British Citizenship Ceremony – Everything you need to know

The Ceremony and Becoming a British Citizen

Once your British Citizenship application has been approved you will be invited to attend a citizenship ceremony. This invitation letter will be sent by the Home Office and will give details of how to book your ceremony. Each ceremony is organised by your local authority/council.

There is a time limit on your invitation so you must arrange your attending a ceremony before this expires otherwise you could have your British citizenship application revoked.

Anyone aged over 18 years of age must attend a British citizenship ceremony – this also applies if you have turned 18 during the application process. Those younger than 18 do not have to attend a ceremony if they do not wish to. If this is the case, then a family member is allowed to collect their certificate of British citizenship in their absence.

Booking your citizenship ceremony

As citizenship ceremonies are typically organised locally by your local council or borough, you must refer to them in order to book your ceremony.

You can enter your postcode on the official Home Office website to find out who your local council office is. You will then be referred to their website for further information on how to book a ceremony.

It’s important to carefully read the guidelines and advice provided by your local council, as arrangements and processes for booking ceremonies may vary greatly based on different local authorities.

How much is the citizenship ceremony fee?

Usually, British Citizenship ceremonies take place in groups. However, there is the option to have a private ceremony. This must be arranged with the local authority directly and there is an additional charge.

The cost of standard group ceremonies is £130, which included in the cost of the Home Office application fee for British citizenship that was paid at the time of submitting your application form.

If you wish to have a private individual ceremony then the cost could be around £200 – although this varies depending on the local authority and the time/date you wish to hold the ceremony.

Documents to take to your British citizenship ceremony

When attending your citizenship ceremony you will need to ensure your bring the following with you otherwise you will not be able to take part and obtain your citizenship certificate:

• Your Home Office approval letter
• The invitation letter given by your local authority/council
• A form of ID that has a recent photograph such as a passport or driving licence

What happens at a British Citizenship Ceremony?

An important part of the ceremony is the Oath or Affirmation of allegiance to the Crown and a Pledge of loyalty to uphold the values, customs and laws of the UK. This is a formal promise to Her Majesty the Queen and the UK.

Oath of allegiance

I, (name), swear by Almighty God that, on becoming a British citizen, I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Her Heirs and Successors, according to law.

Affirmation of allegiance

I (name) do solemnly, sincerely and truly declare and affirm that on becoming a British Citizen, I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, her Heirs and Successors, according to law.

Pledge

I will give my loyalty to the United Kingdom and respect its rights and freedoms. I will uphold its democratic values. I will observe its laws faithfully and fulfil my duties and obligations as a British citizen.

At the end of the ceremony you will be given your Certificate of British citizenship and a welcome pack. You can also have your photograph taken to remember this important step.

What happens after the ceremony?

After the ceremony, there may be an opportunity for taking photographs (both informal and formal, if the local authority have supplied a professional photographer for the event). Depending on the local authority, there may be refreshments provided and an opportunity to meet and converse with the other participants or the registrar or official running the ceremony on the day.

You will be free to leave with your documents once the ceremony has ended.

When you do not need to attend a ceremony

You may not need to attend a citizenship ceremony if you’re registering to become a British overseas territories citizen, British overseas citizen or British subject.

However, you will still need to make an oath or affirmation of allegiance. Details on how to do this will normally be sent to you once you successfully obtain your status.

What if I’m not in the UK?

If you’re living outside of the UK when you are required to attend a citizenship ceremony, you may be able to ask your local British embassy or consulate if you can hold the ceremony there instead.

If you’re only going to be abroad for a short time, you may be able to postpone the ceremony until you return to the UK. However, the ceremony must still typically take place within 3 months of you having received the invitation.

Note that you may not be able to have your ceremony abroad if you applied for citizenship while in the UK; you may have to prove your intention of living permanently in the UK if you’re going to be abroad for more than a few months.

How Can IAS Help?

A certificate of British Citizenship is an important document that proves your right to live and work in the UK indefinitely without being subject to any immigration restrictions.

IAS can help with any immigration issue.  We are expert legal advisers specialising in UK immigration law, with years’ worth of experience helping individuals achieve UK Citizenship. We can help establish your eligibility for a certificate of entitlement, assist you throughout the application process, and even liaise with the Home Office to keep track of your application as it gets processed.

For more information about the services we offer and how we can help you, get in touch with us today on 0333 305 9375, or talk to us online today.