Countersignature on UK passport renewal?

[kyleers 0]

Hi all,

My husband is the UK citizen. He's been here since Dec '05 and his passport is expiring next March. We plan on travelling to Scotland in April so we need to renew his passport shortly here.

My question is, he got his other passport when he was 16 so his appearance hasn't really changed. Obviously there is no name change or anything. Does he need to have a countersignature? Normally we'd just go ahead and do it, but we have absolutely no one who we can think of to sign it for us, so if we don't have to we'd rather not!

Is there any reference online with regard to who needs a countersignature and who doesn't, or do any of you have personal experience?

Thanks!

[Laura+Tom 2]

Here's some notes from the British Embassy in the US.

http://ukinusa.fco.gov.uk/en/passports/ren...ew-passport-usa

Edited November 3, 2008 by Laura+Tom

[Stan1234 0]

I renewed my passport earlier this year, sounds like the same situation - had it since I was 16, appearance hadn't changed much (apart from a god awful pair on glasses and a dodgy haircut). I didn't get my pictures countersigned and didn't have any issues.

I think with the application booklet thing it says you only need to get them countersigned if your appearance has significantly changed, which sounds a tad subjective, but I think as long as a reasonable person could look at the pic in your passport and the pic that you are applying with and be happy that its the same person then you should be fine.

I got mine just before I left the UK so I suppose it might be slightly different for someone applying overseas, but I wouldn't of thought so.