Immigration Regulations in Orders in Council 1930s-1950s

The immigration regulations that were waived when immigrants were approved to come to Canada were put into force by orders in council. The second page of each list quotes which order in council was being waived for the listed people to be approved to come to Canada. They are shown as PC and then the number of the order in council.

The photographs of these immigration regulations are shown below in chronological order by the date they were approved. Orders in council are assigned a number when they are sent to the Privy Council. The numbering system starts at one at the beginning of each calendar year.

PC 2115, approved on

September 16, 1930

Order in Council 2115 was approved on September 16, 1930. It stated that only wives and children under the age of 18 of Asiatic men were allowed to enter Canada without the approval of the Privy Council. In 1930 the term 'Asiatic' meant anyone who came from a country east of Greece. This included immigrants from Syria, Palestine, Persia, Armenia and Iraq.

PC 695, approved on

March 21, 1931

Order in Council 695 was approved on March 21, 1931 and brought in new regulations regarding immigrants who were not from Asiatic races. It stated that only British subjects, American citizens, and prospective farmers with sufficient means to support themselves until they found employment could enter Canada. Also, wives and children under the age of 18 of men already in Canada were allowed to enter Canada. Everyone else needed the approval of the Privy Council.

PC 885, approved on

April 23, 1937

Order in Council 885, approved on April 23, 1937, allowed a Canadian man to sponsor his fiancé without the approval of the Privy Council. Until this time, many of the names on these lists were fiancés.