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?

Sometimes they accept childminders sometimes not. I have done it for a few people but the last one I did was not accepted.

My son did this a few weeks ago, we thought he may need a counter signet due to him changing, but no it came through in a week

With online application they will tell you if you need a counter signature..you don't have to do it when your applying

@CharlotteBakewellit could be worse - in France you have to make an in-person appointment to hand in your application form and then another appointment to pick up the passport when ready!

First adult after child is considered different from an adult re real in some ways eg you can’t do the quick in person fast track

It's much more stringent in most of the rest of Europe, and in addition you need id cards too.

Anyone resident in the UK is eligible to apply for a UK driving licence but not everyone resident in the UK is entitled/eligible for a UK passport.