Citizenship Ceremony can only be booked after you have received an official invitation to do so from the Home Office.

Citizenship ceremonies are a special event and the last legal requirement for those who have chosen to become British citizens. These events are a celebration of the diversity and inclusiveness of the United Kingdom and a special occasion for the new citizens and their families and friends.

Citizenship ceremonies take place each month at our Ipswich and Bury St Edmunds offices. We also offer ceremonies at the Lowestoft and Stowmarket offices throughout the year.

You must attend a citizenship ceremony within 3 months of your notification of citizenship from the Home Office.

Your Certificate of Naturalisation as a British Citizen will be issued to you at the end of the ceremony.

If you have received your official invitation from the Home Office, you can book your Citizenship Ceremony here:

Book your Citizenship Ceremony

A citizenship ceremony is a formal occasion that marks an individual's commitment to upholding the rights and responsibilities of being a British citizen, celebrates the diversity and inclusiveness of the United Kingdom and formally welcomes the new British citizens.

This is a formal occasion. You are very welcome to dress in your native traditional wear or formal military uniform if you have one, however, this is not a requirement.

During the ceremony, each applicant will swear or affirm an Oath of Allegiance to the King and a Pledge of Loyalty to the United Kingdom.

You will be issued with details of the Oath and Pledge before the ceremony.

The National Anthem will be played during the ceremony.

You are welcome to bring a maximum of two guests with you.

Please arrive 30 minutes before the Ceremony is scheduled to start to ensure we can complete the registration procedures prior to the commencement of the Ceremony.

Following the ceremony, light refreshments will be available, please feel free to stay.

If you are intending to travel to your ceremony by car, please be advised that there is no public parking at the Register Offices, please allow sufficient time.

If you wish to swear the allegiance on a holy book, please remember to bring the book with you to the ceremony. The Council does not provide copies of holy books.

We are committed to ensuring a welcoming experience for all. If you or your guests require wheelchair access or will be bringing a baby pushchair, please let us know in advance by contacting the office on 0345 6072050 or emailing in to citizenship@suffolk.gov.uk so we can ensure everything is prepared for your ceremony.

Our Register Offices

Bury St Edmunds	7 Angel Hill, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 1UZ bury.registrars@suffolk.gov.uk 0345 607 2060
Ipswich	Endeavour House, 8 Russell Road, Ipswich, IP1 2BX ipswich.registrars@suffolk.gov.uk 0345 607 2050
Lowestoft	Conference Room, Riverside, 4 Canning Road, Lowestoft, NR33 0EQ lowestoft.registrars@suffolk.gov.uk 0345 607 2070
Stowmarket	Milton House, Milton Road South, Stowmarket, IP14 1EZ stowmarket.registrars@suffolk.gov.uk 0345 607 2080

Private Citizenship Ceremonies can be arranged at a time and date convenient for you.

From 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027 the weekday ceremony fee at a Register Office room is £200 per person. The fee for a ceremony in one of our ceremony rooms is £420 up to £530, depending on the time and location.

To book please call 0345 607 2050.

Please arrive 15 minutes before the Ceremony is scheduled to start to ensure we can complete the registration procedures prior to the commencement of the Ceremony.

If you are intending to travel to your ceremony by car, please be advised that there is no public parking at the Register Offices so please allow sufficient time.

If you wish to swear the allegiance on a holy book, please remember to bring the book with you to the ceremony. The Council will not provide copies of holy books.

We are committed to ensuring a welcoming experience for all. If you or your guests require wheelchair access or will be bringing a baby pushchair, please let us know in advance by contacting the office on 0345 6072050 or emailing in to citizenship@suffolk.gov.uk so we can ensure everything is prepared for your ceremony.

Alternatively, please call our Ipswich Office on 0345 607 2050 to book or email citizenship@suffolk.gov.uk.

Citizenship ceremonies

The ceremony

The Ceremony

Required documents

Private Ceremonies

Applying for British Citizenship