Documents & Records

C.I.9 Certificate

Basics

The C.I.9 was used from around 1885 to 1953. A person of Chinese ancestry (whether born abroad or native-born) who wished to leave Canada temporarily had to register with immigration authorities. The C.I. 9 (initially called a Certificate of Leave) was issued at the port of departure, and was time-limited. When it was issued, the individual was required to surrender other identifying certificates (e.g. C.I.5, 6, 28, 30, 36). When he re-entered Canada, the C.I.9 certificate was returned to immigration authorities, stamped and filed. Original certificates deposited with immigration authorities at the time of departure were returned to the individual.

The C.I.9 certificate included detailed identifying information, names of friends, photo (at least from 1910), and travel details. Two different versions are known. The following description of personal information found on a C.I.9 certificate is based on a 1917 example:

Certificate number
Port of departure

e.g. Vancouver

Destination

e.g. Hong Kong

Name of ship

e.g. Empress of Russia

Date of departure

e.g. Nov 22 1917

Expected port of return

Vancouver

Proper name

e.g. Leung Chik

Other names

e.g. Leung Chik Lew

Month, year and port of arrival in Canada; name of ship

e.g. 1907 (Van. Emp Japan) June

Current place of residence in Canada

e.g. Granum, Alta.

First year at current place of residence

e.g. 1907

Name and number of main identifying document

e.g. C.I. 36 No. 06604

Occupation

e.g.Merchant

Place of birth

e.g. Bok Gin

e.g. 30

Height

e.g. 5 feet 6 inches

Facial marks or other peculiarities

e.g. Mole and scar between eyebrows, Scar back 1 ear, Mole 1 upperlip

The certificate also includes a declaration by one or more individuals, attesting to the accuracy of the information, as in the following example:

I am personally known to Bew On Hong and Lung Way both of Vancouver to whom I would refer you for correctness of statements herein made.

Following the declaration, the individual signed his name in Chinese characters.

The Controller of Immigration who collected the certificate when the individual returned to Canada also made a declaration that recorded the ship and date on which the person returned, for example:

I have personally examined the person of Chinese origin who claims to be the person above described and whose photograph is affixed hereon (2), who returned to Canada on the name of ship, day and month, 19__ and declare him to be the same person.

Controller's signature

Dated at place, 19__

Related records include:

Lists of Persons Readmitted to Canada at Victoria Under C.I.9 / 9A Certificates and Other Readmissions and Cancellations

Lists of Persons to Whom C.I.9 and C.I.9A Certificates Have Been Issued in Vancouver and Victoria

Finding the Records

At the Vancouver Public Library

A set of C.I.9 certificates issued at Vancouver and Victoria has been microfilmed by Library and Archives Canada and is available at the Vancouver Public Library. The microfilms include both the foreign-born and people born in Canada. The films comprise approximately 41,000 certificates. The foreign-born (approximately 35,600) greatly outnumber the Canadian-born (approximately 5600). The certificates are arranged chronologically, as follows:

Victoria - Born abroad (1910-1920)

Film number	Certificate numbers	Dates
T-6038	15701 - 18099	7 September 1910 - 4 October 1911
T-6039	18100 - 21100	4 October 1911 - 30 October 1912
T-6040	21101 - 23800	30 October 1913 - 20 March 1914
T-6041	23801 - 26500	20 March 1914 - 15 December 1914
T-6042	26501 - 29200	15 December 1914 - 19 October 1915
T-6043	29201 - 31700	19 October 1915 - 30 November 1916
T-6044	31701 - 34400	30 November 1916 - 30 October 1918
T-6045	34401 - 37100	30 October 1918 - 9 April 1920

Victoria - Born in Canada (1913-1952)

Film number	Certificate numbers	Dates
T-6046	1 - 2375	7 May 1913 - 24 July 1952

Vancouver - Born abroad (1910-1919)

Film number	Certificate numbers	Dates
T-6047	17175 - 20110	28 September 1910 - 10 January 1912
T-6048	20111 - 22899	10 January 1911 - 22 October 1913
T-6049	22900 - 25899	22 October 1913 - 12 July 1916
T-6050	25900 - 28649	12 July 1916 - 20 November 1917
T-6051	28650 - 31399	20 November 1917 - 23 July 1919

Vancouver - Born in Canada (1915-1939)

Film number	Certificate numbers	Dates
T-6052	1 - 3240	29 June 1915 - 8 September 1939

Some certificates are missing.

For more details, see the archival inventory description of C.I.9 Certificates from Vancouver and Victoria in the General Inventory on the Library and Archives Canada website.

Photo banner: Detail from VPL Historical Photograph 78362