Passport

Dizzy_Ditzy

Where is your friend? I am guessing that she is not in the UK if she needs a passport to visit someone here
So the signing rules would be applicable to the country that she is applying for a passport from


So for example, if she is in Spain, she needs to follow the Spanish rules for passport application

moremore

duchy wrote: »

That's not correct-Your regular GP can sign for you -even if he or she only knows you in a professional capacity. The important thing is that they know you not how.

Optician is on the list also teacher, pharmacist, licencee of a public house, dentist amongst others.

I notice the OP says this is for someone to visit a sick relative "in the British Isles" is this a British passport we are talking about if this person is coming from overseas ?

It is an Irish passport therefore in the British isles. She may have to use her bus pass as identity for traveling to visit relative in Ireland, hopefully that will be accepted. She has been residing in England for over 40 years.

Person_one

moremore wrote: »

It is an Irish passport therefore in the British isles. She may have to use her bus pass as identity for traveling to visit relative and hopefully that will be accepted.

Ah, I assumed you meant a British passport to replace one that expired while living abroad.

Ignore the rules for the UK then, she'll obviously have to follow the Irish rules but I don't there are many posters here from the ROI who can advise I'm afraid.

Georgiegirl256

duchy wrote: »

That's not correct-Your regular GP can sign for you -even if he or she only knows you in a professional capacity. The important thing is that they know you not how.
?

Last time I checked when I was in the doctors and had a passport coming up for renewal, it cost about £18-£20, or there abouts! :eek: I thought, 'I'm not paying that!', and so got my Mam's best friend who had known me since birth, and is a retired legal secretary.

OP, is there no-one off that list that Jax posted that you could ask? A close family friend for example who has one of those occupations.

ETA: Just read that you're from Ireland, so it'll be different.

System

duchy wrote: »

That's not correct-Your regular GP can sign for you -even if he or she only knows you in a professional capacity.

Sorry how does that square with the second point below?

The countersignatory must:

• have known the person applying for at least 2 years
• be able to identify the person applying - eg they’re a friend, neighbour or colleague (not just someone who knows them professionally)

Voyager2002

Note that the UK and the Republic of Ireland form a Common Travel Area. Anyone who is a citizen of these countries can travel without showing a passport or other documents throughout the CTA.

However, most airlines require a valid passport for flights between the UK and Ireland, so she might need to cross by ferry or should check ID requirements very carefully before buying an air ticket.

lazer

moremore wrote: »

Wow that's a long list. The list she got there are not that amount on it.

Her lists says all acceptable witnesses:
Police Officer;
Member of Clergy;
Medical Doctor, Nurse, Pharmacist, Dentist, Vet;
Lawyer, Solicitor and Legal Executive (register with the law society or institute of Legal Executives);
Bank Official (this includes building societies, credit union, postmaster and sub-postmasters);
Elected Public Representative (this includes member of Parliament & County Councillors);
Just of the Peace, Notary Public, Commissioner for Oaths, Peace Commissioner;
Social worker;
Teacher, Lecture;
Accountant.

The application needs to stamped by the organization and be contactable at their work place.
That is why she went to her bank and the police station as it is near her and they know her.

I am an accountant and countersign some Irish passports - we do not have a work stamp so initial the box and I have been contacted by phone to confirm a few times.

I don't think a bus pass is accepted, driving licence is and probably national identity card as long as not flying ryanair as they request you have a passport to fly Ireland - UK.

If applying from RoI I think only the garda can sign, but if applying from Northern Ireland, then there is a list and I didn't think the requirement to know someone personally exists - just that they are satisfied you are who you say you are and the photo is a true likeness.

If applying from England, I assume it is an application through the Irish Embassy - so give them a ring for help.

Alternatively, can your relative apply for a British passport?

HPoirot

"Not just someone who knows them professionally" meaning professional and personal capacity, that the person you are signing for is recognisable by you and you have known them for a minimum of 2 years.

OP, does your friend know her bank manager personally, ie met them a few times? Or anyone else in an official capacity who may have known her. I have countersigned passports both here and overseas and the rules are the same in general.

moremore

If applying from England, I assume it is an application through the Irish Embassy - so give them a ring for help.

The Irish embassy very difficult to make contact with on the phone after trying so many times they are continuously busy and told to ring back later.

HPoirot wrote: »

"Not just someone who knows them professionally" meaning professional and personal capacity, that the person you are signing for is recognisable by you and you have known them for a minimum of 2 years.

OP, does your friend know her bank manager personally, ie met them a few times? Or anyone else in an official capacity who may have known her. I have countersigned passports both here and overseas and the rules are the same in general.

It says a bank official and I assume that is anyone working in the bank. Goes into the bank nearly every week and staff knows her but will not sign the application form either. Also, I forgot to mention the post office that are on the list will not sign also, despite her being the post office every week.
.

HPoirot

Is there anywhere she would usually get prescriptions from? The pharmacist may agree to it if her script turns up regularly and she is there to pick it up herself.

ETA not sure, but I believe application forms and photographs can be left at the surgery against a fee, an actual appointment with the GP may not be needed.