Don’t have anyone to sign passport

[BlueBurys]

I really want to take my children abroad but don’t have anyone to do their passports. Has anyone been in this situation and what did you do? (Don’t need any suggestions of who can sign it I’m aware and have looked through the list but don’t have anyone that can do it) is there anything else that can be done if you’ve been in this situation?

Yes I have been in this situation. Ended up asking an old friend who didn’t know the children but could say they’d known me for more than two years. He was prepared to give his passport details to corroborate. The passport office did email him for confirmation and the kids passports were issued. My friend had retired so no occupation but he was a retired IT guy. Does that help?

I got a vicar to do it as my son's school refused and so did the police.

A solicitor wouldn’t charge much.

For the umpteenth time unless the solicitor has known the OP for at least 2 years a solicitor is no more acceptable than any other random person the OP doesn't know.

That's exactly how it's supposed to work. It's the parent who must be known to the countersignatory.

So... What DO your friends do for a living? 🤔

My friendship group if I include the outskirts has lawyers, Doctors of all sorts, a ridiculous number of education professionals and a Barrister.

This isn't a stealth boast... I'm genuinely interested that you don't know anyone who could sign it for you.

I think you may be depressed and suffering from helplessness as I'm reading your replies and you're rejecting every suggestion.
Where there's a will, there's a way.
If you have recently moved to the UK and nobody knows you two years, there's still someone who will use common sense and tick the box that they know you because they'll want to help you.

Please try.

You need to check your facts. A solicitor has recently verified my passport. It is quite usual.

I am a solicitor. I have been a solicitor since 1982 I can and will countersign photos of people I have known for at least 2 years as per the rules of the passport agency. I can and do make a photocopy of a passport presented to me and certify it is a true copy of the original.

I definitely do not risk my practising certificate by countersigning photographs of random people I don't know from Eve and charge a fee for it.

"manager of a limited company" is on the list. Literally any level of manager. I work in a shop and I've a colleague who signed for a customer that comes in once a week and it was all approved

IHaveAlwaysLivedinthecastle
Currently in Australia, the rules are different on this point. I hope you are more patient with your paying clients.

Currently in Australia?

We’re talking about the British Passport Office, so perhaps read up on the rules here before declaring something as fact.

We're clearly talking about a British passport and 28 pages in on a thread where this has been mentioned many times- i don't think @IHaveAlwaysLivedintheCastle is being impatient with you!

School?

Don't you have a Doctor or dentist? The Drs can do it. Everyone has a GP.

If you cant ask any healthcare professional then no passport for you. Then nothing can be done.

Doctors can't anymore unless it's in a personal capacity, but nurses, health visitors, etc can.

This is hilarious.
OP is a negative nelly who 'doesnt want suggestions'
What do you want?
For all of Mumsnet to tell you you're right, there is nobody in the UK who will sign your kids passport application. Nobody! You just want to wallow in your misery and tell everyone they're wrong for trying to help you.
I pity your children with such a negative, unhelpful mother.

Our local councillors do it - even if they don’t know the person concerned

Then they are doing something illegal.

Obviously they found someone. That is the only option.

I used to think who on earth can I ask.
Since then I realised just about anyone csn do it and have done it for me.
Example, manager of local community centre, see them when we do activities in the centre.
My freind who has a normal job in the council, think admin.
Also, a lady i know at the housing association. She organises activities.
Like, completely ignore the list and go for anyone that works anywhere. If they don't accept it, ask someone else.
Say someone works in Tesco but they are a supervisor, accepted!

The ridiculous comments about 'its illegal' if they don't know you.
This obsession with being a stickler to an insane rule is so narrow minded and pathetic...anyone with a bit of sense will sign it for god's sake

It is a criminal offence, what a fucking stupid statement to make.

Breach of contract is illegal too, but it’s not a criminal offence.

Anyone over 70, despite occupation, can countersign a passport, assuming they have one themselves. A lot of people don't know that. So ask any neighbour, friend of the family etc, over the age of 70.