The counter signatory who signs the application form and the photo must:

• have known the applicant for at least two years
• be able to identify him or her
• lives in the UK
• Have a valid British or Irish passport. If the applicant applies from abroad, an EU, US or Commonwealth passport is sufficient but the counter signatory will need to provide a colour photocopy of his or her main passport page containing their photograph and personal details. This photocopy must be included with the countersigned application. Note that your application will be processed faster if the counter signatory has a British or Irish passport
• Work in or be retired from a recognised profession such as bank clerks or building-society employees, members of the police force, county council members, priests or other religious leaders, those with professional qualifications like members of the teaching profession, those working as accountants, people in engineer roles and those in law.
• Also be willing to be contacted if necessary, and be willing to give his passport number on your application form.

For child applications the counter signatory must also:

• Confirm that, they have known the adult who has signed section 9 of the application form for at least 2 years. They must also confirm that the person has parental responsibility and confirm the child's photo.

The counter signatory cannot be:

• Related to the applicant by birth or marriage
• In a relationship with the applicant, or live at the same address
• An employee of Her Majesty's Passport Office.

• The passport office will check that the counter signatory is genuine by checking their identity and profession or professional qualification.
• Please inform the counter signatory that the passport office may contact them and that they will be doing these checks.
• If the passport office are not satisfied with your choice, or cannot get hold of the counter signatory, they may ask you to send in a new application form with a different counter signatory.
• The passport photo that is countersigned must be in colour and against a slightly off white background, e.g. a cream or light grey background. Your entire face should be in the photograph and no parts of the head should be cut or missing. You should look straight at the camera. In addition you should not smile, and hold a neutral expression. The applicant should not be wearing sun glasses, or have any other people or pets in the photo. No headgear should be worn except headgear worn for medical or religious reasons. There should be no shadows in the picture, and your face should not be covered by your hair. Children and babies must be photographed on their own. Both sides of the photo must be clear unless it needs to be countersigned.