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Northumberland County Council

Citizenship ceremonies | Naming Ceremonies | Partnership Ceremonies

Citizenship Ceremonies

As of 1st January 2004 The Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 includes a provision requiring all successful applicants for naturalisation or registration as a British Citizen, who are aged 18 or over, to take an oath and pledge at a citizenship ceremony, unless exempted by the Home Secretary.

The citizenship ceremony is intended to celebrate the significance of becoming a British citizen and welcome the new citizen into his or her community. It is envisaged that new citizens attending a citizenship ceremony will wish to celebrate the acquisition of citizenship with their family and friends who will be welcome at the ceremony subject to necessary restrictions imposed because of the capacity of the available accommodation. Although there is no legal requirement for persons under 18 years of age to attend the ceremony and take the oath and pledge it is the Government's intention to treat the ceremony as a family, as well as a community occasion seeing young people participating with their parents at the ceremony.
The ceremony must take place within 3 months of the applicant being informed that his or her application has been successful. The fee for the ceremony is £68 payable along with other fees to the Home Office when applying for naturalisation or registration as a British citizen.
The Home Office will advise Northumberland County Council the names of all prospective citizens, whereupon we will contact them and advise on all aspects of the ceremony.
Generally, all ceremonies will take place at the County Hall, Morpeth, Northumberland, although, at an extra cost there are provisions which allow for ceremonies to take place at other venues.
For anyone interested in applying for or questions about British Citizenship should contact the Home Office directly as follows: -
Home Office, Managed Migration, Nationality Group, PO Box 306, 3rd Floor, India Buildings, Water Street, Liverpool. L2 0QN. Telephone 0151 2375200.

Further information can be obtained from the Home Office website at www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk

Naming Ceremonies

A naming ceremony is an extra special way of celebrating your child's birth, or welcoming a new child into the family. It is an essential rite of passage in a world, which today, is only to keen to ignore these special events.

It is an opportunity for you to declare before family and friends your pledge and promise to your child. It is an occasion for you to declare your ever-lasting commitment to the development of your child and your support for the future.

There will obviously be some questions, which you wish to ask, for example:

“Is the ceremony just for babies?”

No it can be for a child of any age

"Is there a certificate?”

Yes, a Record of Ceremony signed by the parents, Supporting Adults and Celebrant

“What will the ceremony be like?”

You have many choices to personalise your ceremony, so no two ceremonies will be alike. Once a deposit is paid you will be given a ceremony pack to help you plan your ceremony, and we will of course be here to help and advise. Although Naming Ceremonies have no legal status, this does not detract from a special, personal and meaningful ceremony. There are six essential sections: An Introduction and Welcome, Reading, Naming of the Child/Children, Parent(s) Promises, Promises by Supporting Adult's and Closing Words. You then have the option to add any of the following sections:- Reasons for the Name, Hope's for the Child's future, Parent's Vows to each other, Grandparent's Promises, Further Readings, Giving a Gift.

“Does the ceremony have any religious content?”

No, the ceremony is purely secular in nature

“How do I book?”

If the idea of a Naming Ceremony appeals to you:

Decide the venue and provisional book with the venue
Contact the Superintendent Registrar of the District in which the ceremony is to take place, to confirm availability, date and time (the venues will have the telephone number)
Contact the venue to make a confirmed booking
Finally contact Hexham Register Office, Tel No 01434 602355 who will carry out the administration function surrounding the ceremony, and will take a deposit and send you all the necessary information and paperwork.

It is possible to combine a Naming Ceremony with your Marriage or Renewal of Marriage Vows Ceremony. Registration Staff will happily answer these and many other questions, including choice of venues and fees.

Partnership Ceremonies

The government intends to pass legislation allowing for the legal recognition of same sex unions. This will be achieved in some measure by the introduction of Partnership Ceremonies, which will be conducted by Northumberland Registration Staff.

More information will be available in due course.

If there are any registration queries please do not hesitate to contact any Register Office.

Northumberland Registration Service aims to provide a friendly, efficient and above all first class service.