The Canadian government has been sending letters to recent citizens, requesting them to return their citizenship certificates. This action has caused confusion on social media platforms. Reports on Reddit and from local sources suggest that letters were dispatched to people who obtained citizenship certificates seemingly in 2026. This followed the passing of Bill C-3 in December 2025, which ended a first-generation limit that had restricted thousands from applying for citizenship.
Losing citizenship would classify someone as a foreign national. This status might lead to their removal from Canada and a potential 10-year reapplication ban for any Canadian status according to legal expert information on lawyerinfo.ca.
IRCC “Actively Reviewing Files”
Canadian agency Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) informed Newsweek about a “limited number of people” affected under Bill C-3 with files under review. The review process intends to check if certificates were correctly issued based on lawful evidence. The IRCC emphasized that the review is a critical safeguard, ensuring affected individuals have the chance to submit additional evidence supporting their case.
If reviews confirm an individual’s entitlement to the certificate, it will get returned. The IRCC is committed to fair and lawful assessments of all affected files. They clarified that this situation pertains to specific case processing, rather than any recent legislative changes.
Understanding Bill C-3
Bill C-3, a Canadian law from 2025, amended the Citizenship Act, changing how citizenship is passed to those born abroad. It became effective on December 15, 2025, following a judicial ruling that found the previous law partly unconstitutional. The significant alteration was eliminating the first-generation limit. This limit prevented Canadian-born people outside Canada from passing citizenship to their children if born abroad as well.
The new system demands a “substantial connection” to Canada. A parent must typically reside in Canada for at least three years before the child’s birth or adoption to qualify that child for citizenship. The law allowed thousands, previously denied citizenship, to gain opportunities, aiding Canadians living overseas with families or those with children born outside Canada.
IRCC stated Bill C-3’s intent was to safeguard Canadian citizenship value by establishing clear, modern citizenship by descent rules. Applicants need to prove their Canada connection clearly. It warned that Canadian ancestry alone does not guarantee citizenship.
The Impact on Citizenship According to IRCC Data
From April 2025 to March 2026, Canada granted 285,500 new citizenships, as per IRCC data. This process could affect tens of thousands if impacting those who gained citizenship post Bill C-3 passing.
Content of the Letters
An alleged letter shared on Reddit appears signed by Peggy Sun, Registrar of Canadian Citizenship. The opening states a legislative provision allows requiring certificate surrender if the holder may not be entitled to it. Included reasons suggest missing or improper documentation during the proof of citizenship application process.
The letter advises the lack of necessary documentation requires certificate surrender, placing the citizenship status “under review.” The recipient may respond with further documentary evidence, and if entitled, the certificate will be returned.
Reddit Community Reaction
Reddit users are actively discussing these letters, sharing information and seeking answers. A user initiated a “megathread” to collect collective knowledge on the issue. People who received letters express emotions ranging from confusion to fear.
This megathread encourages sharing data like application approval dates, urgency requests, document submissions, and received letter details. A reassurance message posted encouraged people not to panic, emphasizing community support. Additionally, a volunteer offered cybersecurity expertise to verify IRCC as the sender of these letters.
Many respondents confirmed receiving their certificates in 2026, with several reporting urgent processing requests and letter dates of June 13.