Don't know anyone who can sign passport

[Ahhffs]

I'm really stuck! I knew one person with a qualifying job but they couldn't do it as their passport has expired
i literally don't know any other people
is a carer /care home worker able to sign them? That's literally the only other person I can think of.
what do I do if I can't find anyone? Am I just not able to get a passport?

Only if they are going against the rules, I'm pretty sure it specifically says no GPs unless you know them as a friend not your doctor

It also doesn't have to be someone living near you - a friend living 250 miles away countersigned my daughter's renewal.

Landlord of your local pub?

It's OK if they know you in professional capacity, provided they do know you and can confirm your identity. Just being registered as a patient is not sufficient

I work in finance and signed for my nephews (DH sister’s kids) all was fine. Did get a notification on Experian that HM passport office had performed a soft search on me.

No, they need to know you in a personal capacity - ie, you are friends.

The passport office website makes it clear that a doctor can't sign, unless they know the applicant personally - which doesn't mean just being a patient. Although somewhat contrarily dentist and optician are on the list!!

https://www.gov.uk/confirm-identity-online-for-passport-application

However the 'manager of a VAT registered company' and 'manager of a limited company' do appear on the list, and they are fairy broad titles

No suggestions but I am watching this thread with interest as I am having exactly the same problem. When I last had a passport (over 25 years ago) my next door neighbour was a police officer and he signed it for me. Now I am struggling to find someone. I've asked my pharmacist,who has known me for nearly 20 years but he said no. I've got a dentist appointment next month so I am going to ask him.

Aha! I also have an eye test next week,I will ask the optician.

You would think in this day and age there would be an easier way to do things!

As a teacher I get quite a few requests from pupils and families I haven't taught for decades but I'm always happy to help!

The Post Office check and send service do this. They verify ID documents and photo as a true likeness.

When I last had a passport (over 25 years ago) my next door neighbour was a police officer and he signed it for me. Now I am struggling to find someone.

What does your current next door neighbour do?

Do you not know anyone who is a director of their own company? It doesn't have to be Alan Sugar, a neighbour who is a carpet fitter or a window cleaner will do, so long as he's a director of his own company.

Are you sure you need it?

If you're doing a renewal and do it online, you can bypass this, providing your new photo isnt that different from your last one.

I was pleasantly surprised by the online system for its speed and efficiency!

I didn’t think you could do your family? My mum couldn’t do for us or our kids, but she could for the neighbours, so the neighbours did ours in return! They were both in the same accepted profession

That would be a big ask. I certainly don’t know anyone who is a director of a company.

Do you know the optician personally and have done for two years?

It's unlikely that you don't know anyone. Do you know anyone who owns their own business e.g. hairdresser, corner shop owner, builder, window cleaner? The landlord/lady in your local. A Scout leader. A nurse. Your manager at work. One of your kids' teachers.

I've signed for quite a few people, some were definitely only acquaintances but I'd known them for more than two years and could vouch for them. My job isn't specified on the list of suggestions.

I know several, it isn't a big ask at all. I went to school with several people who are now self-employed florists/ hairdressers/ builders/gardeners/decorators. My neighbours are directors of their own limited company. They're just normal people, nothing unusual about them!

I signed my friends daughters, I’m a carer but at a senior level for a private healthcare firm

More people than you think can do it, I was just working in the office, as I was the wonky one I had ‘manager’ in my title, not important at all and I got away with signing for people. Do you work, do you have a boss?

You can ask your manager if you work in a care home? Any neighbours, friends of friends?

This is personal to you but good standing means someone who who has been in a career involving responsibility and the person will have a lot to lose if they falsely validated someone. Doris down the road is unable to verify just because she's nice but another Doris who is also nice and in a position to sign passports will be more than happy to do.

People in jobs like the Police/teaching/council NHS etc are in the majority lovely, just wanting to make a difference and earn money for their families.

I found someone in the end- childhood friend of my brother. Very stressful trying to find someone though!