Question about countersignature on UK passport renewal

[1questxx]

With immediate travelling plans in mind, I would like to renew my UK passport in Spain, I have everything ready, the C1 form, the 2 photographs and the expired passport and the aprox. €200 fee, but someone of a professional standing who has known me for +2 years has to countersign the photographs certifying it is me.

The only person able to do that is Spanish and he does not speak any English, I am wondering if this could be a problem when someone calls them from the UK to verify if they really exist, unless they speak with them over the phone in Spanish my friend isn't going to understand anything and won't be able to confirm his identity.

There is also a problem with the person I am going to ask to countersign the photograph as he is currently unemployed, he holds a professional qualification (architect) but is currently unemployed. I don't want to make any mistake during the renewal process because I would like to travel very soon.

I was wondering if anybody here knows how likely is it that the UK passport authorities will call the counter signer or refuse it. I have not been living in Spain for long since I came back from the UK and it is not easy for me to find someone meeting the needed counter signer requirements, I only know of one person who can do that right now.

Ideas for a legal work around or easy way to find a valid photo counter signer, would be great.

[jojo]

Originally Posted by 1questxx

With immediate travelling plans in mind, I would like to renew my UK passport in Spain, I have everything ready, the C1 form, the 2 photographs and the expired passport and the aprox. €200 fee, but someone of a professional standing who has known me for +2 years has to countersign the photographs certifying it is me.

The only person able to do that is Spanish and he does not speak any English, I am wondering if this could be a problem when someone calls them from the UK to verify if they really exist, unless they speak with them over the phone in Spanish my friend isn't going to understand anything and won't be able to confirm his identity.

There is also a problem with the person I am going to ask to countersign the photograph as he is currently unemployed, he holds a professional qualification (architect) but is currently unemployed. I don't want to make any mistake during the renewal process because I would like to travel very soon.

I was wondering if anybody here knows how likely is it that the UK passport authorities will call the counter signer or refuse it. I have not been living in Spain for long since I came back from the UK and it is not easy for me to find someone meeting the needed counter signer requirements, I only know of one person who can do that right now.

Ideas for a legal work around or easy way to find a valid photo counter signer, would be great.

I dont think it matters that your countersigner doesnt speak English. If they write in Spanish, then its obvious that they're not english and as far as I know, the form doesnt states the need for a particular nationality

All that said, its unlikely that they'll chase it up anyway, especially if you're sending in your old passport - which I assume will have a similar (slightly younger version) photo of you!!??

Jo xxx

[Pesky Wesky]

The person who countersigns your passport should live in the UK, and be British


Who you can ask to be your countersignatory

Your countersignatory should:

• have known you for at least two years
• live in the UK

Your countersignatory should not:

• be related to you by birth or marriage
• be in a personal relationship with you
• live at the same address as you
• work for the Identity and Passport Service

And also...

What the countersignatory has to do Avoid delays

IPS may need to contact your countersignatory, so make sure they'll be available and won't be away on holiday


Your countersignatory must sign the form at section 10 to confirm that:

• they have known you for more than two years
• you are who you claim to be

If the form is for a child passport, the countersignatory should know the person who signs the declaration at section 9 rather than the child.
The application form asks the countersignatory to enter their current British passport number (Irish passport numbers are also acceptable). This is so the Identity and Passport Service (IPS) can check their identity.
From this government site
Who can countersign your application? : Directgov - Travel and transport

[jojo]

Originally Posted by Pesky Wesky

The person who countersigns your passport should live in the UK, and be British


Who you can ask to be your countersignatory

Your countersignatory should:

have known you for at least two years
live in the UK

There! That shows what I know. i guess the only other way is to send your photos to an appropriate friend in the UK???????????? - better still, wait til someone else answers who has a clue LOL!!!

Jo xxx

[1questxx]

@Pesky

That is not correct, the link you posted is to renew the passport in the UK, there is a different procedure to renew your passport abroad, I have the C1 form with me and the countersigner can be any British, European Union or Commonwealth national.

- ukinspain.fco.gov.uk/en/help-for-british-nationals/passports/how-to-apply/spain

@jojo

The counter signer doesn't write anything in Spanish, he only signs the photograph and enters his name, qualifications and phone number in the form.

[Pesky Wesky]

Originally Posted by 1questxx

@Pesky

That is not correct, the link you posted is to renew the passport in the UK, there is a different procedure to renew your passport abroad, I have the C1 form with me and the countersigner can be any British, EU or Commonwealth citizen.

- ukinspain.fco.gov.uk/en/help-for-british-nationals/passports/how-to-apply/spain

Good, because I got mine done a few weeks ago and the counter signature wasn't done by someone in the UK!!
Sorry about that, but it was a link from the UK in Spain site, so it wasn't really my fault, I think

[CapnBilly]

It also says that if it is an adult passport renewal they may not need counter signing

"Photographs submitted with an adult renewal application accompanied by a previous passport may be accepted without a countersignature, if identity can be satisfactorily established by comparison of photographs."

[1questxx]

@CapnBilly

I have the guidance notes with me as well and I failed to spot that, could you please let me know where did you read it? I downloaded all of the needed documents from the British Embassy in Madrid website.

[jojo]

The counter signer doesn't write anything in Spanish, he only signs the photograph and enters his name, qualifications and phone number in the form.

No, but what he does have to write will be fairly obviously Spanish. If memory serves, my daughters boyfriend (he had the right profession) had to write on several photos and some pieces of paper

Jo xxxx

[xabiachica]

the architect friend can sign both the photos & the form

it doesn't matter that he is unemployed, all that matters is that he has the professional qual & that he has known you for the required amount of time

the fact that he doesn't speak English won't be an issue - he can copy the wording - in fact iirc I actually wrote on ours & our friend just signed them

the bit about 'may not need countersigning' - may not......to be on the safe side I'd have it done personally