SP11/3 holds the registration papers for aliens temporarily residing in NSW and those longer term residents who died or left the Commonwealth. Under the wartime National Security Regulations, all aliens in Australia were required to register themselves with the local police or military authorities, and this series and those related to it contain the products of this registration process. 

This series mainly relates to persons who entered Australia for only a short period of time - that is tourists, business people, ships' crews and missionaries. Also included are longer term residents who died or left Australia. Registration forms however, are also held within this series for other diverse groups, such as members of the Russian ballet and for the German internees transported to Sydney aboard the HMT 'Dunera'.

The main form compiled by each person registering (the 'Form of application for registration for alien resident in Australia') contains quite detailed information about the individual, such as their full name, nationality, birthplace, date of birth, date, manner and place of their arrival in Australia and a personal description. Each form also usually contains a passport size photograph of the individual, as well as a set of their fingerprints. Other documents often contained within an individual's set of papers are the 'Notice of change of abode' form and a certificate of their registration as an alien.  

Registration papers for naturalised Australians were filed with the collection of records that are now held in series SP11/5.
 
Administrative information
 
The following has been keyed from the paper documentation:
Archives file number:    RWS28/1/4