Finding & Analyzing U.S. Immigration & Naturalization Records
Major respositories for accessing U.S. immigration and naturalization records. NOTES: A) The U.S. Federal Government did not start requiring ship passenger lists until January 1, 1820, and B) Courts did not have to start forwarding naturalization records to the U.S. Federal Government until 1906.
- Ancestry.com Immigration CollectionsAccess ship passenger lists, border crossing and passport records, citizenship and naturalization records, and other immigration-related records online.
- CastleGarden.orgProvides free online access access to information on 11 million immigrants from 1820 through 1892, the year Ellis Island opened. More than 100 million Americans can trace their ancestors to this early immigration period. From 1855 to 1890, the Castle was America's first official immigration center.
- Ellis Island/Port of New York RecordsThe American Family Immigration History Center provides free online access to records for the more than 22 million passengers and ships' crew members who entered the U.S. through Ellisa Island and the Port of New York between 1892 and 1924. Must sign up for a free account.
- FamilySearch Online Migration & Naturalization RecordsProvides free online access to indices and digitized records for emigration, immigration, and naturalization records throughout the world. Can filter on just the U.S.
- National Archives at RiversideFree (in-house only) online access to Passenger arrival records and indexes for ships entering all major ports (New York, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Boston, New Orleans and San Francisco) and most minor ports as well, Mexican border crossings from 1903 and Canadian border crossing records from 1895, and passport application files. Free microfilm access to naturalization records for California, Arizona, and Clark County Nevada. Microfilm access to records relating to Asian immigration to the United States. NARA does not have pre-1820 passenger lists, except for New Orleans and Philadelphia.
- FamilySearch: Family History Library CatalogIncludes records and background information available on microfilm, microfiche, in books, or in other publications. Useful for finding items not yet digitized or indexed on FamilySearch.org. Items are accessible for free at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, and many can be accessed via interlibrary loan to your local Family History Center for a small fee.
A playlist of immigration record tutorials provided by Ancestry.com's YouTube Channel. Click on a thumbnail (displayed at the bottom of the video player) to preview or play a specific tutorial. The videos will also play in sequence.
A playlist of immigration record tutorials provided by the U.S. National Archives' YouTube channel. Click on a thumbnail (displayed at the bottom of the video player) to preview or play a specific tutorial. The videos will also play in sequence.
- FamilySearch Research Wiki: U.S. Emigration and ImmigrationTypes of immigration-related records, what you might find in immigration records, where to find immigration records, the history U.S. immigration, and tips for finding and using marriage records.
- National Archives: Immigration Records (Ship Passenger Arrival Records)Where to find immigration records, and how they can help in your research.
- Naturalization RecordsThe naturalization process, types of naturalization records, and where to find naturalization records.