Application to become a British Citizen is made through the Home Office. If your application for British Citizenship is successful, the Home Office will write inviting you to a Citizenship Ceremony.
Under the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002, all applicants aged 18 years or over who are accepted for naturalisation as a British Citizen are required to attend a Citizenship Ceremony. During this ceremony they take the Oath or Affirmation of Allegiance to Her Majesty the Queen and make a Pledge of Loyalty to the United Kingdom.
After doing this, new citizens are presented with their certificate of nationality. Applicants must attend a Citizenship Ceremony within 3 months of receiving the letter from the Home Office confirming their application has been successful.
There is no legal requirement for applicants under the age of 18 to attend a ceremony or take the Oath or Affirmation of Allegiance. However, if minors (under 18 years of age) do wish to attend and participate in the ceremony they are very welcome to do so.
The local authorities that administer civil registration services in England and Wales are required to arrange ceremonies on behalf of the Home Office. The Home Office will use the post code the applicant gives on the citizenship application to decide which is their nearest local authority. Applicants can choose a different authority if they wish, but they must inform the Home Office when sending in their application form.
In the London Borough of Islington and London City, Citizenship Ceremonies are provided by the Islington and London City Registration Service. Ceremonies for up to 30 people, are held every Monday at The Town Hall on Upper Street. Guests are welcome to attend by invitation, with up to 2 guests per applicant.
Alternatively, applicants may wish to celebrate obtaining British Citizenship in a more personal way with family and friends at one of our approved venues. More information about this, and the additional costs incurred, can be obtained by contacting the Islington and London City Register Office.
When the Home Office sends a letter inviting an applicant to attend a ceremony here in Islington, we also receive information about that applicant, along with their certificate. Then we send a letter to that applicant explaining about ceremonies in Islington, with a questionnaire offering 3 ceremony dates. This questionnaire should be completed in full and returned to the Islington and London City Register Office. If none of the dates is suitable, or the applicant wishes to discuss the possibility of an individual ceremony, then they need to call the register office. Please note that citizenship ceremonies are by invitation only and not open to the general public.
We will book you in once we have received the questionnaire and you must attend the ceremony on the date you have chosen with your ID and letter from the home office. No confirmation will be sent.
upon arrival, participants and guests will be offered light refreshments, while participants go through the registration process
participants will need to produce their formal invitation and their invitation letter from the Home Office, along with some form of identification
the ceremony begins with a speech of welcome by the Superintendent Registrar and a prominent member of the local community
this is followed by participants making the oath or affirmation to Her Majesty the Queen and a pledge of loyalty to the United Kingdom
new citizens are then invited to sign the Islington Register of Citizenship and presented with their certificate of naturalisation/registration (a small gift from Islington will be presented at the same time), and a photograph is taken
the national anthem is played, and that will conclude the ceremony with the option of purchasing the photograph/s which can be printed immediately
Swearing or affirming the oath is entirely down to personal preference. Both forms of words accomplish the same thing, promising allegiance to the Crown. The only difference between the two is that swearing the oath is based upon religious principles, and the affirmation is not. The oath may be sworn whilst holding a holy book, and if participants wish to do this they should bring one to the ceremony with them.
Participants should indicate their preference for either swearing or affirming the oath on the questionnaire sent out to them. The questionnaire should be posted back or dropped off at the Registry Office, so we can ensure that we have the correct form of words ready at the ceremony. Participants are not required to learn the words by heart.
If you have any further queries, please don't hesitate to contact one of our citizenship officers on: 020 7527 6358 or the general office number 020 7527 6350.
Page Last Updated: 13 December 2011