Citizenship Ceremony Guide

Once your naturalisation application is approved by UKVI, you receive an invitation letter from your local council inviting you to attend a citizenship ceremony. You must attend a ceremony within 90 days of receiving the invitation. Councils typically hold ceremonies regularly — weekly or monthly depending on the size of the area — so the wait is usually not long.

Contact your local council's citizenship ceremony team to book your attendance. If you cannot attend within 90 days due to circumstances beyond your control (illness, bereavement, work commitments overseas), contact the council to request an extension. Extensions are granted at the council's discretion. If you do not attend within 90 days and no extension is agreed, your approval may be cancelled and you would need to reapply.

Most councils allow you to bring guests — typically two to four. Check with your specific council how many guests are permitted and whether children count toward the guest limit. The ceremony is typically a public event within a council chamber or civic hall and is a formal occasion.

Citizenship ceremonies typically last 30–60 minutes and include a welcome address, a reading about British values and citizenship, and the central part of the ceremony: taking the Oath or Affirmation of Allegiance and the Citizenship Pledge.

The Oath of Allegiance is: "I (name) swear by Almighty God that on becoming a British citizen, I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, his heirs and successors, according to law." Those who prefer not to swear may take an Affirmation: "I (name) do solemnly, sincerely and truly declare and affirm that on becoming a British citizen..."

The Citizenship Pledge is then made: "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."

After the ceremony, each new citizen is presented with their certificate of naturalisation — a formal legal document proving British citizenship — and often a small gift such as a book about Britain or wildflower seeds.

Once you have your certificate of naturalisation, you can apply for a British passport. Passport applications are made through His Majesty's Passport Office — apply online at gov.uk/apply-renew-passport. You will need to include your certificate of naturalisation (or a certified copy) with the application.

Keep your certificate of naturalisation in a safe place — it is an important legal document. If it is lost or damaged, a replacement can be obtained from the General Register Office, though this involves a fee and takes time.

You may also wish to inform your employer and update official records (HMRC, driving licence, etc.) if your name has changed following naturalisation or if you previously held a BRP or digital status that is now superseded by British citizenship.

Citizenship ceremonies are organised by your local council and usually take place within a few weeks of your application being approved. You will receive an invitation letter with the date, time, and venue. Most ceremonies take place at the local register office or town hall, though some councils offer ceremonies at historic venues. Group ceremonies typically accommodate 10-20 new citizens and their guests.

During the ceremony, you will be asked to swear or affirm an oath of allegiance to the Crown and pledge loyalty to the United Kingdom. You can choose between a religious oath (swearing on a holy book of your faith) or a secular affirmation. You will then receive your certificate of British citizenship, which is your proof of nationality. The ceremony usually lasts 30-45 minutes. You are welcome to bring up to 2 guests, take photographs, and dress smartly. After the ceremony, you can apply for a British passport using your citizenship certificate as evidence.