renewing passports

consumers_revenge

Hi,

Can anyone advise please, I've read it somewhere but cant find it.

Need to renew mine, wife's, sons (who now on an adult passport) daughter who remains on child passport.

Happy to do this online if they can all be renewed but not sure about the digital photo? someone said you can now do your own rather than going to the expensive photo booths for all 4 of us. Also been told theres a site that will check you photo you've done is usable for the renewal application.

Countersigner, is this just anyone who holds qualifications etc and they are just put down as a reference?

All new fangled for me, anyone done this recently please?

TIA

Caz3121

consumers_revenge said:

 Also been told theres a site that will check you photo you've done is usable for the renewal application.

the passport website checks the photo when you upload it.
Information about countersigning is on the website https://www.gov.uk/confirm-identity-online-for-passport-application https://www.gov.uk/confirm-identity-online-for-passport-application

eskbanker

consumers_revenge said:

Hi,

Can anyone advise please, I've read it somewhere but cant find it.

Need to renew mine, wife's, sons (who now on an adult passport) daughter who remains on child passport.

Happy to do this online if they can all be renewed but not sure about the digital photo? someone said you can now do your own rather than going to the expensive photo booths for all 4 of us. Also been told theres a site that will check you photo you've done is usable for the renewal application.

Countersigner, is this just anyone who holds qualifications etc and they are just put down as a reference?

All new fangled for me, anyone done this recently please?

TIA

There's another current thread covering much of this ground:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6498157/passport-photo-cheapest-option

greyteam1959

Use your smartphone to take pictures following the guidelines.
When you upload the picture if it is not good enough it tells you.
Just keep trying until your picture is accepted.
Don't use some dubious website to check your photos.
Counter signing can be done online now as well.

smudge56

If taking your own photo make sure it’s against a plain light coloured background and there are no shadows.  I managed to avoid shadows by taking the photo in the dark and using the flash.  Turned out better than taking it with the light on.  

Your referee should have a current British passport and have one of the occupations for the list on the gov.uk website.  If they are retired and over 70 it doesn’t matter what their profession was.
when sending in your old passport put each one in a separate envelope with the PEX number on the outside then put them all in a strong envelope and send them to document handling unit address they give you.  Straightforward renewals should only take about a week just now.

consumers_revenge

Many thanks all, sounds like its a lot easier to do now then.

TELLIT01

I would have thought taking it in the dark with flash was a way to guarantee there are shadows.

consumers_revenge

Especially if you are Hank Marvin!

sandsy

Just did this for son's passport (moving from child passport to adult passport). Took photo on mobile. The application website was helpful for showing examples of good and bad photos and recommended stepping forward from the wall by 1.5 feet to avoid shadows which definitely helped. The new (and old) passport was back in a week.

smudge56

TELLIT01 said:

I would have thought taking it in the dark with flash was a way to guarantee there are shadows.

Believe it or not it was the only photo without a shadow. Only problem is trying to see in the dark 😂

consumers_revenge

deffo ok to sent them all in separate envelopes (with PEX number?) then into a strong jiffy bag? couldnt find anything on the gov website?