Passport application: Find someone to prove identity

elsien

You missed the first bit of the page out:

Your countersignatory must either:

• work in (or be retired from) a recognised profession
• be ‘a person of good standing in their community’

Recognised professions

Examples of recognised professions include:

It’s not an exhaustive list and you can have a different profession to those listed. I’ve signed passport applications for people before with no problem and I’m not on that list.

eDicky

Are you saying that you've been resident in a non-European country for twenty years but applied for renewal as if you are in the UK, instead of following the application procedure for the country where you're resident (for which a local person would be your referee)..?

And is this your second attempt, the first application having been withdrawn by HMPO for non receipt of old passport within the required period, as you seem to be saying..?

smudge56

Are you applying from abroad using the overseas route but just getting your passport delivered to the UK or are you applying as if you are in the UK?  If you are abroad you MUST use the overseas route.  You are signing a declaration that you are in the UK when you use the UK route.  If you apply from abroad you can us a non British digital referee.(though if you can be ID’d from your previous passport you really don’t need one). If your digital referee is retired and over 70 it doesn’t matter what they did.  They will be accepted.