Canadian authorities have begun reviewing several recently approved citizenship-by-descent applications, asking some new citizens to surrender their citizenship certificates while officials reassess supporting documentation.
According to reports, the review affects individuals who obtained Canadian citizenship certificates under the country’s expanded citizenship-by-descent provisions. Some recipients had already secured Canadian passports and Social Insurance Numbers in anticipation of relocating to Canada.
On June 13, officials from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada sent notices to affected individuals informing them that their citizenship claims were being re-examined.
The letters cited provisions of Canada’s Citizenship Regulations that allow the Registrar of Canadian Citizenship to request the return of citizenship certificates when there are concerns about an applicant’s eligibility.
Authorities stressed that the process does not automatically revoke citizenship status. Instead, it initiates a review during which applicants may submit additional evidence supporting their claims.
Officials said many of the flagged applications involved documentation that did not originate from recognized source authorities such as civil registries, vital statistics offices, or official archives responsible for maintaining the records used to establish citizenship eligibility.
In other cases, applicants were unable to provide required source documents and failed to include explanations or evidence showing efforts made to obtain them.
Who is Affected?
The review has primarily affected applicants seeking citizenship through descent, where proving an unbroken family lineage from a Canadian citizen is essential.
Immigration experts noted that some applicants relied heavily on genealogy websites and family-history databases rather than certified government-issued records. Others encountered gaps in historical records but did not adequately document those gaps in their applications.
Applicants who have received review notices are being encouraged to provide certified records, official source documents, and written explanations for any unavailable records.
Experts say obtaining documents directly from the original issuing authority remains one of the most important steps in establishing citizenship eligibility. Birth certificates, marriage certificates and other officially certified records are often required to demonstrate family relationships across generations.
Where records no longer exist, applicants are advised to obtain “no record” letters from the relevant authority and provide alternative evidence alongside a detailed explanation.
Immigration lawyers say the review process highlights the importance of thorough documentation, particularly for citizenship-by-descent applications involving historical records and complex family histories.
While processing timelines remain unclear, affected applicants are being urged to keep copies of all submitted materials and respond promptly to requests from immigration officials.
