Virginia Naturalization and Citizenship

Portal:United States Naturalization >Virginia

History

In the colonial era, the general assembly and the governor granted citizenship to aliens. Some of these records have been published in the sources listed in the “Public Records” section.

Later naturalization records could be filed in a city, county, state, or federal court. Naturalization information is usually found in the orders and minutes of the various local courts of Virginia that were kept by the county clerk in each courthouse.

Most of the surviving original county court record books before 1865 have been transferred to the Library of Virginia. The Family History Library has microfilm copies of most of these. They are listed in the Family History Library Catalog Place Search under VIRGINIA, [COUNTY] - COURT RECORDS. Copies of declarations, petitions, and certificates still at the county courthouse can be obtained by contacting the clerk's office.

Records of the Eastern U.S. District Court held at Richmond and Alexandria, and the Western U.S. District Court, held at Charlottesville and Big Stone Gap, are at the National Archives—Mid-Atlantic Region. The Family History Library has filmed naturalizations for the Eastern District for 1867-1938 and Western District for 1908-1929. The Library of Virginia has some U.S. court records for 1790-1861.

Post 1906 Records

For naturalization records after September 1906, access the Genealogy Program at www.uscis.gov. 

Online resources

Index to Naturalization Petitions, Eastern District of Virginia, 1909-1929: http://www.alexandria.lib.va.us/lhsc_genealogy_resources/citizen/citizen.html