You'll need a referee who:
- has no family or personal relationship with you (including a guardian or foster carer)
- does not live with you
- is at least 25 years of age
- provide a daytime, work telephone number
- knows you and can confirm that you are who you say you are
- agrees to be contacted to confirm any of the information you give us
- must sign and date the back of the photograph
- must complete the referee sections of the application form
Your referee must work in a recognised profession or be “a person of good standing in their community”. Suitable professions are:
- accountant
- airline pilot
- articled clerk of a limited company
- inurance agent of recognised company
- bank or building society official
- barrister
- chairman or director of a limited company
- chiropodist
- councillor
- civil servant (permanent)
- dentist
- director, manager or HR 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 (an associate member or fellow of the Institute of Legal Secretaries and PAs)
- licensee of a public house
- local government officer
- manager or HR or personnel officer of a limited company
- member, associate or fellow of a professional body
- MP or MSP
- merchant navy officer
- minister of a recognised religion
- nurse (RGN and RMN)
- officer of the armed services
- optician
- paralegal (certified paralegal, qualified paralegal or associate member of the institute of Paralegals)
- person with honours, for example OBE or MBE
- pharmacist
- police officer
- Post Office official
- president or secretary of a recognised organisation
- Salvation Army officer
- social worker
- solicitor
- surveyor
- teacher or lecturer
- trade union officer
- travel agent (qualified)
- warrant officer or chief petty officer