The Ancestor Hunt regularly adds and updates new collection links, as well as searches for and fixes broken links.
(This page's most recent update is January 2025)
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Do you research naturalization records? No? Why not? Does the thought of going through paper files in dusty court basements turn you off? Well – I’m here to tell you that it is worth it – and with recent digitization efforts – more and more original documents have been scanned and made available via microfilm or online.
Some of the larger subscription sites have also made some source documents available – as well as index cards that can lead you to the court that handled the proceedings.
If you wish to get educated first about all of these documents and the naturalization process and how it has changed over time – please read these two terrific summaries:
- The U.S. Archives Naturalization Records
- FamilySearch’s Wiki entry United States Naturalization and Citizenship
- Women and Naturalization
Okay – now that you are educated and know that post-1906 – about 4 awesome documents just drip with great information: Declaration of Intent, Petition for Citizenship or Naturalization, Certificate of Arrival, and the Certificate of Naturalization. Many of the online genealogy websites may not have all of these documents available but do have index cards that are searchable – which have information regarding the court handling the proceedings. With this information, you might be able to track down some of the source documents.
Below is a list of links to free online naturalization record and index collections for the state:
Note: Some links listed take you to a FamilySearch Collection of digital images. Near the bottom of the page under Film/Digital Notes is the name of each sub-collection. If there is a camera icon at the right of the name (in the Format column) then the collections’ images are browsable. If there is a camera with a key icon, it is only available at a Family History Center or affiliated library. If there is a film reel icon, then it is only available in microfilm format, not digital. To take full advantage make sure that you are logged in to FamilySearch. The results may be different if you are signed in, rather than not.
North Carolina Naturalization Records
- Anson County Naturalization Records, 1913-1924; Declaration of Intent, 1911-1920
- Beaufort County Alien Registration
- Bertie County, Naturalization Records, 1940-1954
- Buncombe County Military Petitions for Naturalization
- Buncombe County Military Petitions for Naturalizations 1919-1920
- Buncombe County, Naturalization Records, 1906-1910
- Burke County Declaration of Intention for Citizenship, 1911-1928
- Burke County Petition for Naturalization, 1919-1920, 1929
- Chowan County Loyalty Oath Stubs 1865
- Craven County Naturalization Records, 1904-1905; Alien Registration, 1927-1940
- Cumberland County Alien Registration 1927-1942
- Cumberland County Naturalization Applications 1894-1904, 1927-1942
- Currituck County, Naturalization Records, 1940
- Durham County Naturalization Records 1882-1944
- Edgecombe County, Naturalization Records, 1903-1940
- Forsyth County, Naturalization Records, 1891-1921
- Granville County Naturalization Papers, 1909-1929
- Guilford County, Miscellaneous Records, 1771-1934
- Halifax County Naturalization Records, 1916-1925
- Haywood County, Naturalization Records, 194-1943
- Henderson County Declarations of Intention, 1913-1925
- Henderson County Petitions for Naturalization, 1910, 1916, 1920-1926
- Henderson County, Naturalization Records, 1927-1948
- Lee County, Naturalization Records, 1928-1940
- Lenoir County, Naturalization Records, 1927-1940
- Macon County Naturalization Records, 1940
- McDowell County, Naturalization Records, 1927-1947
- Mecklenburg County Alien Registration 1822, 1886-1942
- Mecklenburg County Declarations of Intent to become a Citizen 1822, 1886-1927
- Mitchell County, Naturalization Records, 1927-1940
- Moore County Naturalization Records 1887-1917
- Nash County Naturalization Records 1908
- Nash County, Naturalization Records, 1927-1940
- New Hanover County Citizenship & Naturalization Papers 1842-1908
- New Hanover County, Naturalization Records, 1927-1940
- North Carolina Naturalization Index, 1792-1862
- North Carolina, Alien Registration and Naturalization Records
- North Carolina, Civil Action Court Papers, 1712-1970
- Orange County, Naturalization Records, 1940
- Perquimans County Alien Registration 1905, 1907
- Pitt County, Naturalization Records, 1940
- Polk County, Naturalization Records, 1927-1948
- Raleigh Military Petitions, 1918́-1919
- Raleigh Naturalization Records, 1909-1933
- Randolph County Alien Registration 1927, 1940
- Richmond County Alien Registration 1940, 1956
- Richmond County Emigrant and Naturalization List, 1807-1815
- Robeson County, Naturalization Records, 1927
- Rowan County Alien Registration 1927, 1940
- Rowan County Naturalization and Alien Records, ca. 1818-1940
- Rutherford County, Naturalization Records, 1940
- Sampson County Alien Registration 1927
- Stanly County Alien Registration 1884-1959; Naturalizations, 1921-1928
- Stanly County Loyalty Oaths 1865
- Surry County Declarations of Intention, 1911-1925
- Surry County Petitions of Naturalizations, 1910-1928
- Surry County, Naturalization Records, 1927-1940
- Swain County Citizenship Records, 1894
- Union County Record of Declaration of Intent, 1915-1928
- Wake County Naturalization Records, ca. 1821-1908, 1937
- Warren County Naturalization Records, 1906-1957
- Warren County, Naturalization Records, 1940
- Watauga County Alien Registration 1940
- Wayne County Alien Registration 1927-1954
- Wilkes County Alien Registration 1940
- Wilson County Petition of Naturalization, 1902-1911
- Wilson Naturalization Records, 1926-1945
- Yancey County Alien Registration 1940
Good Luck and Happy Hunting!