Before you are able to attend a citizenship ceremony, you need to apply to the Home Office for British Citizenship. You may wish to make use of the 'National Checking' service offered by some Register Offices. This will assist you with the preparation of documents that will be required.
When can I book my ceremony?
When your application is complete, the Home Office will contact you. You will be asked to book a citizenship ceremony with your local Register Office. When we've received your documents from the Home Office we will send you a letter inviting you to attend the next group ceremony.
It is a legal requirement that anyone over the age of 18 who has been accepted for naturalisation or registration by the Home Office as a British Citizen must attend a citizenship ceremony. At the ceremony you are required to make a citizenship oath or affirmation to Her Majesty the Queen and a pledge of loyalty to the United Kingdom. You are given a certain period of time, which is normally three months from your acceptance, to attend a ceremony. Once that date has passed, the Certificate of Naturalisation is returned to the Home Office. You can request a transfer to another district if that is more convenient for you.
A group ceremony is normally held once a month on a week day at 2.30pm. These ceremonies take place in the Council Chamber of Wokingham Borough Council, Shute End, Wokingham. You will be asked to arrive 45 minutes before the ceremony begins.
What you will need to bring with you
You need to bring your invitation letter from the Home Office. You can not come to the ceremony without this document. You also need to bring some personal identification, such as a passport or driving licence.
Guests
You can invite up to two guests to the ceremony. Their names will need to be declared on the form provided and returned to us before the ceremony date. Children are welcome.
What happens at the ceremony?
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A registration officer gives a welcome, with speeches from the Borough Mayor and the Lord Lieutenant for Berkshire or his or her deputy
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Each applicant will then separately read from a card their oath or affirmation
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All applicants will then state their pledge of loyalty together
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Each applicant is then presented with their Certificate of Naturalisation from one of the dignitaries
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Finally, everyone is asked to stand whilst the National Anthem is played
The ceremony will take approximately one and a half hours.
Minors
People under 18 years of age do not have to attend the ceremony. A parent can collect their Certificate of Naturalisation on their behalf. A child can attend and read out their own oath or affirmation and pledge if they want to.
Photography
A professional photographer is not provided. You or your guests are allowed to take photographs during the ceremony. At the end of the ceremony the dignitaries are happy to have their photographs taken with you.
After the ceremony
All new citizens and their guests are invited to meet the dignitaries informally and have a cup of tea or coffee in the Mayor's office.
Private ceremony
If you prefer, or if you can not attend a group ceremony within the time allowed, you can have a private ceremony at the Register Office. This can be arranged with us, often at very short notice, for a fee. The cost is £110 per ceremony. All fees are reviewed 1 April each year.
Costs involved
Fees are as follows:
Register Office
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Monday to Friday - £116
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Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays - Not available
Wokingham Ceremony Room
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Monday to Thursday – £137
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Friday and Saturday – £242
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Sunday and Bank Holidays – Not available
Non Approved and Approved Premises
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Monday to Thursday - £131
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Friday and Saturday – £236
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Sunday and Bank Holidays - Price on request
Other Premises
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Monday to Thursday – Price on request
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Friday – £236
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Saturday – £236
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Sunday and Bank Holidays - Price on Request
