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Update as at 11th August 2020

There has been recent guidance from the General Register Office and the Home Office regarding Citizenship ceremonies. Local Authorities are now able to reintroduce citizenship ceremonies where they can do so safely in accordance with health and safety guidance.

In addition, the time available to book a ceremony, if you had already received an invitation letter before lockdown, has been adjusted to a six-month extension from the start of the lockdown date (23rd March 2020). This will mean that a ceremony will need to be attended by 23rd September 2020.

In line with and in order to comply with current UK Government Covid-19 guidelines and the legal requirements for social distancing, it has been necessary to secure an alternative venue for us to host Citizenship Ceremonies within Gloucestershire at this time.

We are now working to make this alternative venue Covid-19 secure and suitable for our new Citizens.

We are pleased to say that we are looking at resuming Citizenship Ceremonies in Gloucestershire towards the end of August.

The safety of our Citizens and Staff must remain our highest priority at this time.

We will be in touch as soon as we are in a position to confirm your ceremony.

Ceremonies in Gloucestershire

The government announcement (23 June 2020) stated that marriage and civil partnership ceremonies can resume from Saturday 4 July 2020. The government has indicated that up to 30 people may be permitted in the ceremony room subject to:

The venue and the room being available for use and suitably risk assessed as COVID secure and the number of people in the room is compliant with social distancing rules.

Please click here for full details how a ceremony will look in Gloucestershire with the current government restrictions.

We will be contacting couples in priority order if these restrictions affect your planned ceremony date.

We are currently unable to take any new bookings for Ceremonies to take place during the remainder of 2020. This is due to the need to accommodate bookings that have been unable to go ahead due to the Government restrictions

If you need to contact us about a ceremony, please email ceremonies@gloucestershire.gov.uk

Face coverings guidance (Effective from 31st August 2020)

Anybody attending a registration office for an appointment must wear a face covering unless they are exempt from doing so under Government guidelines.   

  1. Celebrate with us
  2. Citizenship ceremonies

Citizenship ceremonies

Citizenship ceremonies give added significance to attaining citizenship and provide an occasion at which you, your family and close friends can celebrate a life defining moment.

In Gloucestershire we understand becoming a British citizen is a significant event in your life. As a British citizen, you are joining a community made up of many different backgrounds, cultures and faiths.

Who attends a ceremony?

It is mandatory for all new British Citizens over 18 years old to attend a citizenship ceremony.

When your application for British Citizenship is successful the Home Office will send you a letter to confirm this and invite you to attend a ceremony. This letter will tell you how to contact us about attending a ceremony.

You must bring your Home Office letter, along with the confirmation of your ceremony booking, with you to the ceremony. Please also bring a form of photographic identification (passport, travel document, or photo card driving licence).

Group Ceremonies

   

Usually you will attend a group ceremony with other new British Citizens. Group ceremonies are held twice a month at the Corinium Suite, Gloucester Coroners Court, Corinium Avenue, Gloucester. A registration officer will conduct the ceremony. A local dignitary and either the Chairman or Vice Chairman of the County Council will also be present to welcome you to Gloucestershire, and remind you of the rights and responsibilities associated with being an active member of your local community.

At the end of the ceremony you will be presented with your certificate of British citizenship and a welcome pack.

There is no charge for this ceremony as it is included in the fee that you paid when making your application for British Citizenship.

For a group ceremony Citizens may invite up to two guests

Individual Ceremonies

You can choose to have your own individual ceremony, where you can invite two guests or more. Individual ceremonies are held every Wednesday morning at Cheltenham Register Office, St. Georges Road, Cheltenham at a fee of £140.  For more information please contact our team at the Cheltenham Register Office cheltro@gloucestershire.gov.uk or on 01242 532465. 

Please note that you must arrange your ceremony before making a payment

To pay for your individual ceremony click here.

Please follow the instructions to make your payment. You will receive an automatic receipt once payment is made.  Please be advised that your ceremony will be cancelled if payment is not received.

 If you have any problems with the online payment system, please email us immediately, using your home office number as reference at cheltro@gloucestershire.gov.uk  so that we can resolve issues and avoid cancellation.  Please note that any issues raised will be dealt with on the next working day.

 

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