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• Contact Details
• How to find the Register Office
• Marriages and civil partnerships
• Registering a birth
• Naming ceremonies
• Arranging a citizenship ceremony
• Family history and certificates
• Nationality Checking Service
• Renewal of vows ceremonies
• Register a death

Please note: Translations are handled by an external website and are not endorsed by Peterborough City Council.

Arranging your citizenship ceremony

Anyone who has been granted British Citizenship and is 18 years of age or over has to attend a ceremony to receive their Naturalisation Certificate.

When and where?

When the Home Office grants permission for you to become a British citizen, you are invited by letter to contact us on 01733 864646.

We will make arrangements for you to attend a special group ceremony in the Council Chamber at the Town Hall in Peterborough. We usually hold our ceremonies twice a month on a Tuesday at 2.00pm. The cost of this has already been included as part of the fee you pay to the Home Office.

If the dates are inconvenient for you, we can offer a private ceremony at the register office. For further details on this and the costs involved please see below.

How?

When you telephone you will need to have your letter from the Home Office with you as we will need to refer to it when booking your ceremony.

We will then make all the arrangements for you to attend a ceremony. On the day of the ceremony, you may bring up to two guests. It is important to also remember to bring your letter from the Home Office and photo-identification (e.g. passport or driving licence).

Applicants less than 18 years of age do not have to attend a ceremony as their certificates may be collected by their parents.

What happens during the group ceremony?

You are warmly welcomed and received. The Superintendent from the register office leads the ceremony for the new citizens and their guests. During the ceremony you will be asked to either swear or affirm your loyalty to the United Kingdom followed by a pledge of allegiance to the Queen (you may bring a holy book with you to the ceremony if you wish).

The Mayor of Peterborough and a Dignitary are invited to attend. There will be speeches and you will be presented with your certificate of naturalisation by the Mayor at the end of the ceremony. You will receive a gift from the Register Office and an information brochure which includes how to make a passport application and how to vote. A photographer will be in attendance and you may have your photograph taken if you wish. We aim to make the ceremony special and memorable for you in honour of the importance of the occasion.

Afterwards you and your guests may take more photographs before joining The Mayor for tea and cake in the Reception room. A DVD showing what Peterborough has to offer will be playing and live music is usually provided by local schools. You are welcome and encouraged to talk and mix with other new citizens, the registration staff and the dignitaries. It is important to us that you enjoy the occasion so we do provide a questionnaire to receive your comments.

What happens during a private ceremony?

The warm welcome you receive is just as important. When ceremonies are held at the register office, they are for your convenience. The Mayor of Peterborough, a Dignitary or a photographer will not be in attendance and we do not offer refreshments afterwards. However, everything else will be incorporated to make the ceremony special and memorable for you in honour of the importance of the occasion.

The fee for a private citizenship ceremony at Peterborough Register Office is: