Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has begun sending surrender notices to people who obtained Canadian citizenship by descent under Bill C-3, the legislation that came into force last November to restore status to so-called “Lost Canadians.” Letters dated 13 June 2026 inform recipients that their proof-of-citizenship certificates must be mailed back to IRCC while officials re-examine the genealogical evidence submitted with each application. Lawyers say the measure is unprecedented for naturalized or proof applicants who have already cleared all security, fraud and lineage checks.
![Ottawa recalls hundreds of ‘Lost Canadian’ citizenship certificates for document review]()
Navigating sudden government document recalls can be stressful, especially when travel or work plans hang in the balance. VisaHQ’s Canada team (https://www.visahq.com/canada/) can guide affected citizens through gathering certified civil-registry extracts, arranging apostilles or legalizations, and coordinating courier returns to IRCC, all while monitoring case updates so clients stay compliant and avoid unnecessary delays.
Toronto lawyer Amandeep Hayer told CityNews he is aware of “at least a couple of hundred” impacted cases and expects more as clients compare notes on social media. Montreal practitioner Lisa Middlemiss warns the recall could prompt litigation, noting that once citizenship is granted the only lawful way to revoke it is through a Federal Court process—not an administrative letter. The mass review stems from concerns that some applicants relied on secondary sources such as census data, parish baptismal records or commercial ancestry websites when provincial or territorial vital-statistics documents were unavailable. IRCC now wants certified civil-registry extracts to corroborate each ancestral link, a level of proof that critics say should have been required before certificates were issued. Practical implications are serious for cross-border families who have already applied for Canadian passports, enrolled in public health insurance or prepared employment relocation plans based on their new status. Until the review is finished, government databases show the holder’s citizenship “under investigation,” creating uncertainty at border crossings and for employers that must verify right-to-work. Affected individuals have 30 days to respond with primary evidence or an explanation of efforts to obtain it. IRCC has not published the number of files under review or a service standard for returning certificates, leaving applicants and their employers without a clear timeline. Advisers recommend filing an Access to Information request to see officers’ notes and, where urgent travel is planned, requesting expedited handling through IRCC’s Case Specific Enquiry channel.
Navigating sudden government document recalls can be stressful, especially when travel or work plans hang in the balance. VisaHQ’s Canada team (https://www.visahq.com/canada/) can guide affected citizens through gathering certified civil-registry extracts, arranging apostilles or legalizations, and coordinating courier returns to IRCC, all while monitoring case updates so clients stay compliant and avoid unnecessary delays.
Toronto lawyer Amandeep Hayer told CityNews he is aware of “at least a couple of hundred” impacted cases and expects more as clients compare notes on social media. Montreal practitioner Lisa Middlemiss warns the recall could prompt litigation, noting that once citizenship is granted the only lawful way to revoke it is through a Federal Court process—not an administrative letter. The mass review stems from concerns that some applicants relied on secondary sources such as census data, parish baptismal records or commercial ancestry websites when provincial or territorial vital-statistics documents were unavailable. IRCC now wants certified civil-registry extracts to corroborate each ancestral link, a level of proof that critics say should have been required before certificates were issued. Practical implications are serious for cross-border families who have already applied for Canadian passports, enrolled in public health insurance or prepared employment relocation plans based on their new status. Until the review is finished, government databases show the holder’s citizenship “under investigation,” creating uncertainty at border crossings and for employers that must verify right-to-work. Affected individuals have 30 days to respond with primary evidence or an explanation of efforts to obtain it. IRCC has not published the number of files under review or a service standard for returning certificates, leaving applicants and their employers without a clear timeline. Advisers recommend filing an Access to Information request to see officers’ notes and, where urgent travel is planned, requesting expedited handling through IRCC’s Case Specific Enquiry channel.
