Immigration Records are some of the richest genealogy record sets and can provide excellent clues as well as data about your ancestors. Specifically, when they came to America, or traveled but did not immigrate. Emigration records can tell you when they left their homeland and can direct you when they might have immigrated, if you are having trouble finding the immigration record.
What types of information are available in these records? First of all, let me clarify that naturalization records are a related type of record. You can discover online naturalization collections and records available via links on this website on the Naturalizations Page. In the Petition for Naturalization record for example, where and when the applicant arrived in the U.S. is stated. And the Certificate of Arrival is another immigration document used in the naturalization process.
Here's an article that will list the information available: 45 Reasons to Research Immigration Records
Regarding immigration - it bears repeating - not EVERYONE came through Ellis island. It was open between 1892 and 1954. Approximately 12 million people came through that immigration station. The highest year was 1907, when just over 1,000,000 people came through. For immigrants landing at U.S, ports in the 19th century and early 20th century, the busiest ports were New York, Baltimore, Boston, New Orleans, and Philadelphia. There were almost 100 ports that were used by immigrants to enter the U.S., via the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, Gulf of Mexico, and the Great Lakes.
Below are state by state links to a page that lists links to immigration and travel collections that are available for free to search and browse.
It is also helpful to review emigration records as well. It sometimes occurs that an immigration record is not available online for a variety of reasons, but you might find some useful information from emigration records where one of you're ancestors embarked on their journey to America.
Here are a few free online sites that have online emigration records available.
Denmark - The Digital Danish Emigration Archives
Finland - Emigrant Register Internet Databases (free and pay options)
Norway - Digital Archives - Emigrant Records
Germany - Oldenburg Emigrants Database
Ireland - Irish Famine Emigrants 1846-1851 database
Russia - Russians to America Passenger Data File, 1834 - 1897
Germany - Germans to America Passenger Data File, 1850 - 1897
Italy - Italians to America Passenger Data File, 1855 - 1900
Germany - Hamburg Passenger List
Also listed are passenger lists for travel that may not have been immigration related. I have discovered interesting clues and information from non-immigration travel records as well.
Below, listed by state are links to Free Online Immigration and Travel Collections.
Note: Some of the links listed below 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.
(Updated January, 2020; recently added links are in BOLD):
United States
- Index to Naturalizations of World War I Soldiers, 1918
- Mormon Migration Database, 1840-1932
- New York, Castle Garden
- New York, Ellis Island
- Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's - Several Arrival States
- U.S., German Immigrants, 1712-1933 (free index, images require a subscription)
- United States, Border Crossings from Canada to United States, 1894-1954
- United States, Border Crossings from Canada to United States,, 1895-1956
- United States, Border Crossings from Mexico to United States,, 1903-1957
- United States, Famine Irish Passenger Index, 1846-1851
- United States, Germans to America Index, 1850-1897
- United States, Immigrant Ships Transcribers Guild
- United States, Index to Alien Case Files, 1940-2003
- United States, Index to Passenger Arrivals, Atlantic and Gulf Ports, 1820-1874
- United States, index to passenger lists, 1820-1940
- United States, Italians to America Index, 1855-1900
- United States, Japanese Americans Relocated During World War II, 1942-1946
- United States, Japanese Immigration Index
- United States, Passport Applications, 1795-1925
Illinois
- Illinois Consulate, Records of the Russian Consular Offices in the United States
- Illinois, County Naturalization Records, 1800-1998
- Illinois, Northern District (Eastern Division), Naturalization Index, 1926-1979
- Illinois, Northern District Naturalization Index, 1840-1950
- Illinois, Northern District Petitions for Naturalization, 1906-1994
- Illinois, Stark County, Circuit Court Naturalization Records, 1892-1913
- North Dakota Banat Passenger Ship Records Index
- Scott County, Persons of Foreign Birth, 1817-1894
- Edwards County, Report of Aliens, 1818-1822
- Indiana, Gary and East Chicago Crew Lists, 1945-1956
- Madison County Immigration & Naturalization Documents, 1850-1959
- United States, Iowa Naturalization Records, 1859-1990
- Indiana, Naturalization Records and Indexes, 1848-1992
- Jefferson County, List of aliens who applied for citizenship
Indiana
- Edwards County, Report of Aliens, 1818-1822
- Indiana, Gary and East Chicago Crew Lists, 1945-1956
- Madison County Immigration & Naturalization Documents, 1850-1959
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Indiana, Naturalization Records and Indexes, 1848-1992
Iowa
- United States, Iowa Naturalization Records, 1859-1990
- Jefferson County, List of aliens who applied for citizenship
Kansas
- First naturalization and aliens declaration records, 1881-1906
- Immigrant ships of the Dutch Colonists of the 19th century to West Michigan and Iowa
- Passport applications, ca. 1947-1955
- Records of the U.S. Attorneys and Marshals : alien application for permit, 1917-1918
- Registration affidavits of aliens, 1918
- Registration of Axis aliens in Kansas : January, 1918 through June, 1918
Michigan
- Immigrant Ships of the Dutch Colonists of the 19th century to West Michigan and Iowa
- Manifests of Alien Arrivals at Algonac, Marine City, Roberts landing, Saint Clair and Sault Sainte Marie, 1903-1955
- Michigan, Crew Lists for various ports, 1929-1966
- Michigan, Detroit Manifests of Arrivals at the Port of Detroit, 1906-1954
- Michigan, Eastern District, Naturalization Index, 1907-1995
- Michigan, South Haven Crew Lists, 1957-1959
- Michigan, St. Clair County, Port Huron and immigration records : manifests of alien arrivals, 1902-1954
- Port of Detroit, Card Manifests, 1906-1954
- Port of Detroit, Passenger and Alien Crew Lists, 1946-1957
Minnesota
- Alien Registration of 1918
- Manifests of alien, January 1912-July 1924, and citizen, January 1912-December 1956, arrivals at Noyes, Minnesota, and at Dunseith, Neche, Pembina, Saint John, and Walhalla, North Dakota
- Minnesota, Baudette, Warroad, and International Falls Passenger Lists, 1910-1923
- Minnesota, Chinese Exclusion Act case files, 1906-1942
- Minnesota, Duluth and Wisconsin, Superior Crew Lists, 1922-1958
- Minnesota, manifests of alien arrivals, 1907-1952
- Minnesota, Naturalization Card Index, 1930-1988
- Minnesota, Naturalization Records and Indexes, 1872-1962
- Minnesota, Passenger and Crew Lists, 1912-1956
- Minnesota, various cities, crew lists of vessels arriving, 1929-1956
Missouri
- German immigrants to Eastern Missouri [ca.1818-1858]
- Missouri, County Naturalization Records, 1883-1927
- Port of St. Louis, Ship registers & other records, 1835-1944
- Records of the U.S. Attorneys and Marshals : alien application for permit
Nebraska
North Dakota
- Enemy alien registration affidavits, correspondence, and supporting documentation, 1918
- Manifests of alien, January 1912-July 1924, and citizen, January 1912-December 1956, arrivals at Noyes, Minnesota, and at Dunseith, Neche, Pembina, Saint John, and Walhalla, North Dakota
- North Dakota, Manifests of Immigrant Arrivals, 1910-1952
- North Dakota, Naturalization Records, 1868-1924
- North Dakota, Red River Valley Genealogical Society, Pioneer Files, 1880-1953
- South Dakota Naturalization Records Index
- South Dakota, County Naturalization Records, 1865-1972
Ohio
- Cuyahoga County, Alien appearance docket, 1883-1895
- Cuyahoga County, Alien docket (declaration of aliens), 1818-1906
- Cuyahoga County, Alien docket, 1820-1854
- Cuyahoga County, Alien index (final papers), ca. 1820's - ca. 1900's
- Cuyahoga County, Declaration of aliens under 18, 1883-1906
- Hamilton County, Index to aliens, 1880-1899
- Ohio, County Naturalization Records, 1800-1977
- Ohio, Northern District, Eastern Division, Naturalization Index, 1855-1967
- Ohio, Passenger and Crew Lists arriving at Ashtabula and Conneaut
- Ohio, Passenger and Crew Lists arriving at Ashtabula and Conneaut, 1952-1974
- Ohio, Southern District Naturalization Index, 1852-1991
- Union County, Declaration of intention, 1906-1918 ; naturalization record of alien and minor, 1903
Oklahoma
South Dakota
- Minnesota, Duluth and Wisconsin, Superior Crew Lists, 1922-1958
- North Dakota Naturalization Records Index
Wisconsin
- Crew lists of Vessels Arriving at Ashland, Wisconsin, August 1922-October 1954
- St. Clair County, Port Huron and Immigration Records : Manifests of Alien Arrivals, 1902-1954
- Wisconsin, County Naturalization Records, 1807-1992
- Wisconsin, Crew Lists of Ship Arrivals, 1925-1956
- Wisconsin, Crew Lists of Vessels Arriving at Manitowoc, 1925-1956
- Wisconsin, Dane County Naturalization Records, 1887-1945
- Wisconsin, Index to Naturalization Petitions, 1848-1990
- Wisconsin, Milwaukee Naturalization Index, 1848-1990
- Wisconsin, Milwaukee Passenger and Crew Lists, 1922-1963
- Wisconsin, Milwaukee Petitions for Naturalization, 1848-1991
Good Luck and Happy Hunting!
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