Citizenship-by-Descent Applicants Face New Review Delays

Canada has paused the final processing of some new citizenship-by-descent applications while federal officials review how certain files were approved.

The move follows letters sent by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada to a small number of people who had already received citizenship certificates. The letters asked them to surrender their certificates while the department re-examines their applications.

In a statement reported late Wednesday, IRCC said it had started an internal review to determine “how this occurred.” The department also said it is taking steps to ensure applications are assessed fairly and lawfully.

What Applicants Can Still Do

The reports offered new details for people who received a surrender letter. Applicants who already received a certificate and moved to Canada can continue working while the review takes place.

However, they cannot use a Canadian passport while IRCC reviews their citizenship claim. Under Canadian citizenship rules, people who received a surrender letter are still considered Canadian citizens while their file remains under review.

A citizenship certificate normally proves a person’s status and allows them to apply for a passport. IRCC will allow affected applicants to provide more documents. If the review confirms their Canadian lineage, the department will return the certificate.

Why The Letters Were Sent

Earlier reports said IRCC asked recent certificate holders to return their documents because officials had questions about their entitlement to citizenship.

The letters referred to a regulation that lets the Registrar of Canadian Citizenship request a certificate when there is reason to question whether a person qualifies. They also pointed to gaps in documents submitted with some applications.

The response was strong. Some applicants argued that the government approved files and then questioned the same evidence. Others asked whether forcing people to give up a certificate before a final decision may raise constitutional concerns. Those legal questions remain unsettled.

More Delays Expected

It remains unclear how many people have received surrender letters.

The issue follows changes to Canada’s citizenship laws that took effect on December 15. Under the change, people born before that date may claim Canadian citizenship without meeting a residency requirement if they can prove direct lineage, generation by generation, to a Canadian ancestor.

The change has led to a surge in applications, especially from Americans tracing family roots in Canada. Provincial archives have faced heavy demand for old vital records. The proof-of-citizenship queue has also grown, with more than 82,000 applications pending and wait times around 15 months.

The pause may add more time for some applicants.

What New Applicants Should Expect

The law has not changed. Bill C-3 remains in force, and the eligibility rules remain the same. What has changed is the level of review that applicants should expect.

Applicants may strengthen their files by submitting records from the offices that issued them, rather than relying only on transcripts or copies from genealogy websites. Immigration Minister Lena Diab has cited those documents as lacking evidence in several statements this week.

When an original record cannot be found, applicants should include a written explanation showing the search steps they took.