Dear future neighbour,
Something unexpected has been happening to a group of people who thought their Canadian citizenship journey was already over. They had their applications approved, received their citizenship certificates, and in some cases even got a Social Insurance Number and a Canadian passport. Then, on June 13, 2026, emails started landing in inboxes and the news wasn’t good.
Canada’s citizenship department reached out to a number of people, mostly based in the United States, who had recently obtained citizenship certificates under the country’s expanded citizenship-by-descent laws. The message? Their approved citizenship claims were now “under review,” and they were being asked to return their certificates while the government took a second look.
Understandably, this has caused a lot of anxiety. So let’s break down exactly what is going on, why it’s happening, and what people in this situation can do about it.
What does the letter actually say?
The letters reference subsection 26(1) of the Citizenship Regulations, which gives the Registrar of Canadian Citizenship the authority to request that a person hand back their citizenship certificate when there is reason to believe they may not be entitled to it. This is important to note – it is not a revocation of citizenship. It is a review. The government is essentially hitting pause to re-examine the file, and if everything checks out, the certificate gets returned.
Recipients are also given the opportunity to submit additional documents to support their case. So while it’s an uncomfortable situation, it’s not necessarily the end of the road.
Why were these applications flagged?
The government cited two main reasons in these letters.
The first is that the supporting documents submitted did not come from what they call a “source authority” – meaning the original office that created and holds the record, such as a vital statistics office, a civil registry, or a recognized provincial archive. A printout from a genealogy website like Ancestry or FamilySearch, even if it shows the exact same information, does not meet this standard.
The second reason is that where an original document was unavailable, applicants did not include a written explanation or any evidence that they had actually tried to obtain it.
Put simply, many of the people who received these letters are likely Canadian by descent but they just haven’t proven it in the specific way the government requires.
What should you do if you’ve already received one of these letters?
First, don’t panic. The letter will usually spell out exactly what raised concern in your file, and that gives you something concrete to work with.
If your issue is about document sources, focus on getting certified copies directly from the issuing authority and not scans or downloads from genealogy platforms. For each person in your family line, you ideally want at least one official record proving the link to the next generation. Birth certificates are the strongest option; marriage certificates help bridge gaps where surnames change.
If the problem is a missing document, the solution isn’t to ignore the gap, it’s to document it properly. When a records office has no record to provide, they can issue what’s called a “letter of no record,” which is a formal statement confirming the document doesn’t exist in their files. IRCC has a similar process and can issue its own version of this letter. Pairing that with alternative evidence and a written explanation is far more likely to satisfy a reviewing officer than leaving the gap unexplained.
If your physical certificate was already printed, the letter will ask you to return it during the review period. If it was issued electronically, you may not need to send anything back. Either way, keep copies of absolutely everything as the review process tends to take several months.
How to protect yourself from the start
If you haven’t yet submitted a citizenship-by-descent application, this situation is a good reminder of what to get right from the beginning.
Always request documents directly from the original source. A vital statistics office, civil registry, or recognized provincial archive is the right place to go not a genealogy subscription service. Ask for certified copies that are stamped or sealed by the issuing authority.
Make sure your chain of documentation is complete. Every generation in your line of descent needs to be connected by an authoritative record. If there’s a gap – say, a birth from the 1850s where no record exists, don’t leave it undocumented. Write a formal explanation, try to get a letter of no record from the relevant authority, and include any alternative evidence you have.
An unexplained gap is the problem. A properly documented one, with proof that you tried, is far less likely to cause issues.
Your Citizenship Questions Deserve Real Answers – Let’s Talk
Whether you’ve received a surrender letter, are in the middle of a citizenship-by-descent application, or are just starting to explore your options, this is exactly the kind of situation where having the right guidance makes all the difference. Navigating citizenship applications, Express Entry, provincial nomination, work permits, postgraduate work permits, spousal sponsorship, visitor visas, super visas, and school admissions – all of it comes with fine print that’s easy to miss on your own. Book a consultation with us today and let’s make sure your file is as strong as it can be from the very first step.
