Naturalisation and Citizenship: Grants of British Nationality

Domestic Records Information 49

Contents

1. Introduction
2. Denization Records
3. Naturalisation Records
4. Procedure From 1844
5. Using the Catalogue for searching for Home Office records for naturalisation case papers
6. Certificates of British Nationality
7. List of certificates and declarations of naturalisation and British Nationality

1. Introduction

Foreigners resident in England who wished to formalise their position or settle permanently could apply for denization or naturalisation. A denizen paid for letters Patent to become an English subject, protected by the Crown and English law but still subject to alien rates of tax, unable to vote, hold civil or military office or inherit land. Naturalisation could only be granted by a private act of Parliament until 1844, when such power was extended to the Secretary of State. Aliens naturalised by an act of Parliament received all the rights of natural-born British subjects. The majority of aliens settling in this country did not go through the legal formalities of applying for Denization and Naturalisation and, until 1844, the process was expensive and only the rich could afford it.

Aliens were subject to higher rates of tax and they may be identified from the taxation records in E 179 , 1190-1690; e.g. E 179/144/54 is a list of aliens living in London c. 1445. In general denization and naturalisation records can include memorials, petitions and police reports which give genealogical information such as nationality, profession, family details, birth date, birth place and address of applicant. The later records (after 1870) also include duplicate certificates of naturalisation and nationality which provide similar but less detailed information. The various British Nationality Acts and British Nationality and Status of Aliens Acts since 1708 indicate the requirements necessary for aliens wishing to become British subjects. Copies of public Parliamentary Acts are available in the Library: see also R Kershaw and M Pearsall, Immigrants and Aliens: a guide to sources on UK immigration and citizenship, 2nd edition (The National Archives, 2004) for information.

2. Denization Records

Letters patent of denizations are enrolled in the Patent Rolls in C 66 , with Supplementary Patent Rolls in C 67 . Denizations before 1509 can be traced through the indexes to the Calendar of Patent Rolls: in indexes to the early volumes look under 'Denizations' or 'Indigenae'. For the period 1509 to 1800, indexes to denizations have been published by the Huguenot Society and a copy of these, together with a typescript index to denizations between 1801 and 1873, is available in the Open Reading Room among the HO series lists. The references found here refer to original documents in HO 1 and HO 44 . C 97 and HO 4 consist of original letters patent of denizations which were left unclaimed by the patentees. There is a name index to C 97 for the period 1751 to 1793, but not for HO 4 which covers the period 1804 to 1843. The Westminster denization roll is held at Westminster Abbey Muniments and Library, London SW1P 3PA.

3. Naturalisation Records

Indexes to naturalisation by private act of Parliament up to 1900 have been published by the Huguenot Society and copies of these are available in the Open Reading Room among the HO series lists. For acts between 1900 and 1947, consult the Index to Local and Personal Acts (HMSO, 1949). From 1497 the original acts are kept at the House of Lords Record Office, London SW1. Parliament Rolls in C 65 contain an incomplete set of Private Acts. Naturalisation by the taking of the oaths of allegiance and supremacy in court can be found in KB 24 and E 169/86 . The information from these rolls has been published by the Huguenot Society (volumes XXVII and XXV). Between 1740 and 1772, foreign Protestants living in America could become naturalised British citizens; this required seven years' residence. Every year lists of those naturalised (in CO 5 ) had to be sent to the Commissioners for Trade and Plantations in London, where they were copied into entry books (CO 324/55 ). Over 7,000 foreign Protestants took advantage of this: their names have been printed by M S Giuseppi in the Huguenot Society volume XXIV.

4. Procedure From 1844

In 1844, the procedure for naturalisation was simplified and the Home Office began granting certificates. Home Office Background Naturalisation papers to applications can be found in HO 1 for 1844 to 1871, HO 45 for 1872 to 1878, HO 144 from 1879 to 1934, and HO 405 for 1934 to 1948. All records dated after 1922 are closed for periods up to 100 years though the Home Office will consider opening files on request. For files already transferred to The National Archives you can request a review by using the Request Review link in the Catalogue (www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue). For files in HO 405 not yet transferred write to: Departmental Record Officer, Information and Record Management Service, 4th Floor, Seacole Building, Home Office, 2 Marsham Street, London SW1P 4DF. HO 405 is gradually being transferred to The National Archives in batches according to the surname of the alien. Currently those with surnames A to N have already been transferred.

The Home Office papers between 1844-1930 in HO 1 , HO 45 , HO 144 , and HO 405 can be searched by name using the Catalogue (www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue); see section 5 for guidance.

Between 1844 and 1873 naturalisations were also enrolled on the Close Rolls in C 54 . Duplicate Home Office copies of Naturalisation certificates, which summarise information contained in the background papers, can be found in HO 334 for the period 1870-June 1969. Indexes by name to these records can be found in HO 409 up to 1980. Copies of indexes up to 1961 can also be found in Parliamentary Papers. Please note that the indexes do not include references to 'M' or 'R' certificates issued under the 1948 Nationality Act.

It should be noted that from June 1969 until 30 September 1986 the Home Office did not retain a set of duplicate certificates issued for foreign nationals – these are often a six-figure reference starting with '0'. Often the only evidence of naturalisation is the summary index entry in the series HO 409 (June 1969-1980) or in a card index at The National Archives (1981-30 September 1986, staff access only). Contact The National Archives in writing for all enquiries about the card index.

Enquiries about naturalisation certificates issued after 1 October 1986 should be made to the UK Border Agency (UKBA), Reliance House, 20 Water Street, Liverpool, L2 8XU or ukbanationalityenquiries@ukba.gsi.gov.uk

5. Using the Catalogue for searching for Home Office records for naturalisation case papers

Enter the surname in the word or phrase field. If it is a common surname, you may with to include a forename but if you do remember to separate both names by the word AND. Refine the research to the department 'HO' for the Home Office. You can also restrict your search to a year range if you wish.

Example of searching the catalogue for Hans Schmidt

Return of hits for Hans Schmidt

If the document is dated 1922 or later and held by The National Archives it may not be open, but you can request a review by selecting 'Request this' . The 'Request this' screen for closed records will provide you with access to an online form to make an FOI request.

Request a review of a closed file

If you want a copy of the duplicate Home Office certificate of naturalisation you will need to match up the certificate number with the document in the series HO 334 by browsing the HO 334 series on the Catalogue (www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue).

6. Certificates of British Nationality

The British Nationality Act, 1948, created the new status of citizen of the United Kingdom and the Colonies. Under this act people from former colonies and self-governing countries of the Commonwealth such as Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, India, and Pakistan could register as Citizens of the UK and Colonies. This was extended under the 1962 Commonwealth Immigrants Act to include the colonies. The main provision for granting citizenship by registration was that an adult citizen of self-governing countries of the Commonwealth, Ireland and the colonies needed to ordinarily reside in the United Kingdom, and have done so for at least twelve months prior to registration. Duplicate certificates of registrations of British citizenship issued under the 1948 British Nationality Act can be found in HO 334 for the period 1949-1986.

If you already know the registration number and wish to obtain a copy of a certificate: Contact us to obtain the document reference number in HO 334 or use the record copying service to order a certified or uncertified copy of the certificate. If you do not know the registration number and wish to obtain a copy of a certificate: Contact us in writing with the following information: Full name at the time of application, date of birth, town and country of birth, date of registration and place of registration. If we are able to locate the registration number in the name index, we will provide you with it and the related document reference number in HO 334.

Enquiries about certificates of Registration issued after the 1st October 1986 should be sent to: UK Border Agency, Reliance House, 20 Water Street, Liverpool, L2 8XU, email:  ukbanationalityenquiries@ukba.gsi.gov.uk .

7. List of certificates and declarations of naturalisation and British Nationality

(ri2156) Last updated: 21 September 2009 | © Crown Copyright 2003