The ceremony, your certificate and getting a passport

Congratulations on your approved citizenship application. Now comes the formal final step: attending your citizenship ceremony within three months. This is where you take the oath or affirmation, receive your certificate of British citizenship, and legally become British. Understanding what to expect, how to book, and what comes next will help you navigate this important milestone smoothly.

Booking Your Ceremony Through Your Council

After the Home Office approves your citizenship application, you will receive an invitation letter instructing you to attend a citizenship ceremony. The Home Office asks that you book within 21 days of receiving the letter, but you have up to three calendar months from the date of the letter to actually attend. This is a strict deadline—if you miss it without a valid reason, your approval may lapse and you will need to reapply and pay the fee again.

You book your ceremony directly with your local council's register office. The council name will be specified in your Home Office invitation letter. Most councils hold regular group ceremonies—often monthly or bi-weekly—which are included in your citizenship application fee at no extra cost. If you prefer a more private occasion or need a specific date, private ceremonies are usually available for an additional fee, typically £150 to £250 depending on your council.

1. Contact your local council register office by email, phone, or their online booking form
2. Provide your Home Office reference number and invitation letter details
3. Choose a group ceremony date or request a private ceremony
4. Confirm the documents you need to bring (see below)
5. Receive confirmation of your ceremony date and time

What Happens at the Ceremony

The Oath or Affirmation

This is the legal heart of the ceremony and the moment at which you formally become a British citizen. Adults must make one of two declarations. The Oath of Allegiance is the religious form, in which you swear by God to be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty the King, his heirs and successors according to law. The Affirmation of Allegiance is the secular equivalent—you make the same pledge without any religious element. Both are equally valid and result in identical legal status. Your certificate will not indicate which you chose.

The wording of both the oath and affirmation is fixed by law and cannot be changed. Both must be made in English. If you have difficulty with English, the ceremony official can speak slowly and clearly to help you follow along, and some councils may provide translations for reference. Since you have already passed the English language requirement as part of your application, the wording should be manageable.

The Citizenship Pledge

After the oath or affirmation, you will make the Citizenship Pledge, pledging to give your loyalty to the United Kingdom and to respect its rights and freedoms. Like the oath, this is spoken aloud, often together with all other new citizens attending that day. This pledge confirms your commitment to uphold the values and laws of the UK.

Receiving Your Certificate

After the pledge, the ceremony usually includes the national anthem and then each new citizen is called forward individually to receive their Certificate of British Citizenship from the ceremony official, often accompanied by a handshake. This certificate is the official document proving you are now a British citizen with the right to apply for a British passport and vote in elections. You will also receive an information pack with guidance on your next steps.

There is no dress code for the ceremony, though most people choose to dress formally. The ceremony typically lasts 60 to 90 minutes for group ceremonies. At the end, there is usually an opportunity for photographs—both informal group photos and sometimes a formal photo with the ceremony official. Some councils offer professional photography for an additional cost.

Documents to Bring

Without the correct documents, you will not be allowed to participate in the ceremony. The council will advise you of all required documents when you book. Standard requirements typically include:

• Your Home Office invitation letter to the ceremony
• Your confirmation email or letter from the council
• Photographic identification (passport, travel document, or driving licence)
• Any other documents specified by your council

Failure to bring these documents will result in the ceremony being cancelled and you having to reschedule for another date. Plan ahead and gather all documents well before your appointment.

Your Citizenship Certificate and What It Proves

Your Certificate of British Citizenship is an official government document that proves you are now a British citizen. It includes your full name, date of birth, the date you became a British citizen, and a certificate number. This certificate does not expire and should be kept safe, as you will need it for various purposes throughout your life.

However, it is important to understand what the certificate does and does not do. The certificate proves your right to British citizenship and is essential for your first passport application. It can be used to prove your citizenship status to employers, banks, and other organisations. But it is not a travel document. You cannot enter or leave the UK using only your citizenship certificate. To travel internationally as a British citizen, you must have a British passport.

Applying for Your British Passport

When to Apply

You can apply for a British passport as soon as you have received your citizenship certificate. You do not need to wait for any additional paperwork or permissions. Most new citizens apply for their passport immediately after the ceremony while the process is fresh in their mind and before they have plans to travel.

First Adult Passport Applications and Interviews

First-time adult passport applications (if you have never held a British passport before) are processed by HM Passport Office. The application is completed online through GOV.UK, and you will be instructed to send your citizenship certificate along with other supporting documents by post. The standard fee is £88.50.

Depending on your circumstances, you may be invited for an identity interview at a local passport office or passport interview service point. This interview is designed to verify your identity and confirm the details on your application. It is not an interrogation or a test of your knowledge. The official will simply check your documents, confirm your details match your application, and may ask basic questions about your identity and recent travel. If you are selected for an interview, the Passport Office will contact you directly to arrange an appointment.

What to Submit with Your Passport Application

When you apply online, you will need to gather and send:

• Your original citizenship certificate (it will be returned to you separately after processing)
• Your current foreign passport (some applications require this—check the online form)
• A digital passport photograph taken with the GOV.UK photo tool or from a passport photo booth
• Proof of your current address if required

Standard processing takes up to 10 weeks. Your passport and citizenship certificate are returned separately by post, so do not worry if one arrives before the other. If you need a passport urgently—for example, because you have travel plans before the standard processing time allows—you can book a one-day premium service at a passport office for an additional fee. You will need to attend an appointment in person with all your documents.

Travel Before You Have Your Passport

Your citizenship certificate is not a travel document and cannot be used to enter or leave the UK. Once you become British at the ceremony, your previous immigration status (eVisa or Biometric Residence Permit/BRP) immediately ends and is no longer valid for travel. You cannot use it to leave or re-enter the UK.

Until you receive your new British passport, you have limited travel options. If you hold a valid foreign passport from another country, you can continue to travel on that document—but you must always present it at UK borders when leaving and re-entering, as you are now a British citizen. Some countries do not allow dual citizenship, so becoming British may automatically affect your original citizenship; check with your home country's embassy in London before the ceremony if this applies to you.

Your BRP or eVisa After Citizenship

Your previous immigration permission (eVisa or Biometric Residence Permit) is automatically cancelled when you become a British citizen at the ceremony. You no longer need it to prove your right to live, work, or study in the UK. However, you should handle it carefully and responsibly.

If you still hold a physical Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) card, you should return it to the Home Office within five working days of your ceremony. The Home Office will provide you with written instructions and a freepost return address. Failure to return it may result in a fine. Do not destroy it yourself, as there may be record-keeping requirements. Some people keep expired BRPs for historical or family records purposes (for example, they may be relevant to proof of residence for children born while you held ILR), so contact the Home Office if you need clarification on your specific situation.

If your permission was in the form of an eVisa linked to a UKVI account, you do not need to formally cancel it. Your status is automatically updated in the Home Office system when you become British. However, you should update your records with any organisations that held copies of your immigration status—your employer, bank, HMRC (Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs), your GP (general practitioner), your local council for council tax purposes, and any other bodies you registered with.

After the Ceremony: Next Steps

1. Apply for your British passport online within days of receiving your certificate
2. Return your BRP if you have a physical card (within 5 working days)
3. Update your immigration status with HMRC, your employer, your bank, and your NHS GP
4. Register to vote (you can now vote in local, General, and European Parliament elections)
5. Apply for a National Insurance number if you don't already have one (needed for work and benefits)
6. Update your address on the electoral register
7. If you have children, consider whether they should apply for British passports too

Becoming a British citizen opens many doors and brings with it rights and responsibilities. Your citizenship is permanent and does not expire. You can now vote, stand for elected office (with some exceptions), access all publicly funded services without immigration restrictions, and travel internationally on a British passport. Welcome to your new status.