Key facts
- Canada's immigration ministry is reviewing citizenship-by-descent applications.
Canada's immigration ministry is reviewing citizenship-by-descent applications, asking some recently approved citizens to return their certificates due to documentation concerns. Affected individuals have the opportunity to provide additional evidence.
This situation raises concerns about the fairness and consistency of Canada's citizenship process and could impact the trust of individuals seeking to establish roots in the country.
Canada's immigration ministry is re-examining citizenship-by-descent applications, leading some recently approved citizens to return their certificates. The reviews are prompted by concerns over the documentation and proof of lineage used in these applications, particularly following the enactment of the 'Lost Canadians' law in December.
Individuals who received their citizenship certificates, and in some cases even Canadian passports and Social Insurance Numbers, are now being informed that their entitlement to citizenship is under review. Letters sent by the ministry state that recipients "may not be entitled" to their certificates and request their return pending further assessment. This has caused confusion and distress among those affected, who feel like "frauds" or that they have done something wrong.
Applicants have been given the opportunity to submit additional evidence to support their citizenship claims. The ministry stated that if the review confirms entitlement, the certificates will be returned. Most applications granted after the new law came into effect were for individuals born in the U.S., followed by those born in Mexico and the UK. Immigration lawyers have expressed concern, noting that citizenship can only be revoked in rare circumstances and that these individuals had already navigated the established application process.
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