Quebec Naturalization and Citizenship

There are naturalization records from the French government. Abstracts of some of these records are in:


 * Roy, Pierre-Georges. Les Lettres de naturalité sous le régime français (French-Canadian Naturalizations). Bulletin des Recherches Historique 30 (1924): 226–33. (FHL book 971.4 A1 no. 5; film 982147 item 11.) Text in French. Includes 133 names. Gives naturalization date, country of origin, Canadian residence, and spouse's name.

Declarations of immigrants for Montréal and the city of Québec during the early years of the British government are included in:


 * Lower Canada. Court of Quarter Sessions of the Peace (Montréal). Court Records, 1794–1811. Salt Lake City, Utah, USA: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1981. (FHL film 1312081.) Text in French and English. Lists more than 500 names. Gives former residence or nation of birth, arrival date, and intended Canadian residence.

Until 1947, British immigrants from England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland automatically became citizens of Canada. They did not need naturalization. Since about 1850, the office of the Secretary of State has kept the naturalization records for Canada. Many records before 1917 were lost or burned. See the Canada Research Outline (34545) for a detailed explanation.