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Naturalization records: how to find them free

Guide ยท 5 min readChecked Sources linked at the end

Start with the census: the citizenship columns give a year or a status. Then search court naturalization papers free on FamilySearch and through the National Archives.

From 1906 the forms were uniform and name the birthplace, ship and arrival date. Before 1906 any court could naturalize, and the papers often say much less.

How to find the papers

  1. Read the census citizenship columns. Look for Na (naturalized), Pa (first papers filed) or Al (alien), and the year of immigration where asked.
  2. Find both sets of papers. The declaration of intention, the first papers, came first. The petition, the final papers, came years later and often in a different court.
  3. Search the county where they lived. Before 1906, check county, state and federal courts. FamilySearch holds many of these as page images.
  4. For 1906 and after, use the National Archives. Federal court naturalizations are held by the regional archives. The USCIS Genealogy Program holds the government's copies and charges a fee.
  5. Attach the image. A naturalization page gives birthplace and arrival. With the image attached, it is PROVEN in RootsFree.

Questions

Is there one national index?

No. Papers were filed in many courts. Start with the census, then the county.

Go to the records

Related guides

Ellis Island passenger lists: search freeFree to search at the Foundation site. Arrivals through the Port of New York, with the ship manifest image. 1940 census: how to search it freeFree on FamilySearch and the National Archives. Name search, then the page image, then the citation. 1950 census: how to search it freeFree at the National Archives, no account. Search by name and state, or by place when the name index misses.