Child born outside UK, applying for British passport from India - countersign query

[Mohan321]

Hi,
We have had our child born in India and currently preparing application to apply for her British passport from India. The guidance around countersign states that the person must live in the UK and be a British citizen. But we are currently in India. How do we do this?

[contorted_svy]

Who can be a referee for a customer applying from overseas
A referee for a customer who applies from overseas, must:

live in the UK or overseas (this does not need to be the same country as the customer)

pass our automatic identity checks (if they are a digital referee)

complete the 1 page form (if they are a paper referee (1 page form))

complete section 10 of the OS form (if they are a paper referee (countersignature))

They must hold (in order of preference), a current and valid (unexpired and uncancelled):

British passport recorded on our electronic passport records (this includes any variant type passport or British nationality)

Irish passport

European Union passport

United States passport

Commonwealth passport

If you know someone who is British you can get them to sign the form digitally. If you can't, follow the list of preferences from the guidance I shared above. Referee must not live in the UK.

[Mohan321]

Thanks, there is also a requirement for a referee to sign the photograph. How would I be able to do that digitally? Apparently, there is only a paper form to apply for a child first passport overseas. Please suggest

[contorted_svy]

I don't think you need to send that. Review here

https://www.gov.uk/get-a-child-passport ... d-passport

Ask someone to confirm your child’s identity
After you’ve paid and submitted the application, you’ll need to ask someone to confirm your child’s identity.

Let the person know that they’ll receive an email from HM Passport Office telling them what to do. They’ll confirm your child’s identity online - they do not need to sign a printed photo.

Find out who can confirm your child’s identity and what they need to do.

[secret.simon]

In any case, be aware that first British passports for children born in the Subcontinent made from the Subcontinent can take six months to a year. So plan for that.