Canada Suspends Lost Canadians Citizenship Certificates: What to Do

Why is the government asking for the certificates back?

Short answer: IRCC says the proof was incomplete. The notices state that the certificate must be surrendered during an investigation because the application did not include proof of the Canadian family link from original sources, such as vital statistics, and did not explain why the original documents were not provided. In plain terms, the department is now questioning whether the evidence it accepted at approval was strong enough, and it wants to re-examine those files. Confirm your own status only through official channels, starting with the IRCC check if you may be a citizen page.

Can IRCC legally make you surrender the certificate?

Short answer: It is contested, and there is a real counter-argument. IRCC's own document checklist for proof of citizenship (form CIT 0014) lists "any other evidence" as an acceptable category of proof of a parent's Canadian citizenship. The Federal Court has repeatedly held that applicants are entitled to rely on the instructions the department publishes, most recently in Somers-Edgar v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration), 2026 FC 417. If IRCC approved an application on the basis of alternative evidence that its own checklist allowed, a challenge to the later surrender demand may have merit. This is a legal question, and a certificate-surrender review that could reach the Federal Court is the kind of matter where a Canadian immigration lawyer, not only a consultant, should be involved.

What should you do if you received a surrender notice?

Short answer: Take it seriously, but do not act without advice. Here is a practical order of steps:

1. Keep a complete copy of the notice and your full application, including everything you submitted and every IRCC communication.
2. Note any deadline in the notice and do not let it pass without a response.
3. Do not destroy your records, and get advice before handing over your only proof of status.
4. Gather original vital-statistics documents if you can, including long-form birth certificates for yourself and for your Canadian parent or grandparent, plus marriage records that connect the names.
5. Speak with a licensed immigration representative before you reply, so your response protects your position rather than weakening it.

What is Bill C-3 and citizenship by descent?

Short answer: Bill C-3 restored Canadian citizenship to many "lost Canadians." For years, a "first-generation limit" meant a Canadian citizen born outside Canada could not automatically pass citizenship to a child also born outside Canada. Bill C-3 changed that, recognizing citizenship by descent for people who had been cut off by the limit. The law took effect in late 2025, and IRCC began issuing certificates under it in December 2025. The current suspension affects certificates issued in that first window, not the underlying right that Parliament restored. To see how citizenship is established and proven, start with the IRCC Canadian citizenship hub.

Frequently asked questions

Does this affect my citizenship if I was born in Canada?

No. Being born in Canada makes you a citizen regardless of this review, and your provincial or territorial birth certificate is your proof. The suspension is limited to certain proof-of-citizenship certificates issued by descent under Bill C-3.

I got my certificate under Bill C-3. Is my citizenship cancelled?

Not automatically. IRCC has suspended the certificate and opened a review, which is different from revoking citizenship. Your status is under question while the department re-examines the proof, so the priority is to respond properly and strengthen your evidence, ideally with advice.

How do I prove Canadian citizenship by descent?

The strongest proof is original vital-statistics records: a long-form birth certificate for you, a long-form birth certificate for your Canadian parent or grandparent, and the marriage or name records that link them. IRCC's checklist also recognizes other evidence, which is at the centre of the current dispute.

Can I still apply for citizenship by descent right now?

IRCC has paused issuing new certificates under the descent provisions during this review, so timelines are uncertain. Check the official IRCC pages for the current status before you apply, and confirm exactly which documents your file will need.

I was born before 2009 to a Canadian parent. Am I affected?

It depends on your facts. The current review focuses on Bill C-3 descent certificates issued from December 2025 onward. Earlier rules and dates can change your situation, so confirm your specific case rather than assuming.

How Go Far Global can help

Short answer: The danger here is responding the wrong way to a government notice. Go Far Global is a licensed Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) firm in Toronto, regulated by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC). If you received a surrender notice, we help you read it correctly, gather the original vital-statistics documents that strengthen your file, and prepare a complete, well-documented response within the deadline. If your case looks headed for a Federal Court challenge, we will tell you plainly and help you involve an immigration lawyer. Book a consultation before you reply to IRCC.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Citizenship status and government investigations are serious legal matters. Confirm the current rules for your situation with a licensed immigration lawyer or RCIC, and on the official IRCC website, before you act.

Sources

• IRCC, Proof of citizenship
• IRCC, Check if you may be a citizen
• IRCC, Canadian citizenship