Your Day in Northamptonshire Northants 2017 | Page 37
Legal Matters
What happens at the Citizenship ceremony?
• The ceremony begins with a formal welcome
• The hosting dignitary will address you and the audience on
behalf of Her Majesty the Queen
• You swear or affirm the oath of allegiance and then take the
pledge to Her Majesty the Queen
• On behalf of Her Majesty the Queen, the hosting dignitary
presents the citizenship certificate and a welcome gift from
the Northamptonshire County Council’s Registration Service to
you
The heart of the Citizenship ceremony involves new citizens
making an oath or affirmation to Her Majesty the Queen and
a pledge of loyalty to the United Kingdom. When an applicant
receives their letter of approval from the Home Office they
should contact the Northamptonshire Registration Service to
obtain details of which Citizenship ceremony they may attend.
Attendance at a Citizenship ceremony must be within 3 months
of the date your application for British citizenship was granted.
Under the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002,
all applicants over the age of 18 who are accepted for
naturalisation or registration as a British citizen are required to
attend a Citizenship ceremony.
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The Home Office,
which administers all
applications for British
citizenship, believes that
all new citiz ens should be
encouraged to feel and have a
sense of belonging to the
wider community.
The Citizenship ceremony
by virtue of being public and
celebratory in nature helps
to foster this.
Everyone who applies for British
citizenship is required to take
an oath or affirmation of
allegiance to the Crown, and
make a pledge of loyalty to
the United Kingdom.
• You are then a British Citizen.
Guests
• For a Group ceremony you are welcome to bring up
to 2 guests
• Private citizenship ceremonies can accommodate a guest list
of your choosing up to the maximum occupancy of the room
• Access to citizenship ceremonies is by invitation only.
Where is the Venue?
• Group Citizenship ceremonies are held in County Hall in
Northampton
• Private Citizenship ceremonies are held in a Registration Office
ceremony room.
Can children of applicants attend?
• Yes
• Where an application includes your children, there is no legal
requirement for children to attend a Citizenship ceremony
• If children wish to attend their parents’ ceremony and take the
oath and pledge they are welcome and encouraged to
do so and make the ceremony a family celebration.
Booking
Once the Home Office has confirmed
that you have been granted British citizenship,
you will be invited to book your ceremony date.
You will be advised of the date and time of your
ceremony - if this is not convenient we will try
to book another date and time.
It is most important that you attend a
ceremony no later than 3 months
from the date you were granted
Home Office approval.
Further information
• Information about applications for British Citizenship can be
found at www.gov.uk
• Alternatively our Citizenship and Nationality Checking
Service team can be contacted at:
[email protected]
Please visit our website for
fee and payment details.
www.yourdaynorthants.com
We look forward to hearing from you.
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