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Canadian immigration records

Where to find records of your Irish ancestor's arrival and life in Canada

While they date back to the 18th century, Canadian immigration records are something of a hit and miss affair because there was no requirement to either make or keep passenger and crew lists before 1865.

Nor was there any uniformity of recording. So, while some surviving records are very useful, providing names, ages, places of birth and occupations for heads of household and accompanying family members, others merely record name and date of arrival of individuals.

Post-1865 the situation is much better. Canadian immigration records from this date provide plenty of great genealogy research data, and are reasonably easy to access, although sometimes only for a fee.


Where can Canadian immigration records be accessed?

Below are details of the principal access points, together with a couple of smaller genealogy sites that may be of interest. Links to these sites are in the grey box towards the end of this page.

Below are brief details of the principal access points, together with a couple of smaller genealogy sites that may be of interest. Links to these sites are in the box to the right.

Ancestry: Having entered into an agreement with Libraries & Archives Canada, this huge subscription-based site holds a number of Canadian immigration records. The following collections are indexed, and digitised images can be viewed for a fee.

  • Border Crossing Lists: From Canada to the USA 1895-1956
  • Border Crossing Lists: From the USA to Canada 1908-1935
  • Great Lakes Passenger Lists (of those who landed in Canada and travelled to the USA via the Great Lakes/St Albans Ports): Not complete.
  • Canadian Passenger Lists: From Ireland and England (and elsewhere) to Canada 1865-1935. The details recorded varies according to the port.
  • Canadian Census returns: From 1861-1911. (See LAC for free online access.)

Canadian Naturalisation

Until 1867, when Canada became a nation and cast off its previous title of British North America, settlers from Ireland had no need to apply for Canadian naturalisation because they were British subjects.

Even after that date, and until 1947, immigrants from Britain were automatically entitled to citizenship in Canada. The island of Ireland was a part of Britain until 1922.

Libraries & Archives Canada (LAC): An outstanding site, crammed full of goodies for those seeking Irish ancestors and an understanding of the 19th-century Irish immigrant experience. Here's a sample of those you might want to search, but do be sure to explore this site fully.

 

Family Search: Everything free to search.

 

Other resources: There are many free online offerings of passenger lists. Those below are perhaps the most useful for finding Irish immigrants to Canada.


Libraries & Archives Canada (LAC): An outstanding site, crammed full of goodies for those seeking Irish ancestors and an understanding of the 19th-century Irish immigrant experience. Here's a sample of those you might want to search, but do be sure to explore this site fully.

Canadian Naturalisation

Until 1867, when Canada became a nation and cast off its previous title of British North America, settlers from Ireland had no need to apply for Canadian naturalisation because they were British subjects.

Even after that date, and until 1947, immigrants from Britain were automatically entitled to citizenship in Canada. The island of Ireland was a part of Britain until 1922.

Family Search: Everything free to search.

 

Other resources: There are many free online offerings of passenger lists. Those below are perhaps the most useful for finding Irish immigrants to Canada.


Principal sources of Canadian immigration records



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