Some 'Lost Canadians' told to surrender new citizenship certificates

June 16, 2026

Canada's immigration ministry is requesting that an undisclosed number of recently approved citizens surrender their citizenship certificates for additional review, claiming recipients may not be entitled to them due to insufficient documentation. These individuals had obtained citizenship through ancestral connections under the "Lost Canadians" law that took effect in December, submitting extensive documentation including census records and historical birth certificates to prove their family ties to Canada. Recipients and their legal representatives express confusion and distress over the requests, as the applications had already undergone official review and approval by trained officers before certificates were issued.

Who is affected

Americans who recently received Canadian citizenship certificates through the "Lost Canadians" law
Shawn Davis Mooney, who relocated from California to Victoria, British Columbia with his husband
Rana Charron, who lives in Cleveland, Ohio
An unknown but "limited number" of certificate recipients being asked to surrender their documents
Immigration lawyers representing these clients, including Lisa Middlemiss from Montreal
Over 12,000 applicants who applied in the first month-and-a-half after the law was enacted

What action is being taken

Canada's immigration ministry is reviewing "a limited number of files"
The ministry is sending letters requesting recipients surrender their citizenship certificates
Affected individuals are being asked to return their certificates pending further review
Recipients will have the opportunity to provide additional evidence to support their citizenship cases

Why it matters

This situation undermines confidence in Canada's citizenship processes and creates significant uncertainty for individuals who made major life decisions based on their approved status. The revocation requests are particularly concerning because citizenship can only be revoked in very rare circumstances, yet these individuals already completed the appropriate legal process and received official approval from trained officers. The case raises questions about the reliability and finality of government-issued citizenship documents, especially for those who have already relocated to Canada or planned their futures around their newly granted status.

What's next

Those who received surrender letters will have the opportunity to provide additional evidence to support their citizenship case
If the review confirms individuals are entitled to their certificates, the documents will be returned to them
Affected individuals like Charron intend to see their cases through the review process

Read full article from source: BBC