Citizenship Ceremonies

Information about Citizenship ceremonies

Once you have been approved and have received your Home Office invitation letter, you can book your citizenship ceremony.

Check availability and book your ceremony

Start your ceremony booking

Group ceremonies

If you have received your Home Office invitation letter, you can now book your ceremony. Public Group Ceremonies generally take place twice per month at Kensington Town Hall.

You can also choose a virtual public ceremony.

You must be physically present in the United Kingdom to attend a virtual ceremony and your certificate will be posted to the address held for you by the Home Office. 

Private Citizenship Ceremonies

You can also choose a Private Citizenship Ceremony. These can be in person at Chelsea Old Town Hall, or online in a virtual ceremony with a registrar. There is an additional fee of £200 to pay for a private ceremony and, for virtual ceremonies, you must be physically present in the United Kingdom.

Frequently asked questions about citizenship ceremonies

I am attending a Public Group Ceremony – what do I need to do?

Public Group Ceremonies take place in:

The Council Chamber
Kensington Town Hall
Hornton Street
London
W8 7NX

Please arrive 20 minutes before the start of the ceremony.

You must bring
1) A photo identity document, such as a passport or driving licence

It is helpful if you can also bring:
2) Your Home Office Invitation Letter, if you have received it – a scan or photo is fine.
3) Home Office Invitation Letters for your children (if applicable)

An official photographer is usually present at public ceremonies to take portrait photographs of you. These can be purchased from the photographer after the ceremony.

I am attending a Virtual Group Ceremony – what do I need to do?

The registrar will send a link to join the virtual group ceremony, shortly before the ceremony, when all attendees are confirmed.

You will need a photo identity document, such as your passport or driving licence, and your invitation letter to show the registrar at the start of the ceremony. You will do this privately in a virtual breakout room.

This virtual link can be shared with anyone that you would like to participate in the ceremony as a guest.

I have a Private Ceremony – what do I need to do?

Private Citizenship ceremonies take place in:
Kensington and Chelsea Register Office
Chelsea Old Town Hall
Kings Road
London
SW3 5EE

Please note that this is different from the address on your invitation letter.
You must bring a photo identity document, such as a passport or driving licence, and your invitation letter to the ceremony. A photo or scan of the invitation letter is acceptable.

If you have chosen to have a virtual private ceremony, the registrar will send a link shortly before the ceremony. You can share this with anyone you would like to share participate.

How long does a ceremony take?

 

Public Group Ceremonies will take about 1 hour.

Virtual Group Ceremonies take about 45 minutes.

A private ceremony will last about 25 minutes.

How many guests can I bring to the ceremony?

For Public Group Ceremonies, you can invite a maximum of 6 guests. 

For Private ceremonies, you can invite 3 guests.

When will I receive my certificate of naturalisation?

 

If you attend a ceremony in person, you will receive your certificate at the ceremony.

If you attend a virtual ceremony, we will post your certificate to the address provided by the Home Office, which may be the address of your legal representative. The registrar will confirm the address at the beginning of the virtual ceremony.

What happens after the Ceremony?

 

Once you have attended a ceremony, we will inform the Home Office. You do not need to do this yourself.

When you receive your certificate, you can apply for a UK passport online https://www.gov.uk/apply-renew-passport  or by collecting an application from most main post offices. 

You must carefully read and follow the instructions on your invitation letter about returning your Biometric Residence Permit, if you have one. If you need any additional support, you can email [email protected]

How do I get my British passport?

 

When you receive your certificate, you can apply for a UK passport online or by collecting an application from most main post offices. Visit the GOV.UK website for further details on how to apply online.

The Home Office letter states I have to book within 21 days, but my ceremony date is after this time frame.

 

The letter states that you should contact the local authority to arrange a ceremony within 21 days from the date of the letter, but you have up to 3 months to attend a ceremony.

When you book your ceremony online, it is the same as contacting the local authority to arrange a ceremony. You do not need to telephone.

After the ceremony, I need to return my biometric card - can I still travel?

 

You cannot use your naturalisation certificate for travelling, and you should bear in mind when booking for your ceremony that you may not be able to travel until you have received your new passport.

Once you have attended your citizenship ceremony you will need to return your biometric card within 5 days to the address printed on the Home Office invitation letter, or you may be liable for a fine of £1,000.

If you do not have a biometric card and have a stamp in the passport, you will not need to do anything.