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BC application from overseas for a child born abroad - Birth Certificate of mother query

A section for posts relating to applications for Naturalisation or Registration as a British Citizen. Naturalisation

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Mohan321
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Child born outside UK, applying for British passport from India - countersign query

Post by Mohan321 » Wed Sep 03, 2025 6:06 am

Hi,
We have had our child born in India and currently preparing application to apply for her British passport from India. The guidance around countersign states that the person must live in the UK and be a British citizen. But we are currently in India. How do we do this?

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contorted_svy
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Re: Child born outside UK, applying for British passport from India - countersign query

Post by contorted_svy » Wed Sep 03, 2025 6:58 am

Who can be a referee for a customer applying from overseas
A referee for a customer who applies from overseas, must:

live in the UK or overseas (this does not need to be the same country as the customer)

pass our automatic identity checks (if they are a digital referee)

complete the 1 page form (if they are a paper referee (1 page form))

complete section 10 of the OS form (if they are a paper referee (countersignature))

They must hold (in order of preference), a current and valid (unexpired and uncancelled):

British passport recorded on our electronic passport records (this includes any variant type passport or British nationality)

Irish passport

European Union passport

United States passport

Commonwealth passport
If you know someone who is British you can get them to sign the form digitally. If you can't, follow the list of preferences from the guidance I shared above. Referee must not live in the UK.
All advice comes from personal research and experience and should not be regarded as professional opinion.

Mohan321
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Re: Child born outside UK, applying for British passport from India - countersign query

Post by Mohan321 » Wed Sep 03, 2025 7:23 am

Thanks, there is also a requirement for a referee to sign the photograph. How would I be able to do that digitally? Apparently, there is only a paper form to apply for a child first passport overseas. Please suggest

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contorted_svy
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Re: Child born outside UK, applying for British passport from India - countersign query

Post by contorted_svy » Wed Sep 03, 2025 1:54 pm

I don't think you need to send that. Review here

https://www.gov.uk/get-a-child-passport ... d-passport
Ask someone to confirm your child’s identity
After you’ve paid and submitted the application, you’ll need to ask someone to confirm your child’s identity.

Let the person know that they’ll receive an email from HM Passport Office telling them what to do. They’ll confirm your child’s identity online - they do not need to sign a printed photo.

Find out who can confirm your child’s identity and what they need to do.
All advice comes from personal research and experience and should not be regarded as professional opinion.

secret.simon
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Re: Child born outside UK, applying for British passport from India - countersign query

Post by secret.simon » Wed Sep 03, 2025 2:00 pm

In any case, be aware that first British passports for children born in the Subcontinent made from the Subcontinent can take six months to a year. So plan for that.
I am not a lawyer or immigration advisor. My statements/comments do not constitute legal advice. E&OE. Please do not PM me for advice.

Mohan321
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BC application from overseas for a child born abroad - Birth Certificate of mother query

Post by Mohan321 » Sat Jan 10, 2026 6:01 am

Hi,
Our child is born in India and we had applied for her BC application from India itself (through father naturalisation route). Mother is still an Indian citizen where as father is a naturalised British citizen. HMPO has asked for additional docs in which they have asked for mother’s birth certificate. We do have the original but it is in Hindi. Question is do we submit the original hindi or apply for a new one with translated in English? Or do we get it translated? Please suggest

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contorted_svy
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Re: BC application from overseas for a child born abroad - Birth Certificate of mother query

Post by contorted_svy » Sat Jan 10, 2026 1:44 pm

Can you please clarify why you are applying from India directly? Has the mother ever lived in the UK?

You would need to get the birth certificate translated by an approved translator.
All advice comes from personal research and experience and should not be regarded as professional opinion.

Mohan321
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Re: BC application from overseas for a child born abroad - Birth Certificate of mother query

Post by Mohan321 » Sat Jan 10, 2026 8:19 pm

We live in the UK.
My mother had a brain stroke when my wife was 8 months pregnant so we had to travel to India (as I couldn’t be in both the places to look after the both). So eventually she had to give birth in India. (She is currently on a spouse visa
Of a British citizen).

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