Researching your ancestors from Great Britain and Ireland

A guide to researching your ancestors in England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands, using resources at State Library Victoria.

Naturalisation records

Naturalisation records - Victoria

Naturalisation records can provide a great deal of information on your ancestors who migrated to Australia. They may include, in the handwritten application, the place of birth, former place of residence, birthplace and name of the ship and the date of arrival in the colony/country of the applicant.

1848-1903	The National Archives of Australia in Canberra holds naturalisation records for the Colony of Victoria for the period from 1848 to 1903.
1847-1852	Register of patents (from 19 Feb. 1851) Register of certificates of naturalization: volume of enrolled certificates with index, 1847-1852 Colony of New South Wales to 1851 then Colony of Victoria (CRS A 725)A surname index appears at the end of the register.
1852-1880	Registers of certificates of naturalization: volumes of enrolled certificates with index, 1852-1880 Colony of Victoria, Supreme Court of the Colony of Victoria (CRS A 726).Nominal index for pre-1904 Victorian naturalization 1852 – 1903 (CRS A7796) and note A726 reference if listed
1852-1903	Nominal index for pre-1904 Victorian naturalization 1852-1903 (CRS A7796)Also use indexes to microfilm series of naturalisation certificates for 1852-1880 and 1863-1903
1863-1903	Volumes of enrolled letters of naturalization 1863 – 1903: Colony of Victoria to 1901, then State of Victoria. (CRS A 727).Nominal index for pre-1904 Victorian naturalization 1852 – 1903 (CRS A7796). and note A727 reference if listed
1904 onwards	The National Archives in Canberra holds many of the naturalisation records for the Commonwealth of Australia from 1904 onwards. Details of relevant record series are listed on their Naturalisation Fact Sheet.

Naturalisation records - other states

Pre 1904

Naturalisation records for the Province of South Australia are held in the National Archives Adelaide Office.

Naturalisation records for New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia and Tasmania before 1904 are held by the appropriate State government archive office.

1904 onwards

The National Archives of Australia in Canberra holds many of the naturalisation records for the Commonwealth of Australia from 1904 onwards.