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Citizenship ceremonies (Easy Read)

An invitation in a brown envelope for a citizenship ceremony

If your British Citizenship application has been approved, you will be invited to a citizenship ceremony.  

You need to attend if you are over 18 years old and live in the UK. 

Calendar pages for September, October and November

The Home Office will send us your details when your application has been approved.  

We will then send you the date and time for your ceremony.  

You need to let us know if you can’t attend this date and time. You can contact the Registrars Office to rearrange your ceremony.  

You must have your ceremony no more than 3 months after your application was approved.  

What to bring to your ceremony 

Forms of identification

You need to bring:  

  • your invitation letter or email from the Home Office 
  • your confirmation letter or email from the Register Office  
  • one form of photo identification such as your driving licence, passport, biometric residence permit card or travel document  

It is important that you bring all of these documents. If you don’t, your ceremony will be postponed.  

What happens at a citizenship ceremony 

Two people stand by a large stopwatch

You will need to arrive between 30-60 minutes before your ceremony.  

This is so you can complete your registration.  

If you arrive less than 15 minutes before your ceremony starts, you will not be allowed to take part. You will have to rearrange it.  

The ceremony is usually around 30 minutes long. 

A person stands next to a Union Jack and a speech bubble

The Registrar will conduct the ceremony. They will explain the importance of the promises you make in the ceremony.  

The Deputy Lord Lieutenant will speak on behalf of His Majesty the King.  

You will repeat an oath or affirmation of allegiance and pledge loyalty to the United Kingdom.  

A man holding a camera stands next to a certificate

You will be given your British nationality certificate and an information pack. At the end there will be an opportunity to take photographs.    

The national anthem will play at the end of the ceremony.  

There is usually a photographer at group ceremonies. You can purchase photographs after the ceremony. 

Who can attend a citizenship ceremony 

A child with her thumb up is holding a blank piece of paper

Your children may attend your ceremony if they are also an applicant. Certificates for children who are of school age can be collected by their parents.  

You can bring 1 guest to a group citizenship ceremony. This includes children who are not applicants. 

A group of people stand closely together

If you are having an individual ceremony, you can bring up to 35 guests. 

Individual ceremonies 

Four women are lined up in a row

You may be able to have an individual ceremony.  

This will allow you to have more guests.  

Your ceremony will be held at the Guildhall Ceremony room.   

The cost for an individual ceremony is £175. 

You can enquire about an individual ceremony by emailing [email protected]

Ceremony locations

A photo of a council building

Citizenship ceremonies are held in the County Hall in Northampton.

County Hall address

County Hall
George Row
Northampton
NN1 1DF

Useful links

Last updated 28 February 2024