I Have Received My UK Citizenship Certificate, Am I Now British?

Contrary to what applicants may expect, receiving a positive decision on their naturalisation application does not mean they have become a British citizen.

Following the approval of the naturalisation application, they will receive an invitation to book their citizenship ceremony with their local authority within three months. During the pandemic this was extended to six months, and some councils continue to allow bookings for this period. Applicants should ensure they check with their local authority which rules apply before booking.

At the ceremony, they will recite the oath of affirmation (religious) or oath of allegiance (non-religious) and receive a UK citizenship certificate. It is only at the point they receive the UK citizenship certificate that they officially become a British citizen.

If the applicant fails to attend a UK citizenship ceremony within the time period specified by the local authority, they may be required to re-apply for naturalisation.

Gherson has extensive experience in assisting clients with naturalisation applications. In the event that you would like to discuss the possibility of making such an application, please do not hesitate to contact us for advice, send us an e-mail, or, alternatively, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn to stay-up-to-date.

The information in this blog is for general information purposes only and does not purport to be comprehensive or to provide legal advice. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the information and law is current as of the date of publication, it should be stressed that, due to the passage of time, this does not necessarily reflect the present legal position. Gherson accepts no responsibility for loss which may arise from accessing or reliance on information contained in this blog. For formal advice on the current law please do not hesitate to contact Gherson. Legal advice is only provided pursuant to a written agreement, identified as such, and signed by the client and by or on behalf of Gherson.

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