Passport Signing

Recognised professions

Examples of recognised professions include:

Accountant
Airline pilot
Articled clerk of a limited company
Assurance agent of recognised company
Bank/building society official
Barrister
Chairman/director of limited company
Chiropodist
Commissioner for oaths
Councillor, eg local or county
Civil servant (permanent)
Dentist
Director/manager/personnel officer of a VAT-registered company
Engineer – with professional qualifications
Financial services intermediary, eg a stockbroker or insurance broker
Fire service official
Funeral director
Insurance agent (full time) of a recognised company
Journalist
Justice of the peace
Legal secretary – fellow or associate member of the Institute of Legal Secretaries and PAs
Licensee of public house
Local government officer
Manager/personnel officer of a limited company
Member, associate or fellow of a professional body
Member of Parliament
Merchant Navy officer
Minister of a recognised religion – including Christian Science
Nurse – RGN or RMN
Officer of the armed services
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
Valuer or auctioneer – fellows and associate members of the incorporated society
Warrant Officers and Chief Petty Officers

Your countersignatory can’t:

Work for HM Passport Office
Be a doctor, unless they state that they know you well (eg good friend) and that they recognise you easily from your photo.