06/18/2026
PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP: NEWS AND UPDATES
As many already know, IRCC sent correspondence earlier this week instructing some individuals to surrender their Canadian citizenship certificates. Our hearts go out to those who received these letters; there are few experiences more stressful. This development has also created understandable unease among applicants with files already in process, as well as those preparing to submit applications in the future.
It’s important to remember that there are likely individual, case- specific reasons behind the issuance of these letters. At this stage, recipients don’t know what the underlying concerns are, and will only find out when IRCC issues document request or procedural fairness letters outlining the specific issues.
This development currently affects a very small number of people out of tens of thousands of applicants and is not a larger legislative issue. The government clarified this in their statements reported by the Toronto Star, CBC, CTV, and other reputable organizations over the past week: “IRCC is aware that a limited number of people who obtained a citizenship certificate under C-3 have been notified that their file is under review… This situation concerns the processing of individual cases and is not directly related to recent legislative changes.”
We also know that the affected applications will undergo individual reviews. According to IRCC: “The purpose of the review is to determine, through an individualized process, whether the certificate was properly issued based on the evidence required by law… IRCC is actively reviewing the affected files and taking the necessary steps to ensure they are assessed fairly, consistently and in accordance with the law.”
If, after review, additional information is required, applicants can expect document request letters or procedural fairness letters. IRCC has confirmed that “all affected individuals will have an opportunity to provide additional documentary evidence in support of their case.”
IRCC also updated the Document Checklist (CIT 0014) today to include “Your application must be supported by authentic, reliable and verifiable documents for every generation in your application” and a few other minor changes. No requirements for certified documents have been added to the checklist - but Baptismal certificates/records now need to be certified as per the instructions. Those of us who have been preparing proof of citizenship applications long enough will remember when certified true copies were mandatory for all submissions, so it is notable that this requirement has not been reinstated.
For applicants with files in progress, or those planning to apply soon, the natural question is how to avoid receiving a surrender letter.
Fortunately, the same principles apply to avoiding a surrender letter, to avoiding a package being returned, and to submitting a strong application package with the best possible chances of approval:
• Follow the document checklist and instructions precisely.
• Use the most recent versions of all forms and checklists.
• Make every effort to obtain government issued birth, baptismal, death, and marriage certificates, and keep a record of your attempts.
• Supplement your application with secondary sources, but don’t rely on them exclusively.
• Answer every question fully, even if the information seems irrelevant or unverifiable.
We hope this provides some clarity and wishing everyone the best as they move forward.
