How to Find Naturalization Records

What Naturalization Records Tell You

Naturalization records document the process by which an immigrant became a United States citizen. These files are genealogical treasures because they often contain details that no other record provides, including the immigrant's exact birthplace, the date and port of arrival, and the names and ages of family members.

The Naturalization Process Through History

Understanding how the process worked helps you know what records to expect.

Before 1906: Decentralized Courts

Before September 1906, any court of record could grant citizenship. This means naturalization could happen in:

• Federal district and circuit courts
• State supreme courts
• County courts
• City courts
• Even territorial courts

This decentralization means records are scattered across hundreds of different courthouses and archives.

After 1906: Centralized Process

The Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization (later split into two separate agencies) standardized the process in 1906. From this point forward, records follow a consistent format and copies were sent to a central office in Washington, D.C.

The Two-Step Process

Most naturalizations involved two main steps:

Declaration of Intention (First Papers)

The immigrant filed a declaration of intention to become a citizen. This document typically recorded:

1. Full name and personal description
2. Country of birth and allegiance
3. Date and port of arrival
4. Name of the ship (for those arriving by sea)

After 1906, declarations also included a photograph, occupation, and the names of spouse and children.

Petition for Naturalization (Second Papers)

After a waiting period (typically five years), the immigrant filed a petition for naturalization. This document was even more detailed:

• Current address and occupation
• Marital status and spouse's name
• Names, ages, and birthplaces of all children
• Dates and details of arrival
• Names of witnesses who could attest to the applicant's character

Certificate of Naturalization

Upon approval, the new citizen received a certificate of naturalization. The court retained a stub or copy.

Where to Find Naturalization Records

USCIS Genealogy Program

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) maintains naturalization records and offers a genealogy program for researchers. You can request searches of:

• Certificate files (C-Files) from 1906 onward
• Alien registration forms (A-Files) from 1944 onward

Requests are made online and require a fee.

National Archives

NARA holds naturalization records from federal courts. Many have been digitized and indexed. Records from district courts and circuit courts across the country are organized by region.

State and County Archives

For naturalizations that occurred in state or county courts, search:

• County courthouse records
• State archives and historical societies
• Regional branches of the National Archives

ActualPeopleSearch

Use ActualPeopleSearch to locate individuals and identify where they lived, which in turn tells you which courts they likely used for naturalization. Knowing someone's city and county narrows your search to specific courthouses.

Tips for Successful Searches

Search Multiple Courts

An immigrant might have filed their declaration of intention in one court and their petition in another, especially if they moved during the waiting period. Search all courts in every jurisdiction where your ancestor lived.

Check for Derivative Citizenship

Before 1922, a married woman automatically derived citizenship from her husband's naturalization. She would not have her own separate naturalization file. After the Cable Act of 1922, women had to naturalize independently.

Look for Minor Children

Children under a certain age (usually 16 or 18, depending on the era) automatically became citizens when their father naturalized. These children will not have separate naturalization records.

Account for Name Changes

Many immigrants changed their names during or after the naturalization process. Search for both the original name and any anglicized versions.

What to Do If You Cannot Find Records

If a search for naturalization records comes up empty:

• The ancestor may never have naturalized. Many immigrants lived their entire lives in the U.S. without becoming citizens.
• The records may have been lost or destroyed, especially for pre-1906 local court filings.
• The ancestor may have naturalized through military service, which followed a different process.
• Try searching for the declaration of intention separately from the petition, as they may be in different archives.

Connecting Naturalization to Other Records

Naturalization records work best when combined with other sources. The arrival date on a declaration of intention can lead you to a ship passenger manifest. The children's names on a petition can be verified against birth records and census entries. ActualPeopleSearch helps you connect these pieces by providing a unified search across multiple record types and jurisdictions.