IRCC Says Some Citizenship Certificates Will Stay Valid

Some Canadians who were recently asked to return their citizenship certificates are now being told they can keep them.

Canada’s citizenship department has started issuing revalidation letters to some affected people, less than a week after it asked them to surrender their certificates for review. The move marks a quick reversal in a situation that has caused concern among people known as “lost Canadians.”

The original letters asked certain certificate holders to send back their documents because Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada,, wanted to review gaps in their proof-of-citizenship applications.

Revalidation Letters Sent

The new revalidation letters are signed by Peggy Sun, Registrar of Canadian Citizenship. She also signed the earlier surrender letters. The revalidation letters are dated June 19, 2026.

The letters say IRCC has completed its review of the documents submitted with the person’s proof-of-citizenship application. They also state that there is enough evidence to support the person’s claim to citizenship.

Because of that finding, the letters confirm that the person is entitled to hold a citizenship certificate. They also say the certificate “shall not be cancelled,” citing subsection 26(4) of the Citizenship Regulations.

That rule requires the Registrar to return a certificate once the Minister determines the person is entitled to it.

The letters also confirm that IRCC’s records and electronic systems now show the certificate as active. They add that an electronic certificate has been issued and that no further action is required from the recipient.

No New Evidence Submitted

Several people who received revalidation letters said they had not submitted any new evidence after receiving the earlier surrender request.

That suggests IRCC may have reviewed their files using documents and information already on record.

The original surrender letters had stated that certificates would be returned if the review found the person was entitled to them. However, the speed of the department’s response has surprised some observers.

How the Issue Began

The situation began on June 13, when IRCC asked some recent certificate recipients to return their documents for review. The department said there were gaps in the documents submitted with certain applications.

Soon after, IRCC paused the finalization of some new proof-of-citizenship applications.

The department also clarified that affected people already in Canada could continue working. However, they could not use a Canadian passport while the review was underway.

The issue also led IRCC to release new guidance on what counts as proof of Canadian lineage. That guidance appears to raise the level of documentation expected from applicants.

Legal Questions Remain

The certificate surrender requests also drew legal criticism.

Some critics argued that the government had changed the proof standard after applications were already approved. Others warned that forcing people to surrender citizenship certificates could raise constitutional concerns.

Those legal questions have not yet been resolved.

What Applicants Should Know

Bill C-3 remains in force, and the eligibility rules have not changed.

However, recent events show that IRCC is applying a stricter approach to proof. Applicants may now need to show not only supporting documents, but also clear efforts to obtain missing evidence.

People applying for proof of Canadian citizenship may benefit from preparing a strong file from the start. Legal support can also help applicants respond carefully if IRCC raises concerns or sends a surrender letter.