Booking a citizenship ceremony
The process of applying for British citizenship can be found on the Home Office website via the link on the right.
The final part of becoming a British citizen is to attend a formal ceremony. The object of the ceremony is to welcome you fully into British society with all the rights and privileges this brings. You will receive an invitation from the Home Office to book a ceremony once your application is successful.
Telephone 0345 045 5155 Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm or Saturday 9am to 1pm to book a ceremony. Ceremonies are held in the Council Chambers at Shire Hall, Cambridge most weeks on Tuesday afternoons. Each new citizen can bring up to 2 guests to the ceremony. A photographer will be in attendance and the photographs can be purchased at the end of the ceremony.
If you wish, you can have a private ceremony costing between £105 and £195 depending on the day and time.
You can apply to the Home Office to transfer your paperwork and ceremony to another area but this will only be granted under certain very limited criteria e.g. moving home to a different Local Authority area, working in a different Local Authority area from the home address or a family celebration. The Home Office does not allow applicants to transfer for an earlier ceremony. You should obtain permission from the Home Office before contacting either Local Authority involved.
If you cannot attend a ceremony within 90 days of the date on your letter the Home Office may withdraw your invitation. If attending within the 90 days is a problem it is your responsibility to contact the Home Office as soon as possible explaining the situation to see if they can consider an extension to the time scale.
The ceremony
Please arrive at 2pm and report to main reception at Shire Hall, bringing with you your invitation letter from the Council and your confirmation letter from the Home Office. The Registration Officers will check your paperwork and then you and your guests wait in the chamber for the ceremony to start.
The Chairman of the County Council and a representative of her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will make speeches and you will receive your certificate pack from them.
Each prospective citizen must either swear or affirm an oath of alleigance to the Queen and make a pledge of loyalty to the United Kingdom, spoken in the English Language.
Tea is served in the members lounge to which you and your guests are invited.