Citizenship ceremonies Guidance notes

The final part of becoming a British citizen Adduned When you telephone, the local authority is for you to attend a ceremony, Rhoddaf fy nheyrngarwch i’r Deyrnas may ask you the following questions: which your local authority will arrange. Unedig ac fe barchaf ei hawliau a’i rhyddidau. Arddelaf ei gwerthoedd democrataidd. Do you want a group or individual Who should attend a ceremony? Glynaf yn ffyddlon wrth ei chyfreithiau a ceremony? Every successful applicant aged over 18 is chyflawnaf fy nyletswyddau a’m required to attend a ceremony. rhwymedigaethau fel dinesydd Prydeinig. How many guests would you like to bring?

Children under 18 who have applied with We recommend that you practise saying Do you intend to make an or an their parents may attend a ceremony with the words beforehand. But don’t worry – Affirmation of ? other members of the family, to collect their this isn’t a memory test! Cards with the certificate. They do not have to take the words of the Oath (or Affirmation) and (If you are attending a ceremony in Wales) Oath/Affirmation or Pledge, but may do so. Pledge printed on them will be given out at Do you intend to make the Oath (or If they do not attend the ceremony, another the ceremony. The person conducting the Affirmation) and Pledge in Welsh or family member may collect their certificate. ceremony will say the words a few at a time in English? and ask you to repeat them after him or her. Guests can come to your ceremony but Are you happy to shake hands when you normally only two will be allowed. If you When you book your ceremony please tell receive your certificate? would like more guests to attend please the local authority if you are going to make discuss this when you arrange the ceremony. an Oath or an Affirmation of allegiance and, 3 KEEP YOUR INVITATION LETTER SAFE. if you are attending a ceremony in Wales, You must bring it to the ceremony. If you do What will happen at whether you wish to make the Oath (or not your ceremony will be postponed. Affirmation) and Pledge in Welsh or in English. the ceremony? Additional information During the ceremony you will have to say If you are going to make an Oath of either the Oath or the Affirmation of allegiance you may bring a holy book with allegiance to Her Majesty the Queen and you if you want to. Your certificate of registration or naturalisation the Pledge of loyalty to the . constitutes legal evidence of your acquisition of This is a formal promise to Her Majesty the After making the Oath (or Affirmation) British citizenship and should be carefully Queen and the United Kingdom. and Pledge, you will be presented with preserved. It must not be unofficially altered or

your certificate. LAMINATED as in this condition it will not be You may make the Oath (or Affirmation) and accepted as evidence of citizenship by Her Pledge either in English or Welsh. In most ceremonies there will be a group of people making the Oath (or Affirmation) Majesty’s Passport Office. Oath of allegiance and Pledge together. If you do not want to be a I, (name), swear by Almighty God that, on part of a group ceremony, you will need to You should note that HM Passport Office will not becoming a British citizen, I will be faithful discuss this with the local authority when you issue a British passport in a name that is different and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty book your ceremony. You may need to pay extra to any other passport or travel document that a Queen Elizabeth the Second, Her Heirs and for an individual ceremony. person holds. This is to ensure consistency with

Successors, according to law. the identities in the British passport and any other Where will the ceremony passport or travel document. If the details on Affirmation of allegiance take place? your citizenship certificate and foreign passport I (name) do solemnly, sincerely and truly The venue will normally be arranged by the do not match you will need to change your foreign declare and affirm that on becoming a local authority. British Citizen, I will be faithful and bear true passport into your new name before applying for allegiance to her Majesty Queen Elizabeth a British passport. the Second, her Heirs and Successors, What you must do now? 1 Check that the details on the ceremony according to law When applying for a British passport, the invitation, which will be on your certificate, photograph provided must be taken within the are correct. If any of the details are past month. Therefore, the photograph submitted Pledge incorrect, you should still arrange and with your citizenship application is unlikely to be I will give my loyalty to the United Kingdom attend the ceremony. If your certificate acceptable and respect its rights and freedoms. I will needs amending you should return this, uphold its democratic values. I will observe after attending the ceremony, to its laws faithfully and fulfil my duties and obligations as a British citizen. UKVI, Department 201, For further information The Capital Building  About the arrangements for your or, if attending a ceremony in Wales, in Welsh Liverpool, L3 9PP ceremony: contact your local authority on the number shown on your invitation. Llw teyrngarwch 2 Telephone the local authority, using the  General information about citizenship: Yr wyf i, (enw), yn tyngu i Dduw Hollalluog y number on your invitation, to arrange your contact UKVI Nationality, on 0300 123 2253 byddaf i, ar ôl dod yn ddinesydd Prydeinig, ceremony. Do this as soon as possible. or visit the website at yn ffyddlon ac yn wir deyrngar i’w Mawrhydi However you should note that it may take www.homeoffice.gov.uk y Frenhines Elisabeth yr Ail, ei Hetifeddion up to 2 working days for the local authority a’i Holynwyr, yn unol âr gyfraith. to receive your documentation. You will not be a British citizen until you have attended We hope that you will enjoy Cadarnhau teyrngarwch the ceremony. Please do not wait more your ceremony Yr wyf i, (enw), yn datgan ac yn cadarnhau than 14 days from the date you receive your yn ddifrifol, yn ddiffuant ac yn gywir y invitation letter. The ceremony must take place within three months. The local byddaf i, ar ôl dod yn ddinesydd Prydeinig, yn ffyddlon ac yn wir deyrngar i’w Mawrhydi authority will need time to arrange it. y Frenhines Elisabeth yr Ail, ei Hetifeddion a’i Holynwyr, yn unol âr gyfraith.