https://www.gov.uk/countersigning-passp ... ignatories
2. Accepted occupations for countersignatories
Your countersignatory must either:
work in (or be retired from) a recognised profession
be ‘a person of good standing in their community’
Recognised professions
Examples of recognised professions include:
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 for oaths
councillor, eg local or county
civil servant (permanent)
dentist
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 or RMN
officer of the armed services
optician
paralegal - certified paralegal, qualified paralegal or associate member of the Institute of Paralegals
person with honours, eg an OBE or MBE
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
People who aren’t accepted
Your countersignatory can’t:
work for HM Passport Office
be a doctor, unless they state that they know you well (eg good friend) and that they recognise you easily from your photo
(If you can't use someone from this list, find the most suitable and put in a covering letter whey you can't find someone from the approved list)
Who can sign your form and photo
Your countersignatory must:
have known the person applying (or the adult who signed the form if the passport is for a child under 16) for at least 2 years
be able to identify the person applying, eg they’re a friend, neighbour or colleague (not just someone who knows them professionally)
be ‘a person of good standing in their community’ or work in (or be retired from) a recognised profession
They can’t be closely-related to or involved with the person applying, eg:
related by birth or marriage
be in a relationship with or live at the same address as the person applying
