Belgium, Antwerp, Police Immigration - FamilySearch Historical Records

Title in the Language of the Record
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Record Description
The collection consists of files kept by the Antwerp City Police on foreign nationals residing in the city. The files may contain documents from a later period. Family name, given name, birth date (or age), residence, nationality, and occupation are included. For the index to these records, see the collection: Belgium, Antwerp Police Immigration Index, 1840-1930. The indexes are handwritten on pre-printed forms.

For a list of file numbers and years currently published in the Belgium, Antwerp, Police Immigration, 1840-1930 collection, select the Browse.

Citation for This Collection
The following citation refers to the original source of the information published in FamilySearch.org Historical Records collections. Sources include the author, custodian, publisher, and archive for the original records.

Suggested citation format for a record in this collection.

Record Content


The key genealogical facts found on most of the records are:


 * Name
 * Place of birth (for some years)
 * Place of origin (for some years)
 * File number
 * Former residence
 * Departure date from former residence
 * Date of registration in town of birth
 * Occupation
 * Nationality
 * New residence
 * Date and place of death
 * Changes of residence within the municipality
 * Notes

How to Use the Records
Fill in the requested information in the initial search page. This search will return a list of possible matches. Compare the information about the ancestors in the list to what you already know about your ancestors to determine if this is the correct family or person. You may need to compare the information about more than one person to find your ancestor.

To search the collection you will need to follow this series of links: ⇒ Select the "Browse" link in the initial search page ⇒ Select the "File Numbers and Years" category which takes you to the images.

Look at the images one by one comparing the information with what you already know about your ancestors to determine which one is your ancestor. You may need to compare the information about more than one person to make this determination.

Begin your search with the indexes and follow the steps below.

How to Use the Index to Locate Original Records of Film

 * After locating the indexed entry for an individual write down the “file number” that appears on the entry.
 * View the list of microfilm on the FamilySearch Library Catalog page titled “Vreemdelingendossiers (Antwerpen), 1840-1930,” by clicking " here
 * Scroll down to the “Film Notes” section, and on down beyond the first six film titles. These are films that contain indexes that you have already searched on-line.
 * Ignore much of the film description information found on each line, and focus on the two numbers that follow "nr."
 * Locate the line containing two such numbers that bracket the “file number” recorded in Step 1 above. Note: In some cases, “nr.” appears only once in a film description, and the two immediately-following numbers comprise the relevant “file number” range. In other cases, “nr.” appears twice in a film description, in which case each of the two numbers that follow “nr.”--although not adjacent to each other--comprise the “file number” range.
 * The correct film number is found in the column to the right of the film description explained in Step 5 above. Use this number to order the film.
 * When you are viewing the film, scroll through the document to locate the “file number” recorded in Step 1 to see the desired dossier.
 * Year and place of origin in the indexes can give clues to further information about the birth of the individual and possibly parents.

Related Websites

 * " Belgium, Antwerp Police Immigration Index

Related Wiki Articles

 * Antwerp Belgium Family History Center
 * Belgium
 * Tracing Immigrants Origin Population

Citing FamilySearch Historical Collections
When you copy information from the record, you should list where you found the information. This will help you or others to find the record again. It is also good to keep track of records where you do not find information, including the names of the people you looked for in the records.

A suggested format for keeping track of records that you have searched in found in the wiki article Help:How to Cite FamilySearch Collections.

Citation Example for a Record Found in This Collection
"Belgium, Antwerp Police Immigration Index, 1840-1939," index and images, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1971-28168-6569-28?cc=2023926&amp;wc=MMSQ-P65:n1776671618 : accessed June 14, 2012), nr. 23547-23935, 1867-1868 &gt; Image 17 and 18 of 1058, Antoine Hubert Simons, immigration certificate of residence dated 19 July 1867; citing Rijksarchief te Antwerpen. Belgium, Antwerp Police Immigration Index. Antwerp City Archive, Antwerp, Belgium.