Documents & Records
Chinese Immigration List
Basics
The Chinese Immigration List comprises name and other information about native-born Chinese who registered under Section 18 of the federal Chinese Immigration Act of 1923.
The purpose of the Act was to curtail immigration from China. The legislation also placed restrictions on those already living in Canada. Section 18 required all individuals of Chinese origin to register with federal authorities. At the time of registration, native-born Chinese (those born in Canada) were issued with a Chinese Immigration Certificate No.44 (C.I.44).
The listing of native-born Chinese who registered under the Chinese Immigration Act of 1923 includes the date of birth, birthplace, name, and the number of the C.I.44 certificate issued to each person.
For further details, see the archival description of the Chinese Immigration List in the General Inventory on the Library and Archives Canada website.
Finding the Records
At the Vancouver Public Library
Vancouver Public Library has a photocopy of the Chinese Immigration List, obtained from Library and Archives Canada in November 2005:
Chinese Immigration ListIn the case of individuals born after 1895, date of birth and C.I.44 number have been withheld under the privacy provisions of Section 19(1) of the Access to Information Act (R.S. 1985, c. A-1).
Ref. 325.1 L697c
Online
A searchable online transcription of the portion of the Chinese Immigration List covering the period from 1861-1900 is available in a wiki created by the Vancouver Public Library, Chinese-Canadians: Profiles from a Community.
Photo banner: Detail from VPL Historical Photograph 78362
