Counter signatures

Who needs a counter signature:

• All first time adult applications
• All applications for replacement passport to replace lost, stolen, or damaged passport applications
• All first time child applications
• Children’s renewal applications up to the age of 12
• Renewing a passport when your appearance has changed so much that it would be hard to recognise you from the photo in your last or current passport

The purpose of the counter signature is to help to confirm the identity of the applicant.

This is not normally necessary for anyone over 16 renewing a passport unless your appearance has changed significantly since your previous passport was issued. But we reserve the right to ask for a counter signature for security reasons in any application.

Advice on counter signatures can be found in the notes accompanying passport application forms which applicants should read carefully.

Someone who has known you personally for at least two years should complete and sign and endorse the passport application form and passport photographs. That person should be a British Citizen, Irish, EU or Commonwealth citizen who is a Member of Parliament, Justice of the Peace, Minister of Religion, Bank Officer, Established Civil Servant, or professionally qualified person, e.g. Lawyer, Engineer, Doctor, School Teacher, Police Officer or a person of similar standing who has known you for at least two years.

If you do not know a British national or other Commonwealth citizen locally with these qualifications, a citizen of the country in which you are residing may complete and sign the form, provided they have a similar standing in that country and has known you for two years. In certain cases you may be asked to produce further documentary evidence of identity.

If you are unable to provide a counter signature, because you have recently moved to the country of application or are short-term visitors, provided our consular staff have no doubts regarding your identity you may not need to provide a counter signature.  Proof of identity may include your previous passport bearing a photograph showing that you are clearly the same person, or any other photographic ID may be acceptable.

For a child's application, the counter signatory should be someone who has known the parent or guardian for at least two years.

Please note that relatives, consular or passport staff,  are not permitted to countersign.

If you are not able to provide a counter signatory you must enclose a letter with your application explaining why and enclosing your additional ID documents.