Citizenship ceremonies

Check availability and book your ceremony

Once you have received your Home Office invitation letter, you can now book your public group ceremony. Public group ceremonies are in person at Kensington Town Hall, and take place every Tuesday.

To make an online booking:

Start your ceremony booking

Private citizenship ceremonies

You can also choose a private citizenship ceremony. These are held in person at Chelsea Old Town Hall, with a registrar and take place in the morning every Friday. There is an additional fee of £239 to pay for a private ceremony per citizen.

We also offer an option for private ‘group’ citizenship ceremonies, which are ideal for a family or small group. A group is three or more adults booking a private group citizenship ceremony together. There is an additional fee of £117 to pay per adult citizen for a private group citizenship ceremony.

To book a private citizenship ceremony, email [email protected] and include your name, contact telephone number and your Home Office reference number. We will call you back to book your ceremony.

Frequently asked questions

I am attending a public group ceremony. What do I need to do?

Public group ceremonies take place in:

The Council Chamber
Kensington Town Hall
Hornton Street
London
W8 7NX

Please arrive 20 minutes before the start of the ceremony.

You must bring:

• your Home Office invitation letter, if you have received it. A scan or photo is fine
• a photo identity document, such as a passport or driving licence
• Home Office invitation letters for your children (if applicable)

An official photographer is usually present at public ceremonies to take portrait photographs of you. These can be purchased from the photographer after the ceremony.

I have a private ceremony. What do I need to do?

Private citizenship ceremonies take place at:

Kensington and Chelsea Register Office
Chelsea Old Town Hall
Kings Road
London
SW3 5EE

Please note that this is different from the address on your invitation letter.

You must bring:

• your Home Office invitation letter, if you have received it. A scan or photo is fine
• a photo identity document, such as a passport or driving licence
• Home Office invitation letters for your children (if applicable)

How long does a ceremony take?

Public group ceremonies will take about 1 hour. A private ceremony will last about 25 minutes.

How many guests can I bring to the ceremony?

For public group ceremonies, you can invite a maximum of two guests. For private ceremonies, you can invite three guests.

What happens during the ceremony?

Citizens will either swear or affirm an oath of allegiance to our sovereign King. They then make a public pledge to observe and uphold the laws of this country.

What happens after the ceremony?

Once you have attended a ceremony, we will inform the Home Office; you do not need to do this yourself.

How do I get my British passport?

When you receive your naturalisation certificate, you can apply for a UK passport online or by collecting an application from most main post offices. Visit the GOV.UK website for further details on how to apply online.

The Home Office letter states I have to book within 21 days, but my ceremony date is after this time frame.

The letter states that you should contact the local authority to arrange a ceremony within 21 days from the date of the letter, but you have up to three months to attend a ceremony.

When you book your ceremony online, it is the same as contacting the local authority to arrange a ceremony. You do not need to telephone.

After the ceremony, I need to return my biometric card - can I still travel?

You cannot use your naturalisation certificate for travelling, and you should bear in mind when booking for your ceremony that you may not be able to travel until you have received your new passport.If you do not have a biometric card and have a stamp in the passport, you will not need to do anything.

Once you have attended your citizenship ceremony you will need to return your biometric card within five days to the address printed on the Home Office invitation letter, or you may be liable for a fine of £1,000.

You must carefully read and follow the instructions on your invitation letter about returning your Biometric Residence Permit, if you have one. If you need any additional support, email [email protected].

There is an error on my certificate what should I do?

If there is any error on your naturalisation certificate you will need to return this together with any supporting documentation to the Home Office. Visit GOV.uk for further information.