Naturalisation certificates (The National Archives series HO 334 and HO 409)
You can search naturalisations from 1870 to 1980 online now that the naturalisation catalogue enhancement project has recently been completed. All those who successfully applied for British nationality in the United Kingdom and some who applied in British colonies overseas from 1870 to 1980 can now be searched for by name on The National Archives catalogue. Descriptions at item level (some 300,000) have been added to the catalogue in the Home Office record series HO 334, which are duplicate copies of the naturalisation certificates issued to the individuals concerned. This means you no longer have to come to The National Archives to consult the old Home Office printed indexes in series HO 409 to identify people who naturalised. As well as searching by name these records can also be searched by nationality and place of residence (county or town), which is recorded from 1878.
Ernst Freud’s naturalisation certificate BZ 1216 of 30 August 1939 (HO 334/228/1216)
Duplicate certificates for naturalisations granted in the UK between June 1969 and 1980 have not survived. For the period between 1969 and 1980, where there are no surviving duplicate certificates of naturalisation in HO 334, we have created items within the HO 409 series, allowing people to request copies of those index page entries, as required. These entries (some 35,000 of them), relate to certificates issued in the UK, prefixed with a zero “0”. So, between 1969 and 1980 you should search across both series HO 334 and series HO 409. By working from the original documents, the project has unearthed several hundred certificates not indexed in HO 334 (mainly for military service personnel). It has also identified a number of typing errors in the HO 409 typescript indexes, allowing us to open up these certificates for the first time.
Pte. Charles Apcar killed in action November 1918 before he could take the oath of allegiance (HO 334/82/3490)
This enhancement project complements the descriptions for naturalisation case papers in series HO 1, HO 45, HO 144 and HO 405 which for some time have been searchable by name on the catalogue, from 1789 through to the 1950s and 1960s. Now the applications and certificates are cross referenced. The applications or memorials from 1789 to 1934 are in HO 1, HO 45 and HO 144, and are the background papers for those successfully applying for naturalisation. HO 405 are the surviving background papers pertaining to naturalisations in HO 334 after 1934, but at present we only have papers for applicants whose surnames begin A to N. Those for O are in the process of being transferred, while papers for surnames P to Z are still with the Home Office.
Thomas Spencer, residential referee for Michael Mark’s naturalisation application, 1897 (HO 144/407/B23729)
A number of famous names of naturalised Britons can be found in these records. Michael Marks of Marks & Spencer, the explorer Henry Morton Stanley, businessman William Waldorf Astor, writers Hilaire Belloc, Henry James and Joseph Conrad, film producers Alexander and Zoltan Korda, Joseph Coral the bookmaker, Ludvik Hoch (Robert Maxwell) newspaper proprietor, Franco Berni of Berni steakhouses and Charles Forte of Forte hotels and many others.
These records and the enhanced descriptions provide rich data for family, social and local historians, and allow researchers to order copies online without the need to visit Kew.
Im unsure how to search online, I cant see a link anywhere.
Hi Rebekah, you can search for records in Discovery, our new catalogue. Apologies for any confusion – we’ll add some links into the blog post.
Kind regards,
Ruth
I am searching for my father’s Naturalization Certificate Number and Year of issue but can’t get any leads because i don’t have the information above. How can get this information from this website.
Mary.
Hi Mary,
Please use our contact form and one of our advisers will be able to recommend your next best steps. Alternatively, you may find our naturalisation research guides useful.
Kind regards,
For something as specific as a Copy Naturalisation Certificate, it would be useful to have a set fee, rather than having to request a quotation. (I’m researching my late grandmother, HO334/381/33152).
Paul,
the reason why a set fee is not available is that the copy certificates are in bound volumes, although given that you have the full number it would take a few minutes to find and I agree that it should be much easier and cheaper to get the copy certificate. Perhaps TNA need to look at this issue, it is all tied in with the Treasury’s demands that costs are covered.
hello ,my grandfather was a british naturalised so how can i get his duplicate certificate
dilip,
If you type your grandfather’s name into Discovery (under the Records tab) you should find the copy certificate and perhaps a file in the HO (Home Office) files, although those in HO 405 do not have full Christian names. If the file is still closed you can apply under the Freedom of Information Act to have it opened assuming your grandfather is no longer alive (because of Data Protection Act rules) or he is 100 years old.
name [personal details removed]
british.passbort.no.[removed].issued.singapore1963.can.i.get..i.need.a.copy.ofmy.gar.father naturalisation.certificate
Hi Albert,
Unfortunately we can’t help with research requests on the blog. Please go to the ‘contact us’ page on our website: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/contact-us/
You’ll see how to get in touch with our experts by phone, email or live chat.
Best regards,
Liz.
I am a British citizen living in the US and I need a copy of my naturalisation certificate – how can I get it? I was naturalised in 1997.
Hi Manisha,
The National Archives does not hold information on naturalisation certificates issued after 1 October 1986. You will need to contact the UK Border Agency.
I’m interested in naturalisation of Germans and Austrians at the time of WW1.
SORRY — LAST MESSAGE SENT BEFORE IT WAS COMPLETED!
It occurs to me that aliens becoming naturalised around WW1 were probably all relatively wealthy — the ones who could afford the fee. But I’ve not been able to learn about the fee at that time.
How much was charged to applicants?
Thanks.
Hi. I have some docs from c. 1932 when the fee was £9.
I would like to trace a naturalisation record from 1954 or 1955, a Swedish man who is no longer alive. But under H0 405 full Christian names are not listed, so it seems a lost case.
Hello,
I need to prove that I was nationalized as British, it would have been between 1966 and 1983, m y mom thinks it was 1972 but she cannot recall. Can you tell me best way I can check?
Hi
I am not being able to figure out this website 🙁 . I am very hopeful that in this complex record-keeping (commendable!), I am able to find what I need. I am looking for British passport details for a person, as I am trying to figure out if his sons would be eligible to apply for British citizenship and I need to include their father’s British documents.
The father was born in 1936 in Kenya Protectorate (in Kisumu; district of central Nyanza in the province of Nyanza ). He always held a British passport ONLY and never applied for another citizenship and/or passport. Left Kenya, went to India, entered Kenya in August 1960 and soon after went to England to live for a few years (maybe just a year or two) at which time he apparently applied for something – either naturalization or citizenship (his wife is unsure). We have his birth certificate but not his British passport which we would need to include with his sons’ applications. Where can I search to see if any records exist: 1) His British passport which would have been issued in Kenya I am thinking. 2) Record if he registered for anything in England in 1960-1962, naturalization or citizenship (I am not aware of criteria required). THANK YOU! I am amazed that this and GRO services exist online !
Subba Khan
I am a British citizen living in Pakistan and I need a copy of my naturalization certificate.how can I get it? I was naturalized in 1975
According to family stories my great grandfather was born in France 1834 -1836 and was brought to England when he was about 2. Apparently the last name was changed at the time of naturalization/immigration. arrival whatever, “by the government” as Grandad said and has many variations as I have found through researching the census, Maybe Pellicier / Pellicer to start then Pillock, Perrick, Pollock and Pellick!! is there any chance that I would be able to find any records and if so how do I proceed? Thank you
Hi Gillian,
Unfortunately we’re unable to help with family history requests on the blog, but if you go to our contact us page: http://nationalarchives.gov.uk/contact/ you’ll see how to get in touch with our record experts via phone, email or live chat.
I hope that helps.
Nell
How can I find a deceased Grandparent Naturalization papers? I do not know when he was Naturalized, whether before or after 1986. His name is Eustace Appleton from Antigua and Barbuda
Hi Angela,
Unfortunately we’re unable to help with research requests on the blog, but if you go to our ‘contact us’ page at http://nationalarchives.gov.uk/contact/ you’ll see how to get in touch with our record experts via phone, email or live chat.
Best regards,
Liz.
Where can I please find statistics on Australians who became naturalised prior to 2003?
Hi David,
Thanks for your comment.
We can’t answer research requests on the blog, but if you go to our ‘contact us’ page at http://nationalarchives.gov.uk/contact/ you’ll see how to get in touch with our record experts by email, live chat or phone.
Best of luck with your research.
Kind regards,
Liz.
Hello there!
What kind of information possible to get from naturalization records?
Does that include any personal photos?
Thank you
Regards, Valerii
Hi Valerii. Please see our research guide for further information.
Hello, I have been informed that my search request for my mothers naturalisation papers has been successful and I have requested a copy. That may take some time to get to me in Canada. Will that include the application documents and/or any copies or references to national id used as identification of the individual. My mother was born in Stettin, Germany at the time, but is now Szczecin, part of Poland. We are not having success finding any records of her in Germany (she fled at the end of WWII and her town was annexed by Poland, so records may be lost). As part of the application for British naturalisation, is the applicants id recorded somewhere. If it is, is it provided as part of the certificate copy or does one need to look elsewhere? Your assistance and advice is much appreciated.
Dear John Maton
I’m afraid we can’t really answer that via the blog, so please contact us by using the enquiry form here: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/contact-us/make-a-records-and-research-enquiry/.
With best wishes,
The National Archives