Alien registration
The threat posed by world war during the 20th century twice caused the Australian Government to require all 'aliens' (ie non-British subjects/foreign nationals living in Australia) to register with local authorities. Registration was required between 1916 and 1926, and again between 1939 and 1971.
Alien registration forms may include information on the ship and date of arrival, date and place of birth, occupation, marital status, a physical description or photograph, and addresses in Australia.
What alien registration records do we hold?
For more information on alien registration:
- WWI internee, alien and POW records held in Canberra
- WWI internee, alien and POW records held in Sydney
- WWI internee, alien and POW records held in Adelaide
- WWII internee, alien and POW records held in Canberra
- WWII internee, alien and POW records held in Sydney
- WWII internee, alien and POW records held in Adelaide
- Wartime internee, alien and POW records held in Perth
- Records relating to Dutch migration held in Sydney
- Civil Aliens Corps records held in Perth
- Alien registration records held in Perth
- Records relating to Italian migration held in Perth
Sample alien registration card
You can see a sample of an alien registration card in our postwar migration records showcase.
