Confirm someone鈥檚 identity online for a passport application

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1. Who can confirm someone鈥檚 identity

You鈥檒l 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鈥檝e been asked to sign printed photos (called 鈥榗ountersigning鈥�).

You can only confirm someone鈥檚 identity if you:

  • are 18 or over
  • live in the UK
  • have a current UK or Irish 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 鈥榬ecognised profession鈥�. 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鈥檚 identity

You cannot confirm someone鈥檚 identity if:

  • you鈥檙e related by birth or marriage
  • you鈥檙e 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鈥檙e a doctor - unless you know the person who has asked you well (for example, you鈥檙e a good friend)

2. How to confirm someone鈥檚 identity

You鈥檒l 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鈥檒l need

You鈥檒l need:

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

You鈥檒l need to know:

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

What to do

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

You鈥檒l also be shown a photo and asked to confirm if that鈥檚 the person the passport is for.

It should take about 10 minutes.