Northamptonshire County Council

CITIZENSHIP CEREMONIES GUIDANCE NOTES

Note

It is a legal requirement that you are able to say in English either the or affirmation and the pledge.

Registration Procedure

Please arrive 30 minutes before the ceremony begins in order to allow sufficient time for you and your guests to register and to receive further information on seating arrangements in the Council Chamber. Although the ceremony only takes 30 mins, please allow 1 hour 30 minutes for the registration procedure and the ceremony.

The Oath/Affirmation

At your ceremony, you have the option of either swearing or affirming the oath of .

The oath of allegiance is as follows: (Religious)

“I (name) swear by Almighty God that on becoming a British Citizen, I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second; Her Heirs and successors according to law.”

The affirmation is as follows: (Non-Religious)

“I (name) do solemnly and sincerely affirm that on becoming a British Citizen, I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second; Her Heirs and successors according to law.”

The oath and the pledge must be spoken in English and you may wish to rehearse them before the ceremony takes place. If you wish to swear on a holy book, you should bring it to the ceremony.

The Pledge

If misdirected please return to: Northamptonshire County Council, Registration Service, Ground Floor/E3/006 One Angel Square, Northampton, NN1 1ED In addition you will be required to make the following pledge of loyalty at your ceremony:

“I will give my loyalty to the 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.”

Ceremony Venue And Car Parking

A location map of County Hall together with details of nearby car parks, bus station and railway station, accompanies the notes.

Individual Ceremony

Should you wish, it may be possible to have an individual ceremony which will enable you to have a larger number of guests to attend than the two allowed for group ceremonies. The Council Chamber and Register Offices across Northamptonshire are available for such ceremonies and can accommodate parties of varying sizes. Alternative venues will be considered but you will have to meet the cost of any room hire charge. The service for an individual ceremony is as follows:

Wednesday £150.00

Individual ceremonies are subject to staff/accommodation availability and the Home Office deadline for your ceremony to take place. To obtain further information, or to book an individual ceremony, please contact the Registration Service 01604 362420.

Photography

The purchase of a commemorative photograph is an ideal way of having a permanent memento of your ceremony. You can have your photograph professionally taken when you are presented with your Certificate.

Please note that to ensure the ceremony runs smoothly, only the official photographer is allowed to take photographs in the Council Chamber.

The cost for a 7” x 5” mounted photograph is £10 for the first portrait and £5 for each subsequent copy. The photographer will be on hand to take your payment. The photographer can only take cash.

Special Needs

Should you or any of your guests have any special needs the County Council should be aware of, please contact Registration Service on 01604 362420

Daytime Contact Telephone Number

If misdirected please return to: Northamptonshire County Council, Registration Service, Ground Floor/E3/006 One Angel Square, Northampton, NN1 1ED If you have not yet provided a daytime contact telephone number, please call the Registration Service on 01604 362420. It will enable us to contact you easily should further information be required in respect of your ceremony requirements.

Guests

You are permitted to bring two guests to the ceremony. By arrangement it may be possible to bring more guests. Please contact Registration Service 01604 362420 for more details.

Our Commitment To You

We are committed to ensuring your Citizenship Ceremony is an enjoyable and memorable occasion for you and your guests. We look forward to meeting you at the ceremony. However, if you require any additional information in the meantime, please telephone Registration Service 01604 362420.

If misdirected please return to: Northamptonshire County Council, Registration Service, Ground Floor/E3/006 One Angel Square, Northampton, NN1 1ED