Blank naturalization certificate, City of Richmond Hustings Court, after 1905
Many—but by no means all—immigrants to Virginia chose to become citizens. The naturalization process changed over time, from being overseen by Virginia’s colonial government under the direction of Great Britain to a federal system administered by local courts. The Library of Virginia has citizenship records prior to 1900 and a growing number of twentieth-century records.
Early citizenship records may contain only an individual’s name and country of origin. After 1906, when the federal government standardized naturalization forms, records contain not only a name and country of origin, but information such as date of birth, birthplace, date and place of departure, method of arrival (such as the name of a ship), date and place of arrival, and names of spouse and children.
Revised August 2022