Daily AncestorSection 6 certificate
A Section 6 certificate was a paper from the Chinese government letting an exempt Chinese merchant, student, teacher or traveler enter the U.S.
The name comes from section 6 of the 1882 exclusion law, which left the door open for these exempt classes if they presented a certificate from their government. Officials checked the holder against the paper on arrival.
A merchant could also bring his wife and children if he proved the relationship, so a merchant ancestor's file may lead to the whole family's. Expect his testimony, partnership lists, statements from business contacts and photographs.
How to cite this page
Daily Ancestor. "Section 6 certificate." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/immigration/section-6-certificate. Last checked 2026-10-03.