Passport Countersignatory UK 2026: Who Can Sign, What to Write

At a glance

• Who needs one: first adult passports, first child passports, replacements for lost, stolen or damaged passports, renewals for a child aged 11 or under, and renewals (for any applicant) where their appearance has changed so they cannot be recognised from their existing passport (correct as at June 2026).
• Who can act: someone who has known you for at least two years, can identify you personally, and works in (or has retired from) a recognised profession or is a person of good standing in their community (correct as at June 2026).
• What they write on the photo: "I certify that this is a true likeness of [your title and full name]," written directly on the back of one printed photo, then their signature and the date (correct as at June 2026).
• Who cannot act: anyone related to you by birth or marriage, in a relationship with you, or living at the same address as you (correct as at June 2026).
• Professions list: GOV.UK "accepted occupations for countersignatories" — maintained by HM Passport Office; always check the live list as it is updated.

When you need a countersignatory — and when you do not

Not every passport application requires a countersignatory. The rule turns on the type of application you are making.

You must have your paper form and one printed photo countersigned in the following cases: a first adult passport, a first child passport, or a replacement for a lost, stolen or damaged passport. You also need one when renewing a passport for a child who is aged 11 or under. For any renewal — child or adult — you also need a countersignatory if the applicant's appearance has changed so much that they cannot be recognised from their existing passport.

You normally do not need one for a straightforward adult renewal where you still match your last passport photo. For an overview of the full application process, see our guide on how to apply for a UK passport.

Who qualifies as a countersignatory

Your countersignatory must meet three tests simultaneously. Miss any one and HM Passport Office will ask you to find someone else.

• They know you well enough. They must have known you for at least two years and be able to identify you — for example as a friend, neighbour or colleague. Knowing you only in a purely professional setting (where they do not know you personally) is not sufficient.
• They have the right standing. They must work in (or be retired from) a recognised profession, or be a person of good standing in their community.
• They hold the right passport. If you apply in the UK, they must live in the UK and hold a current British or Irish passport. If you are applying from outside the UK, they may hold a current British, Irish, other EU, US or Commonwealth passport. If their passport is not British or Irish, you must include a colour photocopy of the photo page with your application.

The GOV.UK list of recognised professions is long. It includes accountants, teachers and lecturers, nurses, solicitors, police officers, civil servants, bank and building society officials, dentists, pharmacists, ministers of religion, and Justices of the Peace, among others. A qualified engineer or a director of a VAT-registered company also qualifies. Always check the live list at GOV.UK because it is subject to change.

Some people are barred outright regardless of their profession or standing. You cannot ask anyone related to you by birth or marriage, anyone you are in a relationship with, or anyone who lives at your address. For the digital identity confirmation route, GOV.UK also states that a digital referee cannot be employed by HM Passport Office. A doctor cannot act simply by virtue of being a doctor — they can only countersign if they state that they know you well (for example as a good friend).

What the countersignatory must do

The countersignatory has three tasks, and each one matters for the application to proceed.

1. Check and sign the form. They review the details on the application to confirm they are correct, then sign the relevant section. By signing they declare that they have known you for more than two years, that you are who you claim to be, and that the information on the form is true to the best of their knowledge.
2. Add their passport number. They must write their own current passport number on the form.
3. Certify the photo. They write the required certificate on the back of one printed photo, then sign and date it. The exact wording is in the next section.

Making a false declaration on a passport application is a criminal offence under UK law. Your countersignatory should only sign once they are genuinely satisfied that the details are accurate.

How to countersign the passport photo correctly

This is where most countersigned applications go wrong. The wording must be exact and must be written directly on the back of the printed photo — not on a separate piece of paper, even if attached.

On the back of one printed photo, your countersignatory writes:

"I certify that this is a true likeness of [title and full name of adult or child who is getting the passport]."

They then add their own signature and the date under that statement. You do not sign or date the photos yourself. Use your full name and title exactly as they appear on the application form. Only one of the two submitted photos is countersigned; the other is left unmarked. The rules for the photos themselves — size, background, expression — are covered in our guide to the rules for passport photos.

What to do if you have no suitable countersignatory

If you cannot find someone who meets all the requirements, you have options. Do not bend the rules to work around the eligibility criteria.

• Use the online identity confirmation route. When you apply online, HM Passport Office may invite someone to confirm your identity digitally instead of countersigning printed photos. That person — called a digital referee — receives an email and completes a digital process. The identity rules are the same: they must have known you for at least two years, hold a qualifying passport, and work in a recognised profession. The digital route replaces the paper countersignature and photo certificate, not the underlying identity requirements.
• Widen your search. The accepted professions list is broad. A colleague, your child's teacher, a local councillor, a pharmacist, or a bank official may all qualify — provided they know you personally and have done so for at least two years.
• Call the Passport Adviceline. If you remain stuck, HM Passport Office can advise you on who else might qualify in your particular circumstances.

The most common mistakes that delay or reject applications

• Choosing a barred person. The most frequent rejection trigger is using a relative, a partner, or someone living at the same address. A close family friend is fine; a cousin is not. Check the relationship rules before you ask anyone.
• Getting the photo wording wrong. A missing or incorrect certificate on the photo is the second most common trigger. Skipping the signature, leaving off the date, paraphrasing the wording, or writing on a separate piece of paper can all cause the application to be returned. Copy the certificate wording exactly and make sure it is signed and dated on the back of the photo itself.
• Using a non-qualifying relationship. Knowing someone professionally is not enough. The countersignatory must be able to say they know you personally — as a friend, neighbour or colleague — not just in a work or client capacity.
• Choosing someone unavailable. HM Passport Office may contact your countersignatory to verify the application. Pick someone who can be easily reached during the application period; an unavailable countersignatory can delay your passport.

Worked example: Sophie's first adult passport

The following is a fictional worked example for illustration.

Sophie, 32, is applying for her first adult passport by paper form. She asks Dr Anwar, her GP and a personal friend of six years, to countersign.

• Known two years or more? Yes. Dr Anwar has known Sophie for six years, well over the minimum.
• Holds a current British passport? Yes. Dr Anwar lives in the UK and holds a current British passport.
• Doctor rule satisfied? Yes. Dr Anwar is a doctor, so she adds that she knows Sophie well as a personal friend — satisfying the additional requirement GOV.UK imposes on doctors.
• Signed the form and added her passport number? Yes. She checks the details, signs the form, and writes her own passport number on it.
• Written the exact wording on the photo? Yes. She writes "I certify that this is a true likeness of Miss Sophie [surname]" directly on the back of one printed photo, then signs and dates it.

A week later, HM Passport Office contacts Dr Anwar to verify the application. She confirms she signed the form and knows Sophie. Because everything is in order, the application proceeds without delay.

This page provides general information about the UK passport countersignatory process, written in plain English to help you apply with confidence. It is not legal advice. For your own situation — and for anything touching identity, nationality, or a specific set of circumstances — rely on the official GOV.UK guidance or consult a solicitor.

Last reviewed: June 2026 · Next review due: June 2027 or on policy change.