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Hi

We've just received confirmation that our citizenship applications have been approved (HSMP/Tier 1/ILR) and have booked to attend the citizenship ceremony.

I'm wondering, though, whether we can/should take our 3 year old with us to the ceremony or whether we need to get someone to look after him for us.

How long are these ceremonies generally (ours will be in Southwark)? Is it something like a graduation ceremony so that there's a long wait while each person goes across the stage? Do people normally take kids?

Children can attend but will not be able to sit with you and will have to be accompanied by someone to sit in the separate section for guests attending with people receiving their certificates and the child will have to be kept quiet too.

The ceremony is not long, depending on how many people attend. My ceremony was about 30 minutes with 46 people attending to receive their certificates.

People are called up individually to receive their certificates after the oath and to possibly pose for an official photograph.

You can speak to the council regarding this who will be better able to advise you on this.

I believe children are not allowed unless they are accompanied by the adult who is not participating in the ceremony.

Ceremonies will take upto an hour (Mine took about an hour). You can also confirm this with Southwark council.

You can also book ceremony separately so that one can look after the baby whilst other can attend ceremony.

Thanks for the replies.

Sounds like we'll need to drop the 3 year old off with a friend on the way there.