After you've successfully applied to become a British citizen, you'll receive a letter from us inviting you to book a place at a group citizenship ceremony, where you will be officially welcomed as a British citizen in front of your family and friends.
You can bring up to 4 guests to the ceremony.
Ceremonies take place in the Council Chamber, County Hall, Dorchester. The cost of the group ceremony is included in your citizenship application fee.
At the ceremony
Before the ceremony starts you'll be invited to meet with members of staff and local dignitaries.
The ceremony is led by a celebrant from Dorset Registration Service and a speech is given by a local dignitary.
You will have to make an oath of allegiance (or you can make an affirmation if you prefer not to swear by God) and a pledge. This means you'll promise to respect the rights, freedoms and laws of the UK.
At the end of the ceremony you'll be invited to sign the citizenship register and be presented with your certificate of British citizenship and a welcome pack.
The ceremony lasts about 45 minutes. There will be an opportunity for photographs to be taken at the end.
What you need to bring
There are 3 things you need to bring to the ceremony:
- the Home Office approval letter
- your invitation letter
- photo ID
Personal ceremonies
If you prefer, you can arrange for a personal ceremony which can be held elsewhere in the county. Please contact us for more details.
Cost
| Day of the week | 2023-2024 | 2024-2025 | 2025-2026 |
| Monday to Friday | £130 | £143 | £157 |
| Saturday | £267 | £294 | £323 |
Contact us
Contact us for more information about your citizenship ceremony.