If you have received your Home Office invitation letter, you can now arrange your citizenship ceremony in Rotherham.
You can choose between a group or a private citizenship ceremony.
Group Ceremonies
The group ceremony comes at no cost, and you can bring two guests with you. These ceremonies usually take place at the Town Hall. Light refreshments are provided prior to the ceremony taking place and a dignitary will be in attendance to talk to new citizens and present certificates during the ceremony. Photographs can be taken with the dignitary and new citizens after the main ceremony has taken place.
Please note your guests do not sit with you during the ceremony and as such children should not be guests on their own without another adult to supervise them.
When you book online, your ceremony will not be confirmed until you have emailed the Registration Service a copy of your Home Office invitation letter – the contact email for this is shown on the final screen of the online booking.
Private Ceremonies
If you choose a private citizenship ceremony this can accommodate the new citizen and 3 guests. A private ceremony can take place on a weekday by prior appointment and carries a fee of £180. This fee is subject to annual increase.
Please note that private ceremonies do not take place at the Town Hall with a Civic Dignitary present, these are instead held at Riverside House in the Register Office or at Clifton Park Museum.
The Registration Service will confirm which venue your ceremony is booked for, the venue is dependant upon room availability.
What happens during the ceremony
A Superintendent Registrar will lead the ceremony. If a dignitary is present, they will usually make a speech during the ceremony to all new citizens present.
You are required to make an oath of allegiance to His Majesty the King either by affirming your commitment or swearing by Almighty God. If you wish to swear the religious allegiance to the the king are wish for the presence of your religion’s holy book, you are welcome to bring your own copy for this purpose if you wish. You are presented with your citizenship certificate by either the Dignitary (group ceremonies only) or the Superintendent Registrar then stand and observe the playing of the national anthem of the United Kingdom.
You will receive a small commemorative gift during the ceremony to welcome you as a new British Citizen.
How to book your ceremony
If you wish to attend a group ceremony at the Town Hall which is free of charge and attended by a dignitary, you can book online.
Book to attend a group ceremony
If you would prefer to pay for a private ceremony at the Register Office or Museum, you need to complete this online form and a member of our ceremonies team will get in contact with you to discuss this further. Filling in the enquiry form for a private ceremony does not make a booking.