Citizenship
Becoming a British citizen is a significant event in your life, which
should be celebrated. As a Local Authority, it is our responsibility to
ensure that there is a ceremony arranged for you to attend. The following
information is intended to help answer some of the questions you may have
about becoming a British citizen:
How do I apply for British
citizenship?
An application for citizenship, also referred to as naturalisation, is made
under the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002. Application should
be made to the Home Office and further information on how to apply for
British citizenship can be obtained from the Border & Immigration Agency
website
 www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/britishcitizenship.
A test is now also required for either settlement (indefinite leave to
remain) in the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern
Ireland) or British citizenship. However, not everyone has to take the Life
in the UK Test. Visit
www.lifeintheuktest.gov.uk
to find out if you do. The test is
computer-based and only available to take at an accredited Life in the UK
Test centre in the United Kingdom.
What happens once my application has been approved?
You will receive a letter from the Home Office telling you that your
application has been successful and that you need to contact us. That letter
will give you our contact details and ask you to get in touch with us. At
the same time as you receive your letter from the Home Office, we will
receive your certificate of naturalisation.
When you contact us, we will arrange for you to attend the next citizenship
ceremony that is most convenient to you. We will also confirm other details
with you, such as whether you wish to take the oath or affirm your
allegiance and the number of guests you would like to attend the ceremony
with you.
Citizenship Ceremonies
In January 2004, the Government introduced citizenship ceremonies for people
who have been granted British citizenship. Successful applicants need to
attend a ceremony within three months of receiving their letter from the
Home Office, which confirms that their application has been successful.
The ceremony is arranged by the Local Authority and usually, you will be
able to attend a ceremony in the town or city where you live. In Sunderland,
we hold a ceremony every month, so there should be plenty of opportunity for
you to make arrangements.
The first ceremony in Sunderland was conducted on the 29th April 2004 and up
to the end of 2007, we've performed 62 ceremonies all together, welcoming
more than 560 new citizens from around the world.
Who needs to attend the ceremony?
- Every successful citizenship applicant aged over 18.
- Children under 18 who have applied do not have to attend, but are
also invited to the ceremony, particularly where other members of their
family will be receiving their certificates. If a child is unable to attend
the ceremony, another family member may collect the certificate on their
behalf.
- You may bring guests with you to the ceremony but we ask that you let
us know how many guests to enable us to make the appropriate catering
arrangements.
Where and when will the ceremony take place?
Most ceremonies will be held in the Civic Suite at the Civic Centre and we
usually have a ceremony every month. The ceremony will last up to 45 minutes
and we ask that you arrive up to an hour before the ceremony starts to
enable us to complete the administrative process.
What will happen at the ceremony?
Our Superintendent Registrar will perform the ceremony and there will be a
Welcome Address by the Mayor of Sunderland. You will be required to take an
oath or affirm your allegiance to Her Majesty the Queen. You will also need
to state a pledge of loyalty to the United Kingdom. The Mayor of Sunderland will present your certificate of naturalisation
to you and our photographer will be there to capture the occasion. You will also receive a gift from the Council to mark the occasion, an
engraved glass disc. Glass making is an industry synonymous with Sunderland
and is part of our heritage. Your gift is engraved with the Council's Coat
of Arms and a message to acknowledge your ceremony and becoming a British
citizen. It is made at the National Glass Centre, which is located in
Sunderland and the disc has a blue wave design to represent our famous
coastline.
You will also receive an information pack about local services and details
of how to apply for a British passport.
Do I take the Oath or Affirm my allegiance?
It is your choice whether you swear the oath or make an affirmation. Both
have the same meaning, promising that you will give your allegiance to the
Crown. The key difference between the two is that the oath is based upon
religious principles and the affirmation is not. If you wish to swear the
oath while holding a holy book you should bring one with you to the ceremony. The
words used for the pledge of loyalty will be the same whether you
swear or affirm your allegiance. Importantly, you don't need to remember the words, since they will be
printed in your ceremony booklet, which you will receive on the day. The
booklet is prepared specifically for you and your ceremony, with your
name and the date of your ceremony. One of our Registrars will lead you
through the oath or affirmation during the ceremony; all you need to do is
repeat the words out loud.
What is the wording of the oath, affirmation and citizenship pledge?
The wording of the oath is:
I (your name) swear by Almighty God that on becoming a British citizen, I
will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the
Second, her heirs and successors, according to law.
The wording of the affirmation is:
I (your name) do solemnly, sincerely and truly, declare and affirm that on
becoming a British citizen, I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, her heirs and successors, according
to law.
You will also be asked to make a declaration, which is the citizenship
pledge. The wording of this declaration is the same whether you choose to
swear an oath or affirm your allegiance. The wording is:
I will give my loyalty to the United Kingdom and respect its rights and
freedoms. I will uphold its democratic values. I will observe its laws
faithfully and fulfil my duties and obligations as a British citizen.
What do I need to bring with me to the ceremony?
Please bring with you the letter of invitation from the Home Office. Without
this we will be unable to go ahead with your ceremony.
Even though our photographer will be there, you may also wish to bring a
camera to take pictures on the day.
If you are swearing the oath of allegiance, you should bring a Holy
book of your choice with you.
What should I do now?
Once we have spoken to you, we will send you a letter confirming the date
and the details of the ceremony you have chosen. When you attend the ceremony, please remember to bring with you the
letter you received from the Home Office.
Do I have to attend a ceremony with other new citizens?
The ceremony is an essential part of the process of becoming a British
citizen, which welcomes you to our Nation and our community. Some of you may
already be recognised as part of our community and we hope that you will
continue to enjoy your new status in Sunderland. However, we recognise that
for many reasons, applicants may prefer the option of an individual ceremony
for only them or their family. We can arrange these ceremonies but there is an additional fee. The
format of the ceremony will be very similar and we would encourage you to
invite your friends and family members.
Anything else?
For any further information you need, please contact the Register Office on
0191 520 5509 or e-mail: registrars@sunderland.gov.uk
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