Citizenship Ceremonies
Under the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002, all applicants aged 18 years or over who are accepted for naturalisation or registration as a British Citizen must take a citizenship oath or pledge at a citizenship ceremony.
The heart of the citizenship ceremony will involve prospective citizens making either an oath or affirmation to Her Majesty the Queen and a pledge of loyalty to the United Kingdom after which a certificate will be presented.
Here on the islands, citizenship ceremonies are provided by the Council of the Isles of Scilly in the Register Office.
Procedure:
Once the applicant has received their letter of approval from the Home Office they should contact the Registration Department to arrange a date and time for the ceremony. An applicant is required to attend a ceremony within three months of the approval being given otherwise they may have to make a new application.
Guests:
You are welcome to bring guests with you to your ceremony, however, space will be limited to 6 persons including yourself.
The Ceremony:
The applicant and any guests should arrive 10 minutes before the ceremony is due to start as documentation needs to be checked.
The ceremony will normally comprise of the following:
- Introduction and welcome
- Address by local dignitary
- Taking or affirming the Oath and Pledge
- Address by the Superintendent Registrar
- Presentation of the Citizenship certificate
The Home Office will send a copy of the Oath and Pledge to all applicants.
As the Oath is made to Almighty God you may wish to bring a holy book. This is a personal matter and is not something that is required for the purpose of the citizenship ceremony. If preferred, allegiance can be affirmed, rather than sworn before God.
Documents:
Applicants must bring their Home Office approval letter and some form of photograph identity, e.g, passport, photograph driving licence.
Cost:
There is no charge for a citizenship ceremony in the Register Office as they are funded by the Home Office.
If you need further information or wish to book a citizenship ceremony then please contact the Superintendent Registrar, Sarah Handy, at the Register Office.
The Register Office hours of opening are Tuesday and Thursday 9 to 10.30 or you can email: registration@scilly.gov.uk
The Register Office telephone number is (01720) 424321. This is only regularly manned during the office hours as above but there is an answer phone at all other times.
