From 1 January 2004, the Government, within the provision of the Nationality, Immigration & Asylum Act 2002, decided that, as the final step in the process of becoming a British Citizen, a person (aged 18 or over) must attend a Citizenship Ceremony, where they will make an oath/affirmation of allegiance to Her Majesty the Queen and a pledge of loyalty to the United Kingdom.
During our first ceremony in
2004 Falkirk welcomed
Erdogan Shakir to British
citizenship
The ceremony is intended to celebrate the significance of becoming a British citizen and welcome the new citizen into his or her community.
Every authority within the United Kingdom must make arrangements to hold citizenship ceremonies and the ceremonies must be conducted by a registrar or assistant registrar.
Prospective new citizens apply to the Home Office and as well as fulfilling all the immigration laws they will have to sit knowledge test on "Life in the United Kingdom" and be able to speak and understand our language (see Home Office criteria).
Notification and ceremony process
Each week the Home Office will notify a nominated person within a Council in respect of any prospective new citizens and their certificates are sent by a secure mail courier service. Jeanette Rogers is Falkirk's nominated contact and is responsible for the planning and organising of ceremonies within Falkirk.
Falkirk's newest citizens at a
ceremony in 2007
The venue for ceremonies is the Municipal Chambers, Grangemouth, and before each ceremony the room is prepared by displaying the official portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, and the Union Jack and Saltire flags. The ceremony will be lead by a registrar or assistant registrar and attended by the Provost and other local dignitaries.
As explained above, each prospective new citizen will be called to take the oath/affirmation of allegiance and pledge of loyalty|, after which they will be presented with their Certificate of Citizenship and a commemorative gift from Falkirk as a memento of this special occasion. The ceremony concludes with the playing of the national anthem.
The new citizens |can now all apply to for a British passport, have their name on the electoral register and have the right to vote.