Canada Reopens Review of Some Citizenship-by-Descent Cases

By Aurax Radio | June 16, 2026 | 2 min read

Canadian immigration authorities have asked some newly recognized citizens to return their citizenship certificates after reopening reviews of certain citizenship-by-descent approvals. The move affects a limited number of people whose citizenship status was recognized under recent changes to Canada's citizenship laws, prompting concern among applicants who believed their cases had already been finalized.

Government immigration office building in Canada with official signage.

Immigration officials are reassessing a limited number of citizenship certificates issued under recent legal changes.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has issued letters to some individuals requesting the surrender of citizenship certificates while officials reassess eligibility decisions. The reviews are linked to citizenship-by-descent cases processed following major legislative changes that expanded eligibility for people born outside Canada to Canadian parents, grandparents and, in some cases, more distant ancestors. Authorities said the reviews are being conducted under existing regulations that allow officials to re-examine citizenship certificates when there is reason to believe a person may not be entitled to the document.

The development follows the implementation of reforms that took effect in late 2025 after courts found previous restrictions on citizenship by descent unconstitutional. The changes restored or extended citizenship rights to thousands of people who had previously been excluded by Canada's first-generation limit on citizenship transmission outside the country. The surge in applications created a significant administrative workload for immigration officials, leading to lengthy processing times and increased scrutiny of complex multigenerational claims.

Government officials have indicated that affected individuals will have an opportunity to provide additional documentation or evidence while their cases are reviewed. Immigration lawyers and advocacy groups say most recipients remain Canadian citizens unless a final determination is made otherwise, but the reviews have created uncertainty for some applicants who had already begun using their citizenship certificates to access government services and apply for Canadian passports. The outcome of the reviews could influence how Canada administers citizenship-by-descent claims as applications continue to rise under the revised law.

Sources: Information from Reuters, The Associated Press, CNN and The Washington Post.

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