Guidance

Explosives precursors and poisons licence applications: how to get documents countersigned

Updated 21 May 2025

Read the document checklist to make sure you have all the documents you need.

What a countersignatory does

Applicants over 18

The role of the countersignatory for applicants over 18 is to verify the true likeness of the applicant’s identity and that all supporting documents are a true copy of the original. The countersignatory is not endorsing whether it is appropriate for the applicant to have an explosives precursors and poisons (EPP) licence.

Applicants under 18

The legal guardian countersigns the documents for applicants under 18 to:

• show it is appropriate for them to have an EPP licence
• verify the true likeness of their identity
• verify that all supporting documents are a true copy of the original

See the Children Act 1989 for more information.

If the proof of address is not in the applicant’s name

If the applicant is under 18 and the proof of address is not in their name, the documents will need to be countersigned by somebody with one of the occupations listed below, as well as by the applicant’s legal guardian.

Who can countersign a document

Occupations

To countersign documents, ask a professional person or someone respected in your community (‘of good standing’), such as:

• accountant
• airline pilot
• articled clerk of a limited company
• assurance agent of recognised company
• bank or building society official
• barrister
• chairman or director of limited company
• chiropodist
• commissioner of oaths
• councillor (for example local or county)
• civil servant (permanent)
• dentist
• director or manager of a VAT-registered charity
• director, manager or personnel officer of a VAT-registered company
• engineer with professional qualifications
• financial services intermediary (for example a stockbroker or insurance broker)
• fire service official
• funeral director
• insurance agent (full time) of a recognised company
• journalist
• justice of the peace
• legal secretary: fellow or associate member of the Institute of legal secretaries and PAs
• licensee of public house
• local government officer
• manager or personnel officer of a limited company
• member, associate or fellow of a professional body
• member of Parliament
• merchant navy officer
• minister of a recognised religion, including Christian Science
• nurse: RGN or RMN
• officer of the armed services
• optician
• paralegal: countersigned paralegal, qualified paralegal or associate member of the institute of paralegals
• person with honours (for example an OBE or MBE)
• pharmacist
• photographer: professional
• police officer
• post office official
• president or secretary of a recognised organisation
• salvation army officer
• social worker
• solicitor
• surveyor
• teacher, lecturer
• trade union officer
• travel agent: qualified
• valuer or auctioneer: fellows and associate members of the incorporated society
• warrant officers and chief petty officers

The occupation of the countersignatory does not guarantee your application will be successful. You should always try to get a countersignatory who has ‘good standing’ in your community.

The countersignatory must be a UK resident and must hold a valid UK passport, UK photo driving licence, or a passport from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein. The online application will ask you to enter your countersignatory’s form of identity and the identity number of this document.

Personal relationship

The countersignatory must:

• have known the person applying for at least 2 years
• be able to identify the person applying (for example they’re a friend, neighbour or colleague)

The person you ask should not be (unless you are under 18):

• related to you
• living at the same address
• in a relationship with you

If you (the applicant) are under 18, the legal guardian should sign the proof of identity and proof of address documents, provided these are in your name. The documents will need to be countersigned by somebody fulfilling the criteria described above if the proof of address is not in your name.

How to get a document countersigned

Photocopy your original documents and ask your countersignatory to certify all copies by writing “certified as a true copy of the original and a true likeness of [your title and full name] as seen by me” followed by their signature, current date and printing their name under the signature on one form of in-date identity document:

• UK passport
• UK photocard driving licence
• EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein passport

The EPP licence will be valid for a maximum of 3 years. If the documentation provided during the application process is valid for less than 3 years from the date the licence is granted, you will be required to re-apply for a licence once the documentation has expired. This is because for every purchase your identity document must be presented to the supplier alongside the licence and must be valid (in-date). If your identity document expires within 3 years you should use another form of proof of identity, or you will have to renew your licence earlier.

The countersignatory should also write “certified to be a true copy of the original as seen by me” on one document from list A and one from list B for proof of address (both of these must be dated within the last 3 months) followed by their signature, current date and printing their name under the signature:

List A 

• mortgage statement 

• bank or building society statement 

List B 

• credit card statement 

• rental agreement (current) 

• utilities bill (including energy, water, internet or phone bills) 

• council tax bill 

• benefit statement

Applicants under 18 years old must provide a document showing legal guardianship. This can be:

• full birth certificate (or equivalent)
• adoption certificate (or equivalent)
• guardianship agreement (or equivalent)
• parental responsibility agreement (or equivalent)

This will need to be countersigned by somebody with a job listed under Who can countersign a document.

Before you start your application, you should scan all countersigned documents so they are ready to upload.