Canada requests return of new citizenship certificates

Canadian immigration authorities have requested that a number of individuals who recently obtained citizenship through descent return their official certificates while their eligibility is reassessed, creating widespread uncertainty among affected families. The move follows the implementation of expanded citizenship laws last year.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) began sending notices over the weekend of June 13-14, informing recipients that their files were being reopened for review. The letters instructed them to surrender their citizenship certificates. Many of those affected had already received their certificates, obtained Canadian passports and Social Insurance Numbers, and were making plans to relocate.

The reviews stem from applications processed under Bill C-3, legislation that came into force in December 2025. The law broadened eligibility for citizenship by descent, allowing individuals born outside Canada to claim citizenship if they could prove a parental link to a Canadian citizen, potentially across multiple generations. This change led to a surge in applications from descendants often referred to as "Lost Canadians."