If you are aged 18 years or over, you must attend a citizenship ceremony to become a British citizen. You will receive your citizenship certificate at the ceremony.
If you are under 18 years old, you don't need to attend a citizenship ceremony. A family member can collect your certificate on your behalf. However, you can attend a ceremony if you would like to.
Please do not book a citizenship ceremony unless the Home Office has told you to do so.
Where and when to book your citizenship ceremony
The Home Office will contact you to confirm when your citizenship application has been approved. They will then invite you to book a citizenship ceremony.
You must attend a citizenship ceremony within three months of the Home Office invitation.
Please note that spaces may not be available for several weeks. We recommend you book as soon as you receive the invitation from the Home Office.
The Home Office invitation will also tell you which council to contact for your citizenship ceremony. Please check you are booking with the correct council or your ceremony will not be able to go ahead.
You can only book a citizenship ceremony with us if the Home Office has told you to contact Peterborough City Council. We are a different council to Cambridgeshire.
If you wish to change the location of your citizenship ceremony, you will need to contact the Home Office and ask them to authorise this. If they agree, they will send instructions to the relevant councils for your citizenship certificate to be transferred.
What happens at a citizenship ceremony
A citizenship ceremony is an enjoyable and celebratory event to mark the big step in your life of becoming a new British citizen.
At the ceremony, you must make an Oath or Affirmation of Allegiance to His Majesty the King and make a Pledge of Loyalty to the United Kingdom. This means you promise to respect the rights, freedoms and laws of the United Kingdom. There will also be speeches made by local dignitaries and we will sing the National Anthem.
During the ceremony, you will be presented with your citizenship certificate confirming your British citizenship.
We serve refreshments at group ceremonies and would be delighted if you would stay for this at the end.
Documents to take to the ceremony
Please remember to take:
- Valid photographic identification, such as a passport or driving licence
- The letter or email sent to you by the Home Office inviting you to book your citizenship ceremony - you can bring this printed or show on a device
You will not be able to attend the ceremony without these documents.
What to wear
A citizenship ceremony is a formal occasion so please dress smartly.
Options for your citizenship ceremony
There are two options for citizenship ceremonies – group or private.
Group citizenship ceremonies
We hold group citizenship ceremonies several times a month on a weekday afternoon. We will let you know the location and available dates when you contact us.
- No fee for the ceremony
- Ceremony lasts 30 minutes
- You can bring one guest only (they will sit separately from the new citizens)
- Refreshments served afterwards
- Attended by local dignitaries
- Designated photographer who will take a photo of your certificate presentation
We do not allow private photos to be taken during the ceremony, but you can take them afterwards at the reception.
Private citizenship ceremonies
We usually hold private citizenship ceremonies at Peterborough Register Office by arrangement. They take place on weekdays only. We will discuss available dates and times when you contact us.
- Fee of £250 for the private ceremony
- Ceremony lasts 20 minutes
- Bring up to 10 guests
- No refreshments are served
- No attendance by local dignitaries
- You may take your own photographs
The £250 fee will cover multiple members of the same family. For example, a couple and their child, all becoming British citizens, would only pay one £250 fee.
Book your citizenship ceremony
To book either a group or private ceremony, please contact us:
- Telephone: 01733 864646 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)
- Email: peterboroughregisteroffice@peterborough.gov.uk
When you contact us, please tell us your:
- Full name (of each person attending as a new citizen)
- Email address
- Telephone number
- Home Office reference number
- Preferred dates and times
- Preference of a group or private ceremony
Please note if you lose your citizenship certificate, you will need to contact the Home Office. We cannot supply replacements or copies.