Personal licence

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)’