Canada Freezes Citizenship-By-Descent Decisions Amid Review

Immigration Minister Lena Diab says Canada has stopped finalizing new citizenship-by-descent applications while officials review files tied to recently issued citizenship certificates.

Diab confirmed the pause on Tuesday, June 23. She said the government is also checking the cases of people who already received proof of Canadian citizenship certificates under the updated rules.

“Those that are deemed to be okay are being told [they’re] fine,” Diab said.

Status Remains In Place

The minister said the review does not remove anyone’s Canadian citizenship while the files are being checked. Affected people who are already in Canada can continue to work during the review.

“We are taking it seriously, and we will review it and take the time that we need, ensuring that we will be clear with Canadians,” Diab told reporters.

The pause follows letters sent on June 13 by Canada’s citizenship department to several dozen people. Those letters asked recipients to surrender proof of Canadian citizenship certificates that had already been approved. The letters said their citizenship claims were now “under review.”

Cause Of Review Not Confirmed

At the press conference, Diab was asked whether the problem came from the department’s use of artificial intelligence, advanced analytics tools, or an individual officer’s mistake.

She did not directly answer what caused the government to ask approved applicants to return their certificates. Diab said only that she ordered the department to investigate “the second” she learned something was wrong.

New Proof Requirements Issued

As the review continues, the citizenship department has released updated guidance for people applying for citizenship by descent.

The new instructions raise the standard for supporting documents. They say applicants should provide records from the original authorities responsible for keeping historical documents whenever possible.

The change means applicants may need stronger evidence to prove their Canadian lineage. It also shows that officials are taking a closer look at how these claims are supported.

Some Certificates Returned

Canada has already begun returning some certificates this week.

Revalidation letters from the department say officials have completed the document review, found enough evidence to support the claim, and confirmed the person is entitled to hold a citizenship certificate.

Some people who received revalidation letters say they did not submit any new evidence after getting the earlier surrender letters.

Major Law Change Drove Demand

The issue follows major changes to Canada’s Citizenship Act that took effect on December 15, 2025. The changes removed the first-generation limit for people born outside Canada before that date who can inherit Canadian citizenship by descent.

After the change, immigration lawyers and citizenship consultants reported a sharp rise in demand in February and March 2026. Many inquiries came from Americans seeking proof of Canadian citizenship.

By June, about 82,000 applications were in the queue. New applications now face an expected processing time of up to 15 months.

A proof of Canadian citizenship certificate is the federal document that confirms a person’s Canadian citizenship by descent. People in this category need the certificate before they can apply for a Canadian passport. Canadians born in Canada usually prove citizenship with a Canadian birth certificate.