Immigration Minister Lena Diab says she has ordered an investigation after an unexpected issue prompted the federal government to ask some individuals to surrender recently issued proof of Canadian citizenship.
Speaking to reporters, Diab said she became aware that “something” had occurred within the system and immediately instructed her department to investigate. While she did not specify the exact problem, she emphasized that the matter is being treated seriously and that no new citizenship applications under the affected category are currently being finalized.
The issue involves people who obtained Canadian citizenship by descent under legislation introduced last year to address the situation of so-called “Lost Canadians” — individuals born abroad who can trace their lineage directly to a Canadian ancestor. Under the law, those born before December 15, 2025, became eligible to claim citizenship through ancestry.
According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, a few dozen individuals received emails last week instructing them to surrender their citizenship certificates. Some who had already obtained Canadian passports were also informed that their passports were no longer valid and would need to be returned.
As part of the investigation, all 4,100 successful citizenship claims granted under the new legislation are now being reviewed. However, Diab stressed that individuals who have already moved to Canada and are living and working in the country will retain their status while the review is underway.
In some cases, people who were initially ordered to return their citizenship certificates later received follow-up emails confirming that their Canadian citizenship had been validated. The minister said files that are found to be in order are being cleared and applicants are being notified accordingly.
Diab acknowledged that the situation has created uncertainty and anxiety among affected individuals and said the government is committed to ensuring clarity and maintaining confidence in the citizenship process.
While the exact reason behind the recalls remains unclear, the review has raised concerns among many “Lost Canadians,” most of whom reside in the United States, who had welcomed the legislation as a long-awaited solution to restore their Canadian citizenship rights.
The immigration department says it will continue examining the files and provide further information once the investigation is completed.