Public ceremonies are held at the Royal Greenwich Register Office every Thursday in Woolwich Town Hall.

You should arrive at 1pm for a pre-ceremony registration. You need to arrive on time for registration as, if you arrive late, you can't be admitted to the ceremony and will have to arrange another date. 

We aim to make the ceremonies enjoyable and meaningful, and hope that they'll encourage new citizens to play an active part in their local community.

Because it's a formal occasion, we ask that you dress appropriately - no t-shirts or jeans - and that you participate fully throughout the ceremony.

The oath

All new citizens will be asked to either swear the oath or affirm the oath. If you decide to swear the oath you'll be swearing to God, while affirming the oath doesn't have any religious context.

The choice is down to you and must be confirmed with us.

The declaration

Swearing the Oath: 

I (your full name) swear by Almighty God that on becoming a British citizen, I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles the Third, his heirs and successors according to law.

Affirmation: 

I (your full name) do solemnly, sincerely and truly declare and affirm that on becoming a British Citizen I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles the Third, his heirs and successors according to law.

Both those who are swearing or affirming will then make the pledge of commitment:

I will give my loyalty to the United Kingdom and respect its rights and freedoms. I will uphold its democratic values. I will observe its laws faithfully and fulfil my duties and obligations as a British citizen.

The order of the day and both the oath and the pledge will be in your invitation pack. Both are repeated by the group after the superintendent registrar, so you don't have to memorise anything.

The rest of the ceremony

We also have an official photographer who'll photograph you with the dignitary as you receive your citizenship certificate and the photos will be ready by the end of the ceremony. 

At the end of the ceremony, we ask all new citizens as well as guests to sing your new national anthem, God Save The King. The words to the anthem will be in your welcome pack.