Canada is already returning citizenship certificates it demanded days ago from lost Canadians

Some of the new Canadians asked to surrender their citizenship certificates last week have already been told they can keep them, in a quick reversal by Canada’s citizenship department.

Less than a week after the federal government asked flagged applicants to hand back their certificates for review, it has begun reversing those requests, issuing “revalidation letters” confirming the entitlement to and reactivation of the certificates.

Get a Free Consultation on Applying for Proof of Canadian Citizenship

What these letter say

Revalidation letters that the CIC News teams have viewed are signed by Peggy Sun, Registrar of Canadian Citizenship (also the sender of the original surrender letters), and dated June 19, 2026.

They inform the recipient that a review of the documents filed with their proof-of-citizenship application is now complete, and state that there is sufficient evidence to support the claim, and that the person is entitled to hold a certificate.

On that basis, the letter says the certificate "shall not be cancelled," citing subsection 26(4) of the Citizenship Regulations.

That subsection requires the Registrar to return a certificate once the Minister has determined the person is entitled to it.

The letter adds that IRCC's records and electronic systems now show the certificate as active, that an electronic certificate was issued, and that no further action is needed.

While the return of citizenship certificates, following a satisfactory finding of proof, was clearly outlined in the initial surrender letters, the citizenship department’s expedited timeline on these decisions has surprised observers.

How the story got here

This is the latest turn in a saga that has moved quickly.

On June 13, IRCC asked recent recipients to hand their certificates back for review, pointing to gaps in the documents applicants had filed.

Days later, the department paused finalizing some new proof of citizenship applications and clarified that affected people already in Canada could keep working but couldn't use a Canadian passport during the review.

The episode also prompted new IRCC guidance on what counts as proof of Canadian lineage, raising the documentary standard for these applications.

And it drew legal pushback, with some arguing the government had shifted the standard after the fact and warning that the forced surrender may be unconstitutional. Those questions remain open.

What this means for applicants

Bill C-3 remains in force, and the eligibility rules are the same as before.

What recent developments have shown, however, is a distinct change in what qualifies as proof, and an explicit increase in the documentary standard requiring applicants to document their attempts to procure supporting evidence.

An experienced immigration lawyer who works under the Bill C-3 framework can help build a file that holds up to review the first time, and respond precisely to the exact gap if a surrender letter does arrive. Applicants who initially go into the application process with that support are better placed to avoid these issues altogether.

Get a Free Consultation on Applying for Proof of Canadian Citizenship