Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what classes of person can (1) verify identity in relation to a passport application; (2) verify the identity of a driving licence applicant; and (3) certify the character of an applicant for a firearms certificate.

The passport application and issuing process is subject to a number of checks to confirm identity, including the requirement on the applicant to provide a countersignatory. The criteria for a countersignatory are set out in the guidance published at www.gov.uk and lists examples for recognised professions.

Information on who may act as a referee for an applicant for a firearms certificate is detailed in paragraphs 10.9-10.19 of the Guide on Firearms Licensing Law 2015. Information on those whom may act as a referee for an applicant for a shotgun certificate is detailed at paragraphs 11.7-11.15 of the same guide.

The person signing the driving license application form and photo must be resident in the UK, know the applicant personally, not be a relative and not live at the same address as the applicant. This might include civil servant, bank or building society staff, local business person or shopkeeper, teacher, lawyer or engineer.