Who Can Countersign A Passport?

Who is allowed to countersign a passport

Who can sign your form and photo – Your countersignatory must:

have known you (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 you, for example they’re a friend, neighbour or colleague (not just someone who knows you professionally) be ‘a person of good standing in their community’ or work in (or be retired from) a recognised profession

Can a friend confirm identity for passport?

Who can countersign for me? – In order for someone to countersign your passport application, they need to have known you for a minimum of two years and they must be able to identify you. A list of those who can countersign for you can be found online (Picture: STR/NurPhoto via Getty Images) They must be a ‘person of good standing in their community’ or work in (or be retired from) a recognised profession. Examples of recognised professions include teachers, lawyers, nurses, journalists, social workers or civil servants.

What is a person of good standing in their community?

A person. A person of good standing in the community is somebody who has the respect of others. In the UK, for example, this may be a Justice of the Peace, Minister of Religion, doctor, engineer, or teacher. The term also includes a Member of Parliament, police officer, or ‘professional.

Who can countersign official documents?

Countersignatures can be provided by the other party in a deal, by accountants, lawyers, notaries, doctors, religious leaders, or other professionals.

Can my brother verify my passport

How to Proceed If You’re Application Requires a Countersignature – Now that you know you will need to complete this step and secure a countersignature, here is what must be done by the person countersigning for you, and who qualifies as a legal counter signatory. Requirements that must be met by your counter signatory:

1. Must have known applicant for a minimum of two years, or their guardian in the case of a minor less than sixteen years old
2. Must know applicant in more than a professional manner. Relationship should be more involved than simply working together, Friends, neighbors, and colleagues are acceptable
3. Must have, or be retired from, a valued and recognized profession or have a reputable community reputation

The counter signatory cannot be in an intimate relationship or live at the same address as the applicant. They also cannot be related by birth or marriage. Previously applicants were able to contact their General Practitioners for a countersignature but this is no longer allowed.

The high demand made it infeasible to maintain for doctors inundated with requests. The only exception is if a medical professional is a close friend of the person applying. For applications from within the UK, the counter signatory must currently live in the UK and possess a valid Irish or British passport.

For applications from outside the UK, the counter signatory must possess a valid passport from either Great Britain, Ireland, the US, other EU nations, or Commonwealths. If their passport is not from the UK a color copy of their passport’s photo page is also required with your application.

Does the passport office check countersignature?

Application Form – To countersign a document means to sign a paper that has already been signed by someone else. In the case of a UK passport application, the countersignature can only be executed by a specific person and is required to vouch for the authenticity of the application.

• First Adult Passport
• Second Passport
• Passport Renewal for a child who is not yet 11 years old or when the way the person looks has changed so significantly that they can no longer be recognised from his/her most recent passport.
• When a lost, damaged or stolen passport needs replacing.
• When a passport’s expiry date needs to be extended.

The individual who applies their signature to the application form and the photograph must:

• have known or had contact with the applicant for at least the last two years.
• can easily identify the applicant.
• has a residence in the UK.
• Is in possession of a valid, current British or Irish passport. When applying for a passport from another country, an EU, US or Commonwealth passport will suffice but the person providing the second signature will need to hand in a colour photocopy of their main passport page, this is the page which contains their photo, personal details amd passport number. It is important that this photocopy is provided together with the countersigned application. It is likely that your application will be processed more quickly if your counter signatory has a British or Irish passport
• Have an occupation in or be in retirement from a recognised professional industry such as the banking industry, the local police force, local government, the church, education, accountancy, engineering or law.
• Be absolutely obliging and willing to be contacted if necessary, and be happy to provide his or her own passport number on your application form.

For applications on behalf of a child, the counter signatory must also:

Acknowledge and confirm that they have been a regular acquaintance of the person or parent who has signed Section 9 of the application form for at least the last 2 years. The provider of the countersignature must also state firmly that this person has parental responsibility for the child and confirm that the child’s photo is an accurate representation of the child.

It is forbidden for the counter signatory to be:

• a relation of the applicant/li>
• married to the applicant, living with them or in a relationship with them
• Someone who works for His Majesty’s Passport Office.

• Once the person applying has filled out all of the relevant sections of the application form, the person providing the second signature (or countersignature) needs to check that all details are true and accurate before completing and signing Section 10 by hand.
• The counter signatory needs to provide their full address (business or home) and their relevant contact details.
• Initials should be placed next to any errors or mistakes made in Section 10.
• By filling out Section 10 and signing it this confirms that:

• the person applying for the passport and the counter signatory have been known to one another for at least 2 years.
• the person applying for the passport is the same person who he or she claims they are
• As far as the person providing the second signature knows, all the information on the form is correct and true at the time of providing the signature.

If you are lodging an application for a child passport the counter signatory must know the person who has parental responsibility over that child and who is signing the application form instead of the child, together with certifying the child’s photo and signing it.

1. The provider of the second signature will be asked to write the following words on the back of one of the passport photographs provided to them:
2. I certify that this is a true likeness of the applicant,
3. The counter signatory must then be willing to add his or her signature by hand and the date of the signature below this short statement.

• Be aware that the passport office will run checks that the counter signatory is genuine by checking some of the information provided including, identity, profession or qualifications.
• It is important that the counter signatory is informed that the passport office may contact them if necessary in order to perform these checks.
• If the passport office is not satisfied with your choice of person for the second signature, or for any reason cannot reach the counter signatory, they are likely to ask you to complete a new application form with a different person providing the countersignature.

: SECOND BRITISH PASSPORT COUNTERSIGNING REQUIREMENTS

Who is considered a person of standing?

Person of standing: Most individuals who hold positions of professional responsibility are considered a person of standing. Examples include: Registered health and care professionals. Professionals such as lawyers, solicitors, accountants and notaries.

Do I need a countersignature for passport renewal

A countersignature is often not required if you’re renewing a passport. That’s unless your appearance has changed significantly since your previous or most current passport photo was taken.

Do passport photos need to be signed?

If you’re applying outside the UK the countersignatory must: –

1. Hold a current British, Irish or other EU, US or Commonwealth passport.
2. If they hold a US, Commonwealth, or non-British or non-Irish EU passport, your application must include a colour photocopy of the page with their photograph on it.
3. Tip: Applications will be processed faster if they are signed by someone with a British or Irish passport.

• Choose a person working in or retired from one of the following professions sign your photos (they must also satisfy the criteria listed above).
• AccountantAirline pilotArticled clerk of a limited companyAssurance agent of recognised companyBank/building society officialBarristerChairman/director of limited companyChiropodistCommissioner for oathsCouncillor, eg local or countyCivil servant (permanent)DentistDirector/manager/personnel officer of a VAT-registered companyEngineer – with professional qualificationsFinancial services intermediary, eg a stockbroker or insurance brokerFire service officialFuneral directorInsurance agent (full time) of a recognised companyJournalistJustice of the PeaceLegal secretary – fellow or associate member of the Institute of Legal Secretaries and PAsLicensee of public houseLocal government officerManager/personnel officer of a limited companyMember, associate or fellow of a professional bodyMember of ParliamentMerchant Navy officerMinister of a recognised religion – including Christian ScienceNurse – RGN or RMNOfficer of the armed servicesOpticianParalegal – certified paralegal, qualified paralegal or associate member of the Institute of ParalegalsPerson with honours, eg an OBE or MBEPharmacistPhotographer – professionalPolice officerPost Office officialPresident/secretary of a recognised organisationSalvation Army officerSocial workerSolicitorSurveyorTeacher, lecturerTrade union officerTravel agent – qualifiedValuer or auctioneer – fellows and associate members of the incorporated society
• Warrant Officers and Chief Petty Officers
• Who can’t sign my photos?
• Apart from people not working in a ‘recognised profession’ or not being ‘a person of good standing in their community’, official guidelines also bar the following from signing:
• 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.

Can a relative or partner sign my photos?

1. No. The person signing photos cannot be:Related by birth or marriage
2. Be in a relationship with or live at the same address as the person applying.

What does the counter signatory need to write on the photo? He or she must write the following on the reverse of one of the two photographs you have. ‘I certify that this is a true likeness of,’ They must then sign and date the photo underneath the statement.

How long does it take to get a passport?

Current passport turnaround information

What is an example of countersign?

Countersign | Business English to sign an important document that someone else has already signed, in order to make it able to be accepted: The club’s annual accounts are prepared by the treasurer and countersigned by an accountant.

Who is a countersigning officer?

Countersigning Officer means an Officer of the Department not lower in rank than an Inspector of Schools, who will exercise immediate administrative control over the aided Primary Schools and who is authorised to countersign the bills of grants etc., of the institutions after the grants are sanctioned by the Competent

What means countersigned

To write your name on a document that already has the signature (= name written) of another person, especially in order to show that you are certain that the first person is who they say they are : I’m not prepared to countersign this report as it stands.

Can a family member pick up my passport

Government issued valid photo identity. If a third-party is collecting the passport(s) on your behalf, they must bring the following: Authorization from the applicant whose passport is being collected. Government issued valid photo identity of the person collecting the passport.

Can a relative claim my passport?

Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines The Philippines has instituted the electronic passport (ePassport) system for all its citizens. The ePassport features microchip technology and a host of other security features thereby ensuring that Philippine passports are virtually tamper-proof.

1. EPassport issuance is also compliant with the security standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
2. The Philippine ePassport has an integrated circuit (chip) within its pages containing data that are essential in verifying the identity of the passport holder.
3. These include the personal biographical information found on the data page of the passport, the biometrics of the passport holder, the unique chip identification number, and a digital signature to verify the authenticity of the data stored on the chip.

The chip technology allows the information stored in an ePassport to be read by special chip readers at almost every international port of entry. The Embassy/Consulate General receives and processes applications for ePassports, which in turn is sent to the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila for printing and issuance.

Please allow 6 to 8 weeks for the processing and release of passport to applicant. The Embassy/Consulate General advises all Philippine passport holders, whose passports are expiring within the next 6 months, to renew their passports if they intend to travel within the aforementioned period. Also, the Embassy may accommodate requests for the extension of validity of expiring Philippine passports for meritorious reasons.

You may learn more about it, All Filipino citizens applying for passports with the Philippine Embassy/Consulate General will no longer need to submit photographs, as their picture, together with their fingerprints and signature, will be taken on-site.

1. This means that all passport applicants, regardless of age, are henceforth required to appear personally.
2. To ensure entry to countries with strict dress codes, all applicants are required to wear decent clothing for passport photo capture.
3. Plunging necklines, sleeveless clothing, spaghetti strapped tops, see-through tops, sando, tube tops, halters and the like are prohibited.

Earrings and colored contact lenses are not allowed during data capture. Only immediate family members are allowed to claim the passport in behalf of the applicant. Immediate family members include father, mother, brother, sister, spouse, and children of legal age.

The passport will only be released to an immediate family member with proper authorization letter The passport of the minor applicant shall be released only to parents or adult siblings or to an authorized representative with Special Power of Attorney or Affidavit of Support and Consent

Passports unclaimed after one (1) year will be cancelled per Department Order No.37-03. Applicants for must strictly follow instructions for securing appointments contained in the relevant outreach press releases. : Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines

Can a teaching assistant countersign passport?

Can a Teaching Assistant Sign a Passport? – Certain official documents and passport photographs need to be countersigned to prove the identity of the person they are for. The government strictly limits the countersigning ability to certain individuals in society, one of which being ‘a person of good standing in their community’ or someone who ‘works in (or be retired from) a recognised profession’.

How long does it take to get a passport?

Current passport turnaround information