I’m currently renewing my UK passport and running into a frustrating issue finding someone from the “recognised professions” list who can act as a countersignatory.

I did manage to get a friend (who is a solicitor) to confirm my identity online, but I later received an HMPO email saying they “do not meet the criteria”. I’ve also tried two of my landlords, but they haven’t responded to my requests.

I’m a fairly introverted person, so I find it quite uncomfortable having to repeatedly ask people for a favour like this, especially when it involves official identity verification.

Interestingly, as a director of my own UK Ltd company, I’m eligible to act as a countersignatory for someone else - but that doesn’t really help me if I can’t find anyone suitable for my own application.

If anyone here is also a director of a UK Ltd and has faced the same issue, feel free to reach out <snip>. Maybe we can help each other out in a legitimate and compliant way.

Appreciate any advice or shared experiences.

I've removed your email address, we ask that you don't put it on the forum please - it's for your own protection as it's a public forum and so will just be picked up by every spambot and weirdo out there! A stranger from BE can't help anyway, as the countersignatory needs to have known you for 2 years.

Are you in the UK or overseas?

I’m kind of 50/50 between Dubai and London at the moment. I’ve been splitting my time between the two, but I’m planning to stay in Dubai for the long term.

I haven’t really developed many connections since I got my first UK passport about 5 years ago, so things have been a bit in-between rather than fully settled in one place.

Do you not have a doctor in the UK? A bank account? Ask to speak to the manager and have them as a signatory. A dentist? We all need to see a dentist on occasion. A management agency for the rental you are living in? Go in person to visit and ask for a signature. There are so many to choose from and I can't believe you can't find the required number needed. After all you don't have to have a personal relationship with them just a simple business one.

sorry, can't post the link, just google: www gov uk confirm-identity-online-for-passport-application
QUOTE: You can only confirm someone’s identity if you: know the person applying as a friend, neighbour or colleague (not just someone who knows you professionally)

I don’t have any friends in the bank or among dentists (never visited a dentist in the UK).
In the modern world, neighbours in apartment buildings don’t know who lives in the next flat, and landlords rent out apartments remotely.
In banks, staff changes frequently, so it’s unlikely I would meet the same person who saw me two years ago and might remember me. And what is there even to do in a bank in the modern world, when most banking is online anyway?

OK, so what about somebody in Dubai? Did you need a countersignature for your first UK passport, if so can they do it again? I'd definitely ask your neighbours, they'd qualify if you've lived there for two years and you may just find one of them is in an eligible occupation. A former employer is another option?

And if you really don't know anybody that is (or retired from) a job on the list of accepted professions, then call the helpline as there can be discretion applied if you really can't find someone.

Good luck.

Regarding Dubai (and similar cases), the countersignatory must hold a British, Irish, EU, US or Commonwealth passport. I don’t think it’s comfortable for people to disclose their citizenship, even to a neighbour in a multi-apartment building, and I also don’t think the chances are good in some countries.

In my case, I can’t ‘do it again’ as they did for my first passport, because my friend and accountant who previously signed has died.

Regarding a former employer, I’ve always run my own company, so I don’t have an employer who can verify me.

Then, HMPO replied: “The reasons why the person is rejected are not specified”.

I still don’t understand why they rely on an outdated countersignatory rule from 1915 instead of using Post Office staff and the biometric machines they already use to collect passport data. And why a notary public can do so many official verifications, but can’t do simple identity confirmation for this process.

All of this adds unpredictability into our lives. It feels like HMPO is asking applicants to solve identity verification problem for them in increasingly complex and indirect ways.

Research shows that people now communicate more online than offline. On average, internet use is around 6.5 hours per day globally, with a large share spent on messaging and social media platforms. It would seem more logical if online profiles or verified digital presence could be considered in some way.

I know HMPO can sometimes verify identity via video call. Has anyone here had that experience? How did it go?

I am surprised that you need your photos to be verified for a passport renewal. The vast majority seem not to require it. Are you sure you need it?
Presumably you are applying on-line here: https://www.passport.service.gov.uk/...s?cookies=true

Regarding Dubai (and similar cases), the countersignatory must hold a British, Irish, EU, US or Commonwealth passport. I don’t think it’s comfortable for people to disclose their citizenship, even to a neighbour in a multi-apartment building, and I also don’t think the chances are good in some countries.

In my case, I can’t ‘do it again’ as they did for my first passport, because my friend and accountant who previously signed has died.

Regarding a former employer, I’ve always run my own company, so I don’t have an employer who can verify me.

Then, HMPO replied: “The reasons why the person is rejected are not specified”.

I still don’t understand why they rely on an outdated countersignatory rule from 1915 instead of using Post Office staff and the biometric machines they already use to collect passport data. And why a notary public can do so many official verifications, but can’t do simple identity confirmation for this process.

All of this adds unpredictability into our lives. It feels like HMPO is asking applicants to solve identity verification problem for them in increasingly complex and indirect ways.

Research shows that people now communicate more online than offline. On average, internet use is around 6.5 hours per day globally, with a large share spent on messaging and social media platforms. It would seem more logical if online profiles or verified digital presence could be considered in some way.

I know HMPO can sometimes verify identity via video call. Has anyone here had that experience? How did it go?

I recently connected to the Government Gateway to look at my tax code.
Verification was done using the mobile phone. They scanned my passport and then took my photo using their App.
I am surprised they cannot do that for passport renewal appliction.

If you only got your British first passport five years ago then, unless your appearance has changed drastically in that space of time, you shouldn't require a countersignatory.

Quote: "to replace a lost, stolen or damaged passport renew a child passport (if the child is aged 11 or under)"
Got water on your passport - welcome to the world of searching for the consignatory)

In a country like Dubai, I’d be gobsmacked if you didn’t have a neighbour that was one of those nationalities. They don’t need to disclose their citizenship to you if they’re not comfortable with that, although I’m not sure why you think people wouldn’t happily tell you where they’re from, it’s normal small talk particularly between expats. You can simply knock on the door, explain the situation and say ‘if you are by any chance a citizen of one of these countries and would be prepared to sign to say that you’ve known me as your neighbour for more than two years, would that be okay?’ They’ll soon say no if they’re not comfortable with it, or aren’t able to, but it’s worth asking them surely?

Or are you a member of any social groups in Dubai? Volunteering? Your employees if you run your own company?

easiest thing to do if you really don’t think there is anybody is just call HMPO. Explain the situation, and see if they’ll apply discretion in your case and let you ask somebody that isn’t in one of the professions listed.

Good luck.

If you find a photographer who can upload your digital photo to the government site then you generally do not need a signature. The digital process removes the need for a countersignature.

The whole online process is much easier, as often the checks are done digitally so no need for the counter signature at all (no matter who takes it - I always just do my families on a phone!). But I assume the OP is doing a paper application or it’s insisting on a counter signature.

juliody - just had a thought, if you run your own business I’m guessing you have an accountant? You could ask him/her?