ID cards

[londonjones]

Is it possible to find information relating to old ID cards?  My grandfather immigrated to the UK from the Russian Empire around 1900 and he was required to carry an alien's ID card.  I know its number from his war record and I was wondering if it was possible to access a copy of it or the information it would have contained from any government files?

[stanmapstone]

There is a National Archives Research Guide http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/atoz/a.htm#

Stan

[mshrmh]

Welcome to RootsChat.

Would it be an "aliens' registration card"? The National Archives has a selection online from the London area:
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/aliens-registration-cards.htm

They also have an area "Looking for records of an immigrant", which includes areas such as naturalisation which may apply:
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/looking-for-person/immigrants.htm
There's also "Looking for records of a naturalised Briton":
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/looking-for-person/naturalised-britons.htm

Not all immigrants took British citizenship, though.

[stanmapstone]

Those are all listed on the link I gave to the National Archives Research Guide http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/atoz/a.htm#

Stan

[mshrmh]

Those are all listed on the link I gave to the National Archives Research Guide http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/atoz/a.htm#

Stan

Stan - I'm aware of that, but felt that as Londonjones is a newcomer, it may be easier for him/her for a more specific pointer, so left my post intact when yours came up after I'd started my reply. Sorry if I've caused an upset.

[londonjones]

Thanks for your replies, which were very helpful.
Apologies for not replying sooner, but for some reason the system timed me out on both previous occasions when I tried to reply!

Simon

[millymcb]

You could also take a look at the London gazette as their may be a a reference to naturalisation being applied for or granted.

http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/

Milly