LumenHow long do I have to attend my British citizenship ceremony after approval?
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If you are 18 or over and your citizenship application is approved, you must attend a citizenship ceremony within 3 months of receiving the Home Office invitation. The £130 ceremony fee is included in your application fee. By law, an adult is naturalised only after making the oath and pledge at a ceremony.
Key facts
| What | The Home Office guidance says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Who must attend | Anyone 18 or over whose citizenship application succeeded | GOV.UK, Citizenship ceremonies |
| Deadline | Within 3 months of receiving the Home Office invitation | GOV.UK, Citizenship ceremonies |
| Who organises it | Your local authority; you book with them and bring the invitation | GOV.UK, Citizenship ceremonies |
| Cost | £130, included in the application fee; a private ceremony may cost more | GOV.UK, Citizenship ceremonies; Home Office fees table, 8 October 2026 |
| What happens | Oath (or affirmation) of allegiance and a pledge, then your certificate of British citizenship | GOV.UK, Citizenship ceremonies |
| Why it matters | An adult’s naturalisation certificate is not granted until the oath and pledge are made at a ceremony | British Nationality Act 1981, s. 42(2) |
| Your current status | Your permission to stay must last until the ceremony | GOV.UK, Check if you can become a British citizen |
| After the ceremony | Return your BRP within 5 working days of getting the certificate, or face a fine of up to £1,000 | GOV.UK, After you get your certificate |
The 3-month window
Once the Home Office approves your application, it sends an invitation. GOV.UK says you must attend a ceremony within 3 months of receiving it. Ceremonies are usually in groups; you can ask for a private one, which may cost extra. You can usually bring 2 guests.
Keep your permission to stay valid
GOV.UK says you need permission to stay in the UK until you are granted citizenship, and that permission must last until you have had your ceremony. Indefinite leave to remain and settled or pre-settled status count.
If you are abroad
You can ask the embassy or consulate where you live whether you can have the ceremony there, but GOV.UK says that if you applied for citizenship in the UK, you cannot have your ceremony abroad. If you are only away for a short time, you may be asked to postpone until you return, but you must still book within 3 months of the invitation.
After the ceremony
You receive your certificate of British citizenship at the end of the ceremony. The Home Office guidance says you must then send your biometric residence permit back within 5 working days of getting the certificate, even if it has expired; the fine for not doing so is up to £1,000. You cannot enter the UK with your certificate; you need a British passport or a certificate of entitlement.
Sources
- British Nationality Act 1981, section 42(2) (revised text, legislation.gov.uk) checked 2026-10-25
- GOV.UK: Citizenship ceremonies (Home Office) checked 2026-10-25
- Home Office immigration and nationality fees, 8 October 2026, section 10 "Nationality" (GOV.UK) checked 2026-10-25
- GOV.UK: Check if you can become a British citizen (Home Office) checked 2026-10-25
- GOV.UK: Apply for citizenship if you have indefinite leave to remain or 'settled status', section "After you get your certificate" (Home Office) checked 2026-10-25
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This is general information, not legal advice, and Lumen is not a law firm. Rules change and offices differ: check the official sources above before you act. Found something wrong or out of date? Write to support@lumen.observer.