Who can sign United Kingdom passport photos: A complete guide

When applying for a UK passport, you may be required to provide passport photos that are signed by a designated official, known as a countersignatory. This process is in place to verify the applicant's identity. Not everyone can sign a UK passport photo, as the countersignatory must meet specific requirements. This article will explain who can sign UK passport photos, the responsibilities of the countersignatory, and other important considerations.

1. What Is a Countersignatory?

2. Who Can Sign UK Passport Photos?
3. Who Cannot Be a Countersignatory?
4. How to Ask Someone to Be Your Countersignatory
5. What Happens If You Can’t Find a Countersigna
6. What Happens If the Passport Office Contacts the Countersignatory?
7. Final Tips for Choosing a Countersignatory

What is a countersignatory?

A countersignatory is someone who signs your passport photos and application form to confirm your identity. This individual is responsible for verifying that the applicant is who they claim to be and that the passport photo is a true likeness of the applicant.

A countersignature is not required for all passport applications, but you will need one in the following circumstances:

Applying for a first adult or child passport.
Renewing a child's passport.
Renewing an adult passport if your appearance has significantly changed and is unrecognizable from your old passport photo.

Who can sign UK passport photos?

Not just anyone can sign your passport photos. The UK government has specific rules regarding who qualifies as a countersignatory. The person must:

Be a professional: The countersignatory must be someone in a position of responsibility, such as a doctor, teacher, or accountant. The profession they work in should be one that can be trusted to verify the identity of others.
Know the applicant personally: The countersignatory must have known the applicant for at least 2 years. This ensures that they can verify the identity of the applicant with confidence.
Hold a valid UK passport or citizenship: The countersignatory must be a British citizen, hold a valid UK passport, or have indefinite leave to remain in the UK.
Be in good standing: The countersignatory must have a good reputation in the community and cannot be related to the applicant or live at the same address.

Eligible professions for countersignatories

While there is no exhaustive list, the following are examples of professions that the UK government typically accepts as countersignatories:

Accountant
Teacher or lecturer
Solicitor or barrister
Medical professional (doctor, nurse, pharmacist)
Police officer
Civil servant
Religious leader
Engineer
Local government officer
Bank or building society official
Social worker
Armed forces officer
Charity officer
Financial services professional

It is important to note that retired professionals can also act as countersignatories, provided they held an eligible position and meet the other criteria.

Who cannot be a countersignatory?

There are some restrictions on who can serve as a countersignatory. The following individuals cannot sign passport photos:

Relatives: Family members, including parents, siblings, and cousins, are not allowed to sign passport photos.
Housemates: Individuals who live with the applicant are also disqualified from acting as a countersignatory.
Professionals with a conflict of interest: Individuals who are involved in the passport application process or have a financial interest in the application cannot sign.
Non-UK citizens: If the person does not hold UK citizenship or a valid UK passport, they are not eligible to sign UK passport photos.

How to ask someone to be your countersignatory

If you need a countersignatory for your UK passport application, here are some tips on how to ask:

Choose someone you know well: The countersignatory must have known you for at least two years, so choose someone you trust and who is familiar with your identity.
Explain the process: Let the person know what is involved in being a countersignatory. This includes signing the back of your passport photo, filling out Section 10 of your application, and potentially answering questions from the Passport Office.
Provide clear instructions: Make sure your countersignatory knows exactly what they need to do. Provide them with your photo and the application form, and explain where they need to sign and what details they need to include.
Ensure they meet the criteria: Double-check that the person qualifies as a countersignatory based on the UK government’s guidelines.

What happens if you can’t find a countersignatory?

If you are unable to find someone who qualifies as a countersignatory, there are a few options:

Ask a trusted professional: If you have connections with professionals in your community, such as a doctor or teacher, reach out to them, as they often meet the criteria.
Contact HM Passport Office: In cases where an applicant cannot find a countersignatory, especially in unique circumstances, they can contact HM Passport Office for guidance.

What happens if the passport office contacts the countersignatory?

In some cases, the Passport Office may reach out to the countersignatory to confirm the information they provided. This is why it’s essential that the countersignatory:

Provides accurate contact details: Including a valid email and phone number.
Is available: Be prepared to respond to inquiries from the Passport Office. Failing to do so can delay the application process.

Final tips for choosing a countersignatory

Here are some additional tips for ensuring a smooth process:

Choose early: Don’t wait until the last minute to ask someone to be your countersignatory. Give them enough time to review the requirements and complete the necessary steps.
Double-check eligibility: Make sure the person you ask to be your countersignatory meets all of the eligibility requirements.
Provide all necessary materials: When asking someone to be your countersignatory, ensure they have everything they need, including the passport photo, application form, and instructions.

Sources

https://www.gov.uk/photos-for-passports

https://www.gov.uk/photos-for-passports/photo-requirements

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7e2f0140f0b62302689b37/Photoguidance_v7.pdf