Short answer: someone who has known you for at least 2 years as a friend, neighbour or colleague, lives in the UK, has a current British or Irish passport, and works in or is retired from a recognised profession, or is "a person of good standing in their community". They can't be a relative, your partner or someone you live with (GOV.UK: Countersigning passport applications and photos).
GOV.UK's countersigning pages checked on 3 November 2026. Fees and rules change, so check the linked GOV.UK page before you pay.
Only on a paper form. A countersignatory signs the form and one of your 2 printed photos for (GOV.UK: Countersigning passport applications and photos):
Online there is no signed photo: someone confirms your identity from an email instead, which takes about 10 minutes (GOV.UK: Confirm someone's identity online). An adult renewing a passport doesn't need either, and nor does a name change (GOV.UK: Change your name or personal details on your passport).
| Rule | What GOV.UK says |
|---|---|
| How long they've known you | At least 2 years (for a child, they must know the parent who signs the form) |
| How they know you | As a friend, neighbour or colleague, not only professionally |
| Who they are | Work in or retired from a recognised profession, or a person of good standing in their community |
| Passport (applying in the UK) | Live in the UK and have a current British or Irish passport |
| Passport (applying abroad) | A current British, Irish, other EU, US or Commonwealth passport; send a colour copy of its photo page if it isn't British or Irish |
GOV.UK's list includes: accountant, bank or building society official, barrister or solicitor, civil servant (permanent), councillor, dentist, engineer with professional qualifications, fire service official, journalist, Justice of the Peace, local government officer, manager or director of a limited company, minister of a recognised religion, nurse (RGN or RMN), optician, pharmacist, police officer, Post Office official, professional photographer, social worker, teacher or lecturer, and trade union officer. The full list is on GOV.UK: Accepted occupations for countersignatories.
Source: GOV.UK: Accepted occupations for countersignatories. Making a false declaration on a passport application is a criminal offence.
On the back of one of the 2 photos only (GOV.UK: Countersigning passport applications and photos):
I certify that this is a true likeness of [title and full name of the adult or child getting the passport].
Then their signature and the date underneath. They also check and sign section 10 of the form and add their passport number. You don't sign or date the photos yourself. Keep the other photo unmarked: GOV.UK's printed photo rules say photos must be unmarked on both sides unless a photo needs to be countersigned (GOV.UK: Printed passport photos).
HM Passport Office may contact them to check, and the application can be delayed if they're away (GOV.UK: Countersigning passport applications and photos). If you can't think of anyone, call the Passport Adviceline.
Or make it at home. Picproved costs £5.99 (free while we launch) for one person's photo in every size you need, and it checks the size, background, head size and face rules before you save. The office still makes the final decision. Make your United Kingdom Passport (print) photo
