Child passport renewal - do you have to do paper application if need countersigning?

[xxlostxx]

My 2 dcs are now 13 and 15, both passports expired around 5 years ago. Will I have to do paper application? They do look a lot different now they are older but the woman in Max Speilman said it can be confirmed by email if applying online. Can't seem to find an answer!

Also, I read on another thread that the same person cannot countersign twice- I was going to get my work colleague to countersign for both children, is this not allowed?

I recently renewed my DCs passports - was all done online including the counter signature part.

I just did passport renewal for my 6 year old - so definitely looks very different! You do the online process and then can provide contact details of someone to verify the photo. They send that person an email and then your application can proceed. All online.

And the same person countersigned for both of them.

Ahh brilliant, thanks so much

It can be verified online. You would need to provide the email address of the person who will verify the photo for you

Although, it will not ask you for verification on an online application as your children are age 12+. It only prompts for verification if the applicants are under 12 years old. Could they still be recognised from their old photos?

I've just done my younger childrens', you input in an email address after you've completed the application and they send the person an online bit to complete.

No idea if you can use the same person, I asked 2 different to spread the favours!

I have countersigned for a child passport. All done online.

DH recently organised our 16 yr old son's renewal. I haven't heard anything about countersigning though as you might imagine his face has changed a fair bit since he was 11. I forgot to ask where in the process the picture got reviewed .... hope it doesn't come back on us later!

You may not even need a countersignature as your children are over 12 years old. It depends whether the person who checks the application can verify that both photos are of the same person. You will not be asked to give details during the application but may be asked at a later stage

I did ds's renewal and that was going from age 10 to 15years. Didn't need a countersignature as he could be recognised from the old photo and is over 12.

dementedpixie the 13 year old was a toddler and the 15 year old was 6 so they do look a lot different although the features still recognisable. Just don't want to risk major delays and problems with the way it's so chaotic anyway at the minute

The online service will not ask for a countersignature due to their ages but you may be asked for one when it is checked by a person.

If you do a paper version then you could include those details already. Paper version takes longer and is more expensive but I don't know which would be faster overall.

ds(18) renewed his this month, last passport expired 3 years ago and previous picture he was only 10 years old.

He looks nothing like he did 8 years ago, even his hair colour has changed from light to dark as it is much shorter.

No countersignature was asked for and he got his passport back in 2.5 weeks.

I countersigned 3 of them online recently. They were 3 first passports for my friend's children

I countersigned online for my friend's 2 children recently. All fine.

Great, thanks everyone. I'm gonna go ahead and do it online 👍

No, all online