British passport application Who can countersign

Hi Guys,

Quick question:

I'm applying for my British passport and as it it is my first British passport, the form asks for a British person to sign the form and to state that she/he knows me for at least two years.
It has to be a standing professional person as well.
I have a friend of mine who is British and he is a qualified electrician. He's been doing it for the past 10 years and I've known him for about 7.

Would it be OK to put him down on my form?

Thanks again

GeoUK wrote:Hi Guys,

Quick question:

I'm applying for my British passport and as it it is my first British passport, the form asks for a British person to sign the form and to state that she/he knows me for at least two years.
It has to be a standing professional person as well.
I have a friend of mine who is British and he is a qualified electrician. He's been doing it for the past 10 years and I've known him for about 7.

Would it be OK to put him down on my form?

Thanks again

Who you can ask to be your countersignatory
Your countersignatory should:


have known you for at least two years
live in the UK
Your countersignatory should not:

be related to you by birth or marriage
be in a personal relationship with you
live at the same address as you
Your countersignatory should be a professional person or a person of good standing in the community. The list that follows gives examples of the type of person that would be suitable. If you are not sure who to ask you can call the IPS Passport Adviceline on 0300 222 0000.

accountant
airline pilot
articled clerk of a limited company
assurance agent of recognised company
bank/building society official
barrister
chairman/director of limited company
chiropodist
commissioner of oaths
councillor (local or county)
civil servant (permanent), but not someone who works for IPS
dentist
director/manager of a VAT-registered charity
director/manager/personnel officer of a VAT-registered company
engineer (with professional qualifications)
financial services intermediary (eg a stockbroker or insurance broker)
fire service official
funeral director
insurance agent (full time) of a recognised company
journalist
Justice of the Peace
legal secretary (fellow or associate member of the Institute of Legal Secretaries and PAs)
licensee of public house
local government officer
manager/personnel officer (of a limited company)
member, associate or fellow of a professional body
Member of Parliament
Merchant Navy officer
minister of a recognised religion (including Christian Science)
nurse (RGN and RMN)
officer of the armed services (active or retired)
optician
paralegal (certified paralegal, qualified paralegal or associate member of the Institute of Paralegals)
person with honours (an OBE or MBE, for example)
pharmacist
photographer (professional)
police officer
Post Office official
president/secretary of a recognised organisation
Salvation Army officer
social worker
solicitor
surveyor
teacher, lecturer
trade union officer
travel agent (qualified)
valuer or auctioneer (fellows and associate members of the incorporated society)
Warrant Officers and Chief Petty Officers

It's important to note that, as the post above says, the list of counter-signatories are examples, not an exhaustive list.

If in doubt, I'd suggest ringing the passport people (0300 222 0000) or sending an on-line message via their contact page. I have always found them to be prompt and helpful on the telephone.

Hi
I have applied BC on Saturday.
The lady said that they might write my referee.
has your referee ever been contacted by them?
if so, was it by letter or e-mail or telephone?
what did they ask them?
if the referee does not apply quickly or even the letter was mislaid somehow, the app would go slow?
I want smooth processing so I let my referee know about it.
and Timeline:
the lady said the timeline is about 2.5 months.
I saw one thread ppl updating their application process.
but also once I saw someone finished within just one month.
what does exactly tell us these differences each case?

thanks

Hi
I have applied BC on Saturday.
The lady said that they might write my referee.
has your referee ever been contacted by them?
if so, was it by letter or e-mail or telephone?
what did they ask them?
if the referee does not apply quickly or even the letter was mislaid somehow, the app would go slow?
I want smooth processing so I let my referee know about it.
and Timeline:
the lady said the timeline is about 2.5 months.
I saw one thread ppl updating their application process.
but also once I saw someone finished within just one month.
what does exactly tell us these differences each case?

thanks