Who can countersign a passport application?

What a countersignatory is

A countersignatory is someone who confirms who you are on a passport application. They check that the details on the form are right and that the photo looks like you.

On a paper form they are called a countersignatory. If you apply online, the same job is done by someone who "confirms your identity" online.

When you need one

On a paper form you need a countersignatory if you are applying for:

• your first adult passport
• a first child passport
• a replacement for a lost, stolen or damaged passport
• a renewal of a child passport, for a child aged 11 or under
• a renewal where your appearance has changed a lot

Who can do it

For an application made in the UK, the person must:

• have known you for at least 2 years (for a child under 16, this means knowing the adult who signs the form)
• know you as a friend, neighbour or colleague, not just through their work
• live in the UK
• hold a current British or Irish passport
• work in, or be retired from, a recognised profession, or be "a person of good standing in their community"

For applications from outside the UK, the person can hold a British, Irish, EU, US or Commonwealth passport.

Examples of recognised professions

Check the full list on GOV.UK before you ask someone.

Who cannot do it

The person cannot:

• be related to you by birth or marriage
• be in a relationship with you
• live with you

For online identity checks, they also cannot work for HM Passport Office, or for UK Visas and Immigration on British citizenship or right of abode applications. A doctor can only do it if they know you well, for example as a good friend.

What they must do on a paper form

1. Check the details on the form are correct, then sign it.
2. Write their own passport number on the form.
3. On the back of one photo, write "I certify that this is a true likeness of", followed by your title and full name.
4. Add their signature and the date under that.

What they do for an online application

1. They get an email from HM Passport Office with a reference number.
2. They go online and enter that reference number and their own passport details.
3. They answer questions about you, such as your date of birth and address.
4. They are shown your photo and asked if it is you.

It should take about 10 minutes. You cannot get your passport until they have done it, so ask them to do it as soon as they get the email. To use this online route, they must be 18 or over and work in, or be retired from, a recognised profession. Being a person of good standing in the community is not enough for the online check.

Related guides

• What are the rules for a UK passport photo?
• How long does a passport renewal take and how much is it?
• How do I get my first adult passport?
• How do I get a passport for my child?
• How do I change the name on my passport?

Where this comes from

• Countersigning passport applications
• Accepted occupations for countersignatories
• Confirm someone's identity online for a passport application
• How to confirm someone's identity