One of your photographs for your application needs to be signed and dated by an approved professional. Relatives or partners cannot be used.
An approved professional can be:
- accountant (chartered)
- company secretary of a limited company
- chairman or director of a limited company
- assurance manager/superintendent of a recognised company
- bank manager/building society officer (not a clerk)
- barrister
- broker (registered)
- chemist (registered)
- chiropodist (registered)
- commissioner of oaths (solicitor or notary public)
- councillor: local or county
- dentist (registered)
- engineer (with professional qualifications or member of a chartered institute)
- fire service officer (or a higher rank)
- funeral director
- insurance manager of a recognised company GN.C105/12/12
- Justice of the Peace
- legal secretary (members and fellows of the Institute of legal secretaries)
- local government officer or civil servant (permanent position)
- HR manager of a limited company)
- member of parliament
- merchant navy officer
- minister of a recognised religion
- nurse (SRN and SEN)
- officer of the armed services (active or retired)
- optician (registered)
- person with honours (for example, OBE or MBE)
- photographer (professional)
- police officer (inspector or chief)
- post office master or mistress
- president or secretary of a recognised charity or country club
- Salvation Army officer
- social worker
- solicitor
- surveyor (chartered institute)
- teacher or lecturer (school, college or university)
- trade union officer
- travel agent (qualified/recognised body)
- valuers and auctioneers
- Warrant Officers or Chief Petty Officers
What the signature needs to include
The person must clearly write their:
- printed name
- printed profession
- signature
They also need to write the following statement, including your name:
‘I hereby certify that this is a true likeness of ……………………………. (Applicant’s name)’
