Will GP's still sign passport forms?

ev8

I'm looking to getting a passport, but I have nobody to sign for me.

Will my GP signing the forms be acceptable to them?

Caz3121

you would need to ask your practice, some may for a fee, others may not

benjus

They removed doctors from the list of "suggested countersignatories" presumably to discourage people from asking their GP when they are overloaded enough treating patients. But if your GP is willing to do it, there shouldn't be a problem, as a qualified doctor clearly meets the criteria for countersigning a passport.

Mojisola

Caz3121 wrote: »

you would need to ask your practice, some may for a fee, others may not

Our practice doesn't do it - apart from the 'frequent fliers' at the surgery, our doctors couldn't pick their patients out of a crowd so can't confirm their identity.

interstellaflyer

We!!!8217;re in the same boat, our doctor no longer signs passport forms and we don!!!8217;t know anyone who can, fortunately for us we have passports so don!!!8217;t need a signature for renewal, we!!!8217;d be stuffed if we did.

shaun_from_Africa

benjus wrote: »

They removed doctors from the list of "suggested countersignatories" presumably to discourage people from asking their GP when they are overloaded enough treating patients. But if your GP is willing to do it, there shouldn't be a problem, as a qualified doctor clearly meets the criteria for countersigning a passport.

A doctor is no longer classed as an acceptable signatory solely on the basis of them being a qualified doctor.
They can now only countersign if they know you well and can easily recognise you from a photograph.

LadyDee

There must be somebody, a neighbour for instance (of good standing) who has known you for two years?

https://www.gov.uk/countersigning-passport-applications

Silvertabby

Luckily for us, our next door neighbour is a teacher. Would probably have had the same problem otherwise.

benjus

shaun_from_Africa wrote: »

A doctor is no longer classed as an acceptable signatory solely on the basis of them being a qualified doctor.
They can now only countersign if they know you well and can easily recognise you from a photograph.

Surely it's always been the case that the countersignatory needs to know you personally.

eDicky

benjus wrote: »

Surely it's always been the case that the countersignatory needs to know you personally.

Yes, but now it's more rigorous than it was fifty years ago when I needed a countersignatory in a hurry and knew nobody in London. I think the doctor's surgery I found was not far from the passport office at Somerset House.

"Good morning doctor, I came to you with sprained ankle a couple of years ago, now I just need my passport application to be countersigned."

"That will be £15, hand me the form..."

z1a

Silvertabby wrote: »

Luckily for us, our next door neighbour is a teacher. Would probably have had the same problem otherwise.

Teacher! My god, anybody will do then!