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How to find naturalization records

How to find naturalization records for your Italian ancestors in the U.S. and Canada

NOVEMBER 21, 2022 | BY NATOSHA FORTINI

STEP ONE of the Italian citizenship by descent process is always going to be to determine if and when your last Italian ancestor born in Italy ever naturalized (i.e. became a citizen) in another country. If they did naturalize as a citizen of another country, you need to determine if they did so before or after they had their child who is your next ancestor in line.

In today’s post, I’m sharing information on how to find and collect naturalization records for your Italian ancestors in Canada and the United States. 

🇨🇦 Canadian Naturalization Records

Finding naturalization records in Canada is fairly straightforward. Most historical and present day citizenship records are held by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Records prior to 1917 have been destroyed but index cards still exist for each applicant. Records from after 1917 contain the applicant’s full file. You can request this naturalization information from IRCC in two ways:

1. By completing an Access to Information and Privacy request online which will give you your ancestor’s entire citizenship file

2. By requesting a Search of Citizenship Records which will provide you with a letter from IRCC confirming the citizenship status of your ancestor (including when and how they became a Canadian citizen). 

🇺🇸 American Naturalization Records

In the US, naturalization records may be held in different offices/archives depending on where your ancestor naturalized and through which court (local vs. federal). You may have to send off a couple of different requests to determine where the records are kept (unless you’d like to do some online genealogical legwork to see if you can find digital records prior to sending off a request…more on this in another post!).

If your ancestor naturalized in a *local court*:

  • Before September 27, 1906: Try finding naturalization records through the local court archives or other archive collection (library, university, or historical society)

  • Between September 27, 1906 & March 31, 1956: Order records from the USCIS genealogy program, try contacting the County Clerks Office where your ancestor lived or try the other collections as above

  • After March 31, 1956: These naturalizations were typically completed through the federal court. Order these records through a Freedom of Information Act request from USCIS. You can also try checking with the applicable local court.

If your ancestor naturalized in a *local court*:

  • Before September 27, 1906: Try finding naturalization records through the local court archives or other archive collection (library, university, or historical society)

  • Between September 27, 1906 & March 31, 1956: Order records from the USCIS genealogy program, try contacting the County Clerks Office where your ancestor lived or try the other collections as above

  • After March 31, 1956: These naturalizations were typically completed through the federal court. Order these records through a Freedom of Information Act request from USCIS. You can also try checking with the applicable local court.

Submit a search/order through NARA 

Submit a search/order through the USCIS genealogy program

Submit a FOIA request through USCIS: 

Step one of the Italian citizenship by descent process is always going to be to determine if and when your last Italian ancestor born in Italy became the citizen of another country. 

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