Citizenship Ceremonies and Life in the UK Tests

The idea of such ceremonies was first trailed in the present Government's second White Paper on Immigration and Nationality, published in 2001 and called –Secure Borders Safe Haven”.

The proposals were given legislative effect by Section 3 of the Nationality Immigration and Asylum Act 2002. Schedule 1 contains the details.

The Oath of Allegiance taken by all adult applicants of sound mind, remained the same, and has in fact been virtually unchanged for centuries. What is new is the Citizenship Pledge, which reads as follows:
–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”

All applicants are now required to pay an additional fee with their applications, to pay for this new Ceremony.

Ceremonies will be performed by the local Registrar of Marriages, Births and Deaths of the district in which the applicant lives. The form and content of the ceremonies themselves are being piloted at 8 different localities in the UK, before the programme is rolled out nationwide.

It is intended that the Home Office will now send the Certificate of Naturalisation directly to the Registrar, to be handed over to the applicant once the Oath and Pledge have been administered at the ceremony.

Families or friends may also attend the ceremony with the successful applicant.

Persons who are nationals of a Commonwealth country where the Sovereign is already their Head of State would not have to take the Oath, but would still have to take the Pledge.

Schedule 1 also exempts British Overseas Territory Citizens from having to undertake the Ceremony, although a Citizenship Oath and Pledge is still required, as set out in Schedule 5.

The Government has also kept its pledge to introduce the concept of testing an applicantsŒ knowledge of life in the UK, as a requirement of their being naturalised under Section 6 of the 1981 Act.

The required reading for the test, is set out in a Handbook published by the Stationery Office, called –Life in the UK: a Journey to Citizenship”.

Applicants must sit the test at their nearest testing centre, and pass it with a score of 75% or more. The test is presently composed of a series of multiple-choice questions (4 potential answers) over 45 minutes, on a dedicated computer situated in the testing centre. The fee is approximately £40. Successful applicants receive a Test Certificate, which they must include with their naturalisation application to the Home Office. Passing the test also satisfies the English language requirement. There are only limited exemptions for applicants, chiefly relating to the elderly and infirm.