For British citizenship applications, the second referee must be a British citizen passport holder and meet one of two alternative conditions: either hold a recognized professional status (such as accountant, teacher, nurse, or police officer) [1][2][3], or be at least 25 years old [4][1][3]. These are alternatives, not cumulative requirements. If your second referee qualifies as a professional person, there is no minimum age restriction [4][1]. Conversely, if they do not hold professional status, they must be at least 25 years old [4][1].

Regardless of which pathway they satisfy, all other standard referee criteria remain mandatory [4][1][3]. The second referee must have known you personally for at least three years, must not be a relative, solicitor, agent, or Home Office employee, and must not have had an imprisonable conviction in the last ten years [4][1][3][5]. They must also provide their full name, date of birth, addresses for the last three years, profession, contact details, and British passport number, and sign the declaration confirming your photograph is a true likeness [3][6].

For child applications, the same age-versus-professional logic applies to the second referee, though the panel recommends that at least one referee ideally have professional experience with children (such as a teacher or health visitor) [4][3]. If you cannot meet this ideal, you should explain your circumstances in the application [4][3].