Who can countersign a passport application and what are the photo rules?

A VALID passport is needed before holidaymakers from the UK can head abroad. A number of rules need to be followed before a passport can be issued by the Passport Office — including around what you can and can't be doing in the photo. The government website says that ''some paper passport applications and photos must be signed by someone else (the ‘countersignatory’) to prove the identity of the person applying.

'' You must get your paper form and one of your two print photographs signed if you're applying for one of the following: Anyone who'll act as the countersignatory must meet certain criteria. This includes: Those countersigning passports can also do this process online — they'll receive an email from the HM Passport Office telling them how. Your countersignatory must also put their own passport number on the form.

When countersigning for a passport, the person doing it should write the following on the back of one photo: ''I certify that this is a true likeness of [title and full name of adult or child who is getting the passport].'' They must then add their signature and the date underneath the statement. You do not have to sign or date the photos yourself.

You need a valid passport to travel pretty much anywhere abroad with the exception of the Republic of Ireland. As well as this, many countries — but not all of them — require the document to be valid for a set period of time after you arrive there. How much time you need remaining on your passport for i.