Organise your British citizenship ceremony

Booking your Citizenship ceremony

If you've received your Home Office invitation letter confirming your certificate has been sent to us, you can now book your ceremony by emailing us at: citizenship@brighton-hove.gov.uk.

Although the Home Office letter states that you should contact the local authority to arrange a ceremony within 21 days from the date of the letter, you have up to 3 months to attend a ceremony.

When you email us to request a ceremony, it's the same as contacting the local authority to arrange a ceremony. You do not need to telephone.

Let us know whether you would prefer a group or private ceremony. Further information on these options is available below.

We'll respond as soon as possible to offer you the earliest available date. Allow 3 working days for us to respond.

Group Citizenship ceremonies

Group ceremonies take place once a month, usually on Mondays. We hold 2 ceremonies on the day at either 11am or 2pm. Each ceremony hosts 30 new citizens. Each may bring a guest. 

Group ceremonies are formal public events and are attended by civic dignitaries. 

Ceremonies take place in the Council Chamber at: 

Brighton Town Hall,

Bartholomews,

Brighton,

BN1 1JA

On the day

You need to arrive 30 minutes before the start of the ceremony. Ceremonies will take about 1 hour. A civic reception in the Council Chamber Ante-Room follows group ceremonies. The Mother’s Union provides refreshments.

You must bring along with you: 

• your Home Office Invitation Letter, if you have received it – a scan or photo is fine 
• an original photo identity document, such as a passport or driving licence 
• Home Office Invitation Letters for your children (if applicable) 

An official photographer is present at public ceremonies to take portrait photographs of you. These can be purchased from the photographer after the ceremony. An additional passport photo service is also offered on the day. 

Private Citizenship ceremonies

Private ceremonies take place weekly, usually on a Tuesday. An alternative day of your choice can be arranged subject to availability. We are closed on Sundays.  

Private ceremony fees

 Ceremonies take place in the Regency Suite at: 

Brighton Town Hall,

Bartholomews,

Brighton,

BN1 1JA

On the day

You need to 10 minutes before your ceremony. A private ceremony will last about 20 minutes. You may invite up to 10 guests on a weekday or 30 on a Saturday. 

The ceremony is led by the Superintendent Registrar or a Deputy and is not attended by civic dignitaries.  

You must bring along with you: 

• your Home Office Invitation Letter, if you have received it – a scan or photo is fine. 
• an original 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 to take portrait photographs of you and provide a passport photo service on the day, subject to availability.

At the ceremony

There will be a formal welcome on behalf of the City of Brighton & Hove. 

During the ceremony, you will need to make an oath of allegiance (swear by Almighty God) or an affirmation of allegiance (secular) to HM King Charles III.

Your naturalisation certificate will be presented to you, and the ceremony concludes with the national anthem. 

Read more information about the ceremony here.

After the ceremony

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

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, you can email Citizenship.Support@homeoffice.gov.uk

Key documents

Certificate of naturalisation

You will receive your certificate at the ceremony.

British passport

When you receive your 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.

Biometric card

You cannot use your naturalisation certificate for travelling and may not be able to travel until you have received your new passport.

Once you have attended your citizenship ceremony you will need to return your biometric card within 5 days to the address printed on the Home Office invitation letter, or you may be liable for a fine of £1,000.

If you do not have a biometric card and have a stamp in the passport, you will not need to do anything.