Passport photos

smudge56

The person who countersigns the application has to be available to reply to any letters sent to them, so if they are away they are not suitable to countersign.
Only one photo has to be certified - you must provide a photo which is blank on the back.

peachyprice

Here, found this for you:

No shadows. Shadows obscure facial detail and therefore prevent the
capture of a good quality image. Photos with shadows that may
interfere with the ability to take a viable biometric should be rejected.
Small shadows beneath the ears can be accepted, as long as there is
a clear definition between the face and the background.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/118561/photographic-standards.pdf

So if it doesn't obscure your features it should be fine.

notisis

Glad your photo was fine thriftymanc

I applied online for renewal and the form I had to print off made no mention of any photo needing to be countersigned. And it had lots of information about how the photos had to look. I just panicked and reread the form (I kept a copy) and no, there's no requirement for mine to be countersigned. In the end I went to Timpsons (high street chain of key cutter/shoe repairers etc) who did the passport photos for £6.95 and guaranteed they would be accepted or they would redo the photos for free. Hope that helps someone.

growler834

notisis wrote: »

Glad your photo was fine thriftymanc

I applied online for renewal and the form I had to print off made no mention of any photo needing to be countersigned. And it had lots of information about how the photos had to look. I just panicked and reread the form (I kept a copy) and no, there's no requirement for mine to be countersigned. In the end I went to Timpsons (high street chain of key cutter/shoe repairers etc) who did the passport photos for £6.95 and guaranteed they would be accepted or they would redo the photos for free. Hope that helps someone.

They only have to be countersigned (for renewal) if you look very different between your new photo & old passport photo. DH & I are renewing ours and my photos are ok - both photos look very much alike (except for 10 years of ageing). DH however has, in the last 10 years, got rid of his thick black moustache & now has close cropped grey hair & a grey goatee beard. He has had to have his photo & application countersigned.