Dear future neighbour,
If you’ve been worried about the recent news on Canada asking some citizenship by descent applicants to return their certificates, this is some relief: IRCC has finally explained what happened, and it’s a smaller issue than it seemed.
On June 30, 2026, IRCC confirmed that only about 1% of applicants processed under Bill C-3 have been affected. Out of roughly 6,500 applications reviewed under Canada’s expanded citizenship by descent rules, a routine check in early June flagged 100 certificates that lacked strong enough supporting documentation of which some relied on open-source records instead of certified proof.
Those 100 certificates were temporarily suspended while IRCC took a closer look. The update: 33 have already been reinstated automatically, since the documentation on file turned out to be sufficient. The remaining 67 are being resolved within days, either reinstated or followed up with a request for more information.
IRCC also admitted the mix-up partly came down to unclear internal guidance, not applicant error. That guidance has now been tightened, with clearer instructions on what documentation is actually required.
What this means going forward: if you’re applying for citizenship by descent, you’ll need certified documents proving your Canadian lineage not informal sources. If something isn’t available, you’ll need to explain the steps you took to try to find it. With the review now complete, final processing of citizenship certificates may resume soon, though IRCC hasn’t set an official restart date.
Documentation standards are tightening, and getting it right from the start matters more than ever.
Let’s Get Your Citizenship Application Right, the First Time
Applying for citizenship by descent (or any other immigration pathway) shouldn’t feel like a guessing game. At Ese Umoh Immigration, we help clients navigate citizenship applications, Express Entry, provincial nomination, work permits, postgraduate work permits, spousal sponsorship, visitor visas, super visas, and school admissions with accuracy and confidence. Book a 30-minute or 60-minute consultation today at and let’s set your application up for success.