British Citizenship
Request a Citizenship Ceremony
We offer both Virtual Citizenship Ceremonies using Microsoft Teams, and group in-person ceremonies.
To request a ceremony, please use the button below and we will get back to you with a date and time. Please state any dates or times that you cannot do (not just Fridays) when booking in case your first choice is not available. Ceremonies are currently taking place virtually, with certificates posted or collected from George Meehan House afterwards.
Please only contact us to book a ceremony once you have received your Home Office invitation letter. It can take 3 to 4 months from being approved for citizenship to getting a Home Office Invitation letter. If after 3 months of being approved you have still not had a Home Office invitation letter, feel free to contact us. Although the Home Office says you should contact us within 21 days, you have 3 months from when approved to have a ceremony.
The Home Office will send your Certificate of Naturalisation to us around 2 working days after you get your Home Office invitation letter. We will not have your certificate and we will not be able to book your ceremony until you have received your Home Office Invitation Letter. Once we have your certificate, we will send you an email confirming which date and time to attend.
Please try to avoid contacting us or the Home Office to hurry up your certificate, as you may be stretching resources and further delaying the processing of citizens applications.
Group ceremony sizes are limited - we ask that where possible new citizens under 18 years of age do not attend. This will allow more people that do need to attend a ceremony to attend more quickly. Children under 18 do not need to attend and no guests are allowed at present. We do not have the space to host guests and there is no covered waiting area or public toilets at George Meehan House.
Please dress for the weather when coming to our building and wrap up warm, please bring an umbrella if it is raining and/or wear a hat if it is cold. All citizens must wear a face-covering inside the building unless they are exempt. Please also bring your own pen.
Getting your certificate
Your certificate will be given to you at your ceremony. If your ceremony took place virtually, we will send you your certificate by post, or you can collect it afterwards from George Meehan House.
About your Citizenship Ceremony
New Citizens are required to swear an Oath and make a Affirmation of Allegiance to the crown and a promise to be a good citizen.
The ceremony lasts about 20 minutes and includes:
- An introduction from the Superintendent Registrar
- A presentation of certificates by the Mayor of Haringey (only at group ceremonies), a past Mayor, special dignitary or Haringey councillor
- The National anthem
- And afterwards an opportunity to take photos.
Please note that unfortunately some service offers may be reduced due to COVID-19 restrictions. Please take a lateral flow test if coming to George Meehan House and stay away if you are ill.
The fees already paid to the Home Office cover the cost of the ceremony.
Oath (Swearing by God)
"I 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."
Affirmation (Non religious)
"I 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."
Arranging your Ceremony
New citizens will receive a letter from the Home Office informing them that they have been granted British Citizenship. At the same time, the Home Office will send us your certificate. The letter states you should call us within 14 days, but you have 3 months to have a ceremony. We cannot book an appointment for you until we have received your certificate. To book your ceremony please click on the appointment button above. Please use our Nationality Checking e-form if you have another enquiry.
Even if you are not a Haringey resident we are still happy for you to have your Citizenship Ceremony with us. Our venue is only 25 minutes from Central London via the nearby Wood Green Underground Station on the Piccadilly Line, making us the ideal venue if you need to get quickly to work after your ceremony.
If you live outside Haringey and wish to have your ceremony with us please state that you want to hold your ceremony in Haringey when applying for British citizenship.
Private Citizenship Ceremonies
Group ceremonies are free to attend, but we also offer private ceremonies for a fee - please call 020 8489 1775 or email with your contact details to: registrars@haringey.gov.uk
We will arrange a private ceremony for you and ask you to pay using our secure payment e-form.