I’ve got a foreign (non-U.K.) passport that I’m sending to the DVLA with my paper application, do I need to have the passport photo countersigned? The DVLA information I have implies that if you send any passport in you don’t need to get the back of the passport photo countersigned but elsewhere in the information they use the word passport when they actually mean U.K. passport, so I’m not sure if that also applies with the countersignature requirement.

They aren’t communicating with anyone who isn’t a critical COVID-19 worker and I can’t afford to get it wrong as it’ll probably take ages for the application to be processed anyway. Getting a countersignature will be awkward, so I’d like to avoid it if possible.

Just wondered if anyone knows the answer to this for sure. Thanks.

I don't know the answer for sure, but I suspect that you will need it countersigned as I think the dvla and the UK passport people share some information. Better to have it done and not need it, than not get it done and delay the process.

I'd just ring them and pretend you work in a supermarket. They're not going to check are they?

But failing that:

The NI guidance is here, which may be helpful - depends if your passport is non-EEA or not: www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/having-your-photo-certified-driving-licence

(don't know why the GB guidance can't be as clear!)

Thanks.