Confirm someone’s identity online for a passport application

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1. Who can confirm someone’s identity

You’ll get an email from HM Passport Office if someone applying for a passport has asked you to confirm their identity.

You need to follow a different process if you’ve been asked to sign printed photos (called ‘countersigning’).

You can only confirm someone’s identity if you:

  • are 18 or over
  • live in the UK
  • have a current UK passport
  • have known the person applying for at least 2 years (this is the adult making the application if the passport is for a child under 16)
  • know the person applying as a friend, neighbour or colleague (not just someone who knows you professionally)

You must work in (or be retired from) a ‘recognised profession’. For example:

  • accountant
  • airline pilot
  • articled clerk of a limited company
  • assurance agent of recognised company
  • bank or building society official
  • barrister
  • chairman or director of a limited company
  • chiropodist
  • commissioner for oaths
  • councillor, for example local or county
  • civil servant (permanent)
  • dentist
  • director, manager or personnel officer of a VAT-registered company
  • engineer with professional qualifications
  • financial services intermediary, for example 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 a public house
  • local government officer
  • manager or 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, for example an OBE or MBE
  • pharmacist
  • photographer (professional)
  • police officer
  • Post Office official
  • president or secretary of a recognised organisation
  • Salvation Army officer
  • social worker
  • solicitor
  • surveyor
  • teacher or lecturer
  • trade union officer
  • travel agent (qualified)
  • valuer or auctioneer (fellow or associate members of the incorporated society)
  • Warrant Officers and Chief Petty Officers

Who cannot confirm someone’s identity

You cannot confirm someone’s identity if:

  • you’re related by birth or marriage
  • you’re in a relationship with them or live together
  • you work for HM Passport Office
  • you work for UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) on British citizenship or right of abode applications
  • you’re a doctor - unless you know the person who has asked you well (for example, you’re a good friend)

2. How to confirm someone’s identity

You’ll get an email from HM Passport Office if someone has asked you to confirm their identity.

You should confirm their identity as soon as possible after receiving the email. The applicant cannot get their passport until their identity has been confirmed.

What you’ll need

You’ll need:

  • the reference number from the email you received
  • your passport details

You’ll need to know:

  • the date of birth and address of the person applying for a passport
  • where the child was born and their parent’s names and years of birth (if you’re confirming a child’s identity)

What to do

Follow the instructions in the email. You’ll be asked to confirm some basic information about the person who nominated you (for example their address).

You’ll also be shown a photo and asked to confirm if that’s the person the passport is for.

It should take about 10 minutes.

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