UK passport application

Marvqn1

I have some questions about applying for a UK passport I would like advice on please.

1. If I apply for a passport online, how is the countersignature done? Such as what do I need to give to the person who provides a countersignature.

2. After first applying for a passport, how soon can I provide a countersignature? For example, do I need to send any documents first before that?

As I was thinking of asking my dentist for a countersignature, but I only see my dentist every 6 months. So I want to know if there would be enough time.

TELLIT01

Try calling the Passport Office Helpline

How do I speak to someone in the passport office UK?

Call our Adviceline: 0300 222 0000 for more information or to get a passport application pack. Calls to 0300 numbers are charged at your network provider's standard national rate.

DullGreyGuy

https://www.gov.uk/apply-first-adult-passport/apply-online

Assume this is your first British Passport? You'll give the email address for the person confirming your identity, they'll receive an email with instructions on what they need to do. 

https://www.gov.uk/confirm-identity-online-for-passport-application

As per the above the person is supposed to know you personally and not in a purely professional basis so whilst dentists are on the list they may not consider they meet the criteria unless he's your dentist and drinking buddy. It's normally a conversation with the person first. There are three of us in our local who are forever being asked to sign as an accountant, police office and director of a company. Oddly no one thinks to ask the pub manager who equally could sign as a manager of a company. 

Marvqn1

DullGreyGuy said:

https://www.gov.uk/apply-first-adult-passport/apply-online

Assume this is your first British Passport? You'll give the email address for the person confirming your identity, they'll receive an email with instructions on what they need to do. 

https://www.gov.uk/confirm-identity-online-for-passport-application

As per the above the person is supposed to know you personally and not in a purely professional basis so whilst dentists are on the list they may not consider they meet the criteria unless he's your dentist and drinking buddy. It's normally a conversation with the person first. There are three of us in our local who are forever being asked to sign as an accountant, police office and director of a company. Oddly no one thinks to ask the pub manager who equally could sign as a manager of a company. 

When reading some online discussions about this, I read this

Your countersignatory cannot:
work for HM Passport Office
be a doctor, unless they state that they know you well (for example they’re a good friend) and that they recognise you easily from your photo

They don't mention dentists though.

So why is only doctors mentioned as a requirement that they know you well?

DullGreyGuy

Marvqn1 said:
So why is only doctors mentioned as a requirement that they know you well?

Doctors don't appear in the list of allowable professions, they were taken off years ago, but appear in the list of professions that cannot sign with a carve out for if they know you well. At the time the changes happened there were reports it was due to campaigning from by the BMA that too much time was being wasted of GPs signing these things and arguments with patents over the circa £40 that most charge for this type of private work. 

At the top of all professions it says the person must know you as a friend, neighbour or colleague not just in a professional capacity. Clearly what the line is between being a friend or not etc isn't defined in law and so is subjective anyway hence it really coming down to the other person's willingness to do it. 

I've seen the same nurse for quarterly treatment for 7 years, I know where she lives, what her husband and kids do, her retirement plans but have never met her outside of a clinical setting. Similarly there are folks in my local that I've known a few years, probably chat once a week when we coincide being there (never planned) but couldn't tell you their partners name or profession, where they live beyond being in the the area. Are either of these "friends" or are they just friendly but not friends?

Marvqn1

According to what it says at the site below, its possible to submit a signed declaration if a person doesn't know anyone suitable to countersign.

Does anyone know if that is an option?

https://photoaid.com/en-gb/blog/sign-passport-photo/

DullGreyGuy

Marvqn1 said:

According to what it says at the site below, its possible to submit a signed declaration if a person doesn't know anyone suitable to countersign.

Does anyone know if that is an option?

https://photoaid.com/en-gb/blog/sign-passport-photo/

You have noticed that the lists includes any manager in a company? So have you not kept in touch with any managers you've worked with in past employment? Local cornershop manager? Pub manager? local restaurant manager? Any contractors/trades that run a tiny company rather than being self employed? Your kids teachers etc etc

Personally would stick to advice on the government website than some random website. Their comment about hairdressers for example could potentially be wrong if the hair dresser has incorporated rather than being self employed.

Marvqn1

DullGreyGuy said:

Marvqn1 said:

According to what it says at the site below, its possible to submit a signed declaration if a person doesn't know anyone suitable to countersign.

Does anyone know if that is an option?

https://photoaid.com/en-gb/blog/sign-passport-photo/

You have noticed that the lists includes any manager in a company? So have you not kept in touch with any managers you've worked with in past employment? Local cornershop manager? Pub manager? local restaurant manager? Any contractors/trades that run a tiny company rather than being self employed? Your kids teachers etc etc

Personally would stick to advice on the government website than some random website. Their comment about hairdressers for example could potentially be wrong if the hair dresser has incorporated rather than being self employed.

No, none of that. I don't go to pubs or cornershops.

I've read a lot of discussions online about the difficulty of finding someone to a countersign passport. But people just mention all the occupations of people who can countersign, but no other solution is offered.

Some people suggest that people contact their local MP if they can't find someone to countersign. But someone said they did that, but their MP just sent them a link to a list of occupations on the gov website, so it was no use.

TELLIT01

The local MP is unlikely to know everybody who is applying for a passport so they aren't a good option.

smudge56

Marvqn1 said

No, none of that. I don't go to pubs or cornershops.

I've read a lot of discussions online about the difficulty of finding someone to a countersign passport. But people just mention all the occupations of people who can countersign, but no other solution is offered.

Some people suggest that people contact their local MP if they can't find someone to countersign. But someone said they did that, but their MP just sent them a link to a list of occupations on the gov website, so it was no use.

Do you work? If so a supervisor or manager can verify your ID. What do your neighbours do?  Do you know any civil servants, nurses, the list on the gov.uk website is a guide but other occupations can be accepted.  If you know someone who,s over 70 and retired it doesn’t matter what their occupation is.

Kynthia

Are you on social media? Could you put a post out asking all your contacts if any who have known you 2 years are eligible to countersign passport photos? A friend did that who didn't know I could sign.