Citizenship

Under the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002, all applicants aged 18 years or over who are accepted for naturalisation or registration by the Home Office as a British citizen, must take a citizenship oath and pledge (promises to be a good and loyal citizen) at a citizenship ceremony.

Children who are granted citizenship do not have to take a citizenship oath or pledge or have to attend a ceremony. If you have reached the age of 18 by the time your application has been agreed you will have to attend a ceremony even if you made your application as a child. If applications for children under the age of 18 have been made as part of a family group, they will be invited to attend the citizenship ceremony with their parents.

East Riding Registration Service offer group ceremonies in The Old Library at Champney Treasure House once per month. Private ceremonies may be arranged to take place in the registration offices at Beverley, Bridlington and Goole.

Find your nearest registration office

Group ceremonies may involve up to 25 new citizens, each may be accompanied by two guests. You may prefer to have a private ceremony just for yourself and your family; you may bring more guests to a private ceremony. A private ceremony can be arranged for an additional fee.

The fee for a group ceremony is included in the fee paid to the Home Office at the time of your application. A list of the fees for ceremonies is available below.

Our Private Ceremony offers you the chance to swear or affirm allegiance to the Monarch alongside your guests, in a private and personal environment. Free from public attendance, it allows you to celebrate this meaningful moment surrounded by more friends and family. It can at a time of your choosing at any of our Registration Offices or approved venues.

East Riding of Yorkshire approved venues for ceremonies.

We will receive paperwork from the Home Office informing us that you need to attend a ceremony. We will invite you to the next available group ceremony. You may choose to have a private ceremony at this stage.

When you receive your invitation letter from the Home office please email citizenship@eastriding.gov.uk to arrange a date for your ceremony.

Find your nearest registration office

When you arrive at the ceremony, the Ceremonies Officers will check your identity and confirm that the personal details entered on your certificate are correct. You will be asked to bring some photo identity with you, together with your home office letter and our letter confirming your attendance at the ceremony.

During your ceremony, you must make an oath of allegiance, or you can make an affirmation if you prefer not to swear by God and also a pledge. These are promises that you will be a good and loyal citizen of the United Kingdom. The Ceremonies Officer will read out the words that have to be spoken and you will be asked to repeat them. Everyone will then be asked to stand while the national anthem is played. At the end of the ceremony, you will be presented with your citizenship certificate and a small gift from the council.

Afterwards, you have the opportunity of having your photograph taken with your guests.

Anyone wishing to renew their oath of allegiance may do so in one of these ceremonies.