Series consists of Chinese Immigration (C.I.) registration and identification certificates related to implementing Canada’s Chinese Immigration Act that was law from 1885 to 1947, with amendments made in 1887, 1892, 1900, 1903, and 1923. Certificates were first issued to register and identify Chinese persons entering Canada. This function was expanded with the 1923 amendment requiring registration and identification of all Chinese persons residing in the country, immigrant and Canadian-born.

The series includes the most common C.I. certificates issued before the 1923 Chinese Immigration Act banned practically all further Chinese entry, therefore commonly known as the Chinese Exclusion Act:
-The C.I.5 certificate issued in relation to the head tax payment required for Chinese entry to Canada, commonly known as the head tax certificate. Early versions of the certificate in use before 1912 are present.
-C.I.36 certificate issued in exchange for a C.I.5 certificate issued before 1912 that had no photograph.
-C.I.30 certificate issued to a Chinese person entering Canada belonging to a class with exemption from paying the head tax.
-C.I.28 certificate issued to replace a lost or destroyed C.I.5 or C.I.30 certificate.

The series includes a large number of C.I.45 certificates created in 1923 and 1924. The certificate was used to implement Section 18 of the 1923 Chinese Immigration Act that required the registration of all Chinese residing in Canada within twelve months. It was issued as proof of registration of a Canadian-born Chinese who did not possess an entry certificate for the registration stamp.

Also included in the series are samples of lesser-known C.I. certificates and records, including the C.I.4, C.I.10, C.I.18 and C.I.18a, C.I.46, and C.I.50.

The series includes a small number of N.F.63 certificates related to Chinese entry to the Dominion of Newfoundland. Newfoundland’s Act Respecting the Immigration of Chinese Persons (commonly known as the Newfoundland Chinese Immigration Act) was in force from 1906 until Newfoundland and Laborador joined Confederation in 1949.

A small number of certificates relates to birth in Canada, travel documentation, registration as overseas Chinese with the Chinese government, and Canadian citizenship received following the repeal of the Chinese Immigration Act in 1947.