To think if you have a valid UK driving license you should be able to apply for a first passport without all of this countersigning bollocks?

[CharlotteBakewell]

DS needs to apply for his first adult passport, it’s not classed as a renewal from his child’s passport, so he’ll need someone to countersign his photo.

He can do this online and provide an email address for the person countersigning. We have friend in mind who is a fire fighter so hopefully this should be ok.

My bugbear is, DS has a valid UK driving license, he’s previously had a child’s passport, so why, in this digital age, does it still warrant a bloody counter signature! It’s a faff and delays the whole process, especially if you have to rely on that person looking out for an email. Yes, he could go down the old fashioned route, paper copy and the back of the photo signed, then he knows it’s been done, but why, when he has previously held a passport and has other official proof of identity does he need his image verified by someone who’s known him for at least 2 years!

I could understand the need if he’d never held a passport before, didn’t have a UK driving license, bank account, etc but why the need if he has all of these supporting documents? You can use your online passport photo when you apply for your driving license so why not vice versa?

AIBU and just grumpy?

Unfortunately I think it has to be complicated due to the amount of identity fraud/theft and fake ids getting used/produced but it’s so annoying

I think it does count as a renewal from his child passport, my children’s did. First adult passport means first passport in your life. If you’ve had a child passport it’s an adult renewal.

Because there are people with multiple identities, multiple passports

I have been for job interviews & had to show original passport, copy not accepted

From the online information I’ve read it’s not classed as a renewal, it’s classed as a new passport application, so we’ll need to provide a birth certificate too.

It’s definitely a renewal if he’s had a child passport.

It is a renewal
A first adult passport is when you've never had a passport before ever
He doesn't need birth certificate or a countersignature. He needs a new photo and the old passport only

I put YABU because you are wrong about it being a first adult passport
It's a renewal as he has a child passport already. All that's changing is the validity as its increasing from 5 years to 10 years

I must have been reading some duff information of Safari search! 🤭 Thank you for putting me right! That will be a much easier process then!

From the .gov site:

You can apply for a first adult passport if all of the following apply:

• you’re a British national
• you’re aged 16 or over (or will be in 3 weeks)
• you’ve never had a UK passport before

(As he's had a child passport he is ticking the renewal box rather than for a first adult passport)

I can’t see where there is a renewal from a child to adult though? Plus it states you do still require a photo countersigning?

That's the first adult passport page you’re on
You need adult renewal page:

https://www.gov.uk/renew-adult-passport/renew

From the overview page on adult renewal:
Can use adult renewal link for over 16s if they've had a child passport before.

You can use your online passport photo when you apply for your driving license so why not vice versa?

Because it's a passport, not a driving licence. You can't leave the country with just a driving license. YABVU.

(Also, what PP said about renewals).

I’m quite aware that you can’t leave the country with just a driving licence 🙄 it was the photo I was referring to!

My point is that it stands to reason that the id verification requirements are more stringent for a passport than a driving licensce.

Your adult son should also be sorting out his own passport.

Not the point of the thread, I know, but just want to say he might still need a countersignature if his child passport expired so long ago that he no longer looks anything like he did in the photo.

If he's still recognisable from the photo he won't need a countersignature.

ID photo for driving licence is also very stringent! DS’s first photo was declined due to his fringe (don’t ask) so he had to take it again.

Yes, DS should be sorting this out I agree but there we go.

I’ve just read this too. He’s most likely will require this as there is a marked difference.

I would do the application and see. They won't ask for a countersignature to start with due to his age. Can he be recognised from the old photo?

But you're justifying a process that doesn't exist, as numerous PPs have already pointed out, because OP's child previously had a child passport so she just misunderstood. 😵‍💫 What does this add to the thread? Also you're wrong, you can leave the country on a driving licence, look up the common travel area between the UK and Ireland.

It's nonsense other countries dont do this and the counter signature has to have a middle class job and be a friend. Many don't have middle class friends.

They don't have to be your friend, there's no criteria for whether the countersignatory likes you 😁 , they only have to know you

My son's passport photo was declined when I tried to use it to apply for his driving licence. I mean...how??

Yes but not in a professional capacity so my daughters school, doctors, dentist etc refused even though they had known her for the correct time. I know someone who can't get a passport because of this.

I’m pretty sure ofsted registered childminders can do it as a responsible person, Perhaps next time another childminder you know could do it? Many small business owners can. The list is wider than it states online.