Documents & Records
C.I.28 Certificate
Basics
The C.I.28 certificate was issued to persons who had lost their C.I.5 (head tax) or C.I.36 certificates.
Front
The following represents information found on C.I.28 certificates, based on a 1925 example:
| C.I.28 | [Number] |
|
Dominion of Canada Immigration Branch - Department of the Interior |
|
| This certifies that | |
|
[Name (alternate name)] of [address] whose photograph is hereto attached claims to be [name] who arrived at [port of entry] on the [##] day of [month and year of original arrival] who was registered at Ottawa under [????] at [port of entry] under No. [#####] and to whom C.I.5 No. [#####] was issued. It is claimed that C.I.5 certificate was lost or destroyed and while this certificate is not an admission that the party to whom it is issued was legally admitted into Canada, it may, unless cancelled upon presentation, be used when registering out under C.I.9. Chief Controller of Chinese Immigration |
|
Back
In 1923, after passage of the Chinese Immigration Act, C.I.28 certificates were stamped on the back in accordance with Section 18, which required the registration of all Chinese people living in Canada.
Finding the Records
C.I.28 certificates were issued to individuals and have often remained in the possession of families. Examples may be found in archival repositories.
At Library and Archives Canada
Library and Archives Canada (LAC) collections include four examples of C.I.28 certificates:
| Certificate No. | Name | Alternate Name | Date |
| 06561 | John Chew Hong | Yeu Chew Fun | 1915 |
| 07326 | Chong Lee | Quon Dock Fon | 1916 |
| 12189 | Long Yee | Long Wing Chong | 1924 |
| 12314 | Chong Tung | Chong Jun Den | 1925 |
Additional information about these certificates is found in Library and Archives Canada's online List of Head Tax Certificates Held at Library and Archives Canada.
Image copies of the certificates can be seen on the first part of Library and Archives Canada microfilm reel C-13421, together with examples of other Chinese immigration certificates. Two immigration certificates are available digitally through Library and Archives Canada's Sample Chinese immigration certificates record. One is the C.I.28 certificate for Chong Lee. The other is a C.I.5 certificate (Head Tax).
Use the online inter-library loan form to borrow microfilm reel C-13421 from Library and Archives Canada.
Related records are found in the C.I.28 Register, which records the numbers of C.I.28 certificates issued to approximately 14,300 individuals between 1912-1950.
Photo banner: Detail from VPL Historical Photograph 78362
