Puerto Rico Emigration and Immigration
Online Records
- Puerto Rico, Passenger and Crew Lists, 1901-1962, Ancestry.com, ($), index and browsable images.
- Extranjeros (Foreigners in Puerto Rico), ca 1807-1880
- Record Collection 1919700, images
- Emigrados, 1816-1837, images
- Puerto Rico Records of Foreign Residents, 1815-1845, Images. Also at Ancestry.com, ($), images.
- Pasaportes (Passports), 1795-1889, images.
- Declaraciones de naturalización (Naturalization Records), 1899-1900, images
- Puerto Rico, naturalization records, 1900-1981, images
Migration Patterns
Emigration is a major part of contemporary Puerto Rican history. Starting soon after World War II, poverty, cheap airfares, and promotion by the island government caused waves of Puerto Ricans to move to the United States, particularly to the Northeastern states, and Florida. This trend continued even as Puerto Rico's economy improved and its birth rate declined. Puerto Ricans continue to follow a pattern of "circular migration", with some migrants returning to the island.