42 Registration and naturalisation: citizenship ceremony, oath and pledge

1

A person of full age shall not be registered under this Act as a British citizen unless he has made the relevant citizenship oath and pledge specified in Schedule 5 at a citizenship ceremony.

2

A certificate of naturalisation as a British citizen shall not be granted under this Act to a person of full age unless he has made the relevant citizenship oath and pledge specified in Schedule 5 at a citizenship ceremony.

3

A person of full age shall not be registered under this Act as a British overseas territories citizen unless he has made the relevant citizenship oath and pledge specified in Schedule 5.

4

A certificate of naturalisation as a British overseas territories citizen shall not be granted under this Act to a person of full age unless he has made the relevant citizenship oath and pledge specified in Schedule 5.

5

A person of full age shall not be registered under this Act as a British Overseas citizen or a British subject unless he has made the relevant citizenship oath specified in Schedule 5.

6

Where the Secretary of State thinks it appropriate because of the special circumstances of a case he may—

a

disapply any of subsections (1) to (5), or

b

modify the effect of any of those subsections.

7

Sections 5 and 6 of the Oaths Act 1978 (c. 19) (affirmation) apply to a citizenship oath; and a reference in this Act to a citizenship oath includes a reference to a citizenship affirmation.

42A Registration and naturalisation: fee

1

A person shall not be registered under a provision of this Act as a citizen of any description or as a British subject unless any fee payable by virtue of this Act in connection with the registration has been paid.

2

A certificate of naturalisation shall not be granted to a person under a provision of this Act unless any fee payable by virtue of this Act in connection with the grant of the certificate has been paid.

42B Registration and naturalisation: timing

1

A person who is registered under this Act as a citizen of any description or as a British subject shall be treated as having become a citizen or subject—

a

immediately on making the required citizenship oath and pledge in accordance with section 42, or

b

where the requirement for an oath and pledge is disapplied, immediately on registration.

2

A person granted a certificate of naturalisation under this Act as a citizen of any description shall be treated as having become a citizen—

a

immediately on making the required citizenship oath and pledge in accordance with section 42, or

b

where the requirement for an oath and pledge is disapplied, immediately on the grant of the certificate.

3

In the application of subsection (1) to registration as a British Overseas citizen or as a British subject the reference to the citizenship oath and pledge shall be taken as a reference to the citizenship oath.