Documents & Records
C.I.36 Register
Basics
This set of federal Chinese immigration records documents the issuing of C.I.36 certificates to approximately 24,200 individuals. C.I.36 certificates were issued to replace C.I.5 (head tax) certificates issued prior to 1912. The older certificates were considered inadequate because they did not include photographs. Replacements were issued as the occasion arose - for example, when someone needed a travel document. Most individuals listed in the register arrived in Canada between 1895-1912.
The records are arranged in numerical order and are roughly chronological. The date of the first record is January 28, 1913, while the last record is dated February 26, 1949.
The "Details of arrival in Canada" section records the date of the person's original arrival in Canada, and the number of any C.I.4 or C.I.5 certificate that was issued.
The register is divided into columns with labels as follows:
- C.I. 36 Number
- Name
- Details of Arrival in Canada
- Port
- Ship
- Date
- Serial Number
- C.I.4 Number
- C.I.5 Number
- Fyle Number
- Date of issue of C.I.-36
- Remarks
- Indicates the individual's residence (often including their street address) and usually notes "Gave name on arrival . . ." In many cases, alternate forms of name are indicated.
For more detail see the archival inventory description of the C.I.36 Register in the General Inventory on the Library and Archives Canada website.
Finding the Records
At the Vancouver Public Library
The C.I.36 Register has been microfilmed and is available on two reels at the Vancouver Public Library. The first section of the Register is found at the end of microfilm reel T-3486, one of a series of eight microfilm reels comprising several sets of federal Chinese immigration records. The Register continues on reel T-3487.
T-3486 - Film notes
Note that the beginning of the film comprises the final sections of the General Register of Chinese Immigration. These are followed by the C.I.28 Register and then by the first part of the C.I.36 Register. The date ranges shown in the tables below are approximate, as the records are not in exact chronological order.
| Record series | Record numbers | Date |
| General Register of Chinese Immigration | 83226 - 97114 | 8 March 1914 - 29 September 1949 |
| C.I.28 Register | 1 - 20 [cancelled] 21 - 14353 |
26 January 1912 - 30 June 1950 |
| C.I.36 Register (first part) | 1 - 25 [not issued] 26 - 9000 |
28 January 1913 - 15 April 1915 |
T-3487 - Film notes
Note that this microfilm also contains the Newfoundland Register of Arrivals and Outward Registrations.
| Record series | Record numbers | Date |
| C.I.36 Register (second part) | 9001 - 24249 | 20 April 1915 - 16 February 1949 |
| Landed in Newfoundland | 1 - 384 | 4 June 1910 - 26 March 1949 |
| Outward Registration | 1 - 436 | 6 September 1906 - 24 February 1950 |
Photo banner: Detail from VPL Historical Photograph 78362
