Citizenship ceremonies

If you are aged 18 or over and have been accepted as a British citizen, the law says you must attend a citizenship ceremony. We arrange these ceremonies locally through our registrars. Children under 18 do not have to attend, but many choose to, especially when family members are taking part.

The ceremony welcomes you as a British citizen and explains your rights and responsibilities.

Cost

Citizenship ceremonies are free.

Before the ceremony

Your ceremony is led by one of our registrars. Please arrive 20 to 30 minutes early and bring your Home Office invitation letter with you. You will need this to take part.

The Provost or Depute Provost of South Lanarkshire and the Lord Lieutenant for Lanarkshire may also attend.

What happens on the day

The registrar will check whether you have chosen to make an oath or an affirmation and will explain what will happen. You will be given a simple order of events.

The ceremony lasts about one hour. Candidates sit at the front, with guests seated behind. If you are making an oath, you may bring a holy book to hold. You will say the oath or affirmation together as a group. Prompt cards are provided, so you do not need to memorise the words.

You will then make a second pledge, also as a group.

Photos

To respect everyone’s privacy, you cannot take photos or videos during the ceremony. After the ceremony, the Provost and Lord Lieutenant are happy to join you for photographs.

After the ceremony

You will receive your citizenship certificate, a small gift, and an information pack about things like voting and getting a passport. Light refreshments are available at the end.

Need help?

If you have questions about your ceremony, contact us using the details in your invitation letter.