Check when you need to get someone else to sign your application and photo, who can and can’t sign - and what they have to do. Some passport applications and photos must be signed by someone else (the ‘countersignatory’) to prove the identity of the person applying.

You must get your form and one photo signed if you’re applying for:

• your first adult or child passport
• a replacement for a lost, stolen or damaged passport
• a renewal of a passport for a child aged 11 or under
• a renewal of a passport if your appearance has changed and you can’t be recognised from your existing passport

Personal relationship

The countersignatory must:

• have known the person applying for at least 2 years
• be able to identify the person applying, eg they’re a friend, neighbour or colleague (not just someone who knows them professionally)

They can’t be closely related or involved with the person applying, eg:

• related by birth or marriage
• be in a relationship or live at the same address as the person applying

Countersignatories must work in (or be retired from) a recognised profession or be 'a person of good standing in their community', eg:

• Accountant
• Airline pilot
• Articled clerk of a limited company
• Assurance agent of recognised company
• Senior Bank Official
• Lawyer
• Chairman/director of limited company
• Chiropodist
• Notary Public
• District Commissioner
• Senior Civil servant (permanent)
• Dentist
• Engineer - with professional qualifications
• Financial services intermediary, eg a stockbroker or insurance broker
• Senior Fire service official
• Funeral director
• Insurance agent (full time) of a recognised company
• Journalist
• Justice of the Peace
• Legal secretary
• Manager/personnel officer of a limited company
• Member, associate or fellow of a professional body
• Member of Parliament
• Minister of a recognised religion
• Nurse - RGN or RMN
• Officer of the Prison or Police Force
• Optician
• Paralegal - certified paralegal, qualified paralegal or associate member of the Institute of Paralegals
• Person with honours, eg an OBE or MBE
• Pharmacist
• Photographer - professional
• Police officer
• Post Office official
• President/secretary of a recognised organisation
• Salvation Army officer
• Social worker
• Solicitor
• Surveyor
• Teacher, lecturer
• Trade union officer
• Travel agent - qualified

Please Note : Individuals who work for the Turks and Caicos Islands Passport Office cannot be counter signatories.