IRCC Reverses Order for Some 'Lost Canadians' to Return Certificates
In June 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) contacted a group of people who had recently received proof-of-citizenship certificates under Bill C-3, the "Lost Canadians" citizenship-by-descent amendment. The letters asked those recipients to surrender or return their certificates while IRCC reviewed the documents that had supported their applications.
This was not a sweeping national rule requiring everyone who ever "lost" Canadian citizenship to hand back their papers, and it did not take effect as a permanent, across-the-board policy. It targeted a specific set of recently issued certificates that had been flagged for a file review. Reporting indicated the review touched roughly 4,075 certificate holders, a significant share of whom were born in the United States. It did not stem from renunciation or a failure to meet residency requirements.
The concern IRCC cited was documentary rather than a change in eligibility. According to reporting, the flagged files relied on compiled genealogy records instead of certified records from original source authorities, such as provincial vital-statistics offices, and in some cases did not include a written explanation of why original-source documents could not be obtained.
The directive was short-lived. Within about a week, IRCC reversed course and began issuing revalidation letters — reported to be dated around June 19, 2026 — telling recipients that the review of their file was complete, that the evidence supported their claim, and that their certificate would not be cancelled. IRCC said it was temporarily pausing the finalization of certain certificates connected to the Bill C-3 amendment.
Bill C-3 itself remains in force. The "Lost Canadians" legislation has not been repealed, and people who qualify for Canadian citizenship by descent under the current law remain eligible to apply. Anyone who received a letter about their certificate should keep all correspondence and follow the specific instructions it contains.
This is general information, not legal advice — for your situation, consult an authorized immigration representative.