Canada audits citizenship‑by‑descent certificates after Bill C‑3

Bill C‑3, which took effect on 15 December 2025, amended Canada’s first‑generation limit on citizenship by descent, allowing individuals born abroad before that date to claim citizenship if they can prove a link to a Canadian ancestor. The immigration department said that unclear internal guidance on applying for these certificates led to some being issued without sufficient supporting documentation. After a routine review, 100 people were asked to surrender their citizenship certificates; the department has since restored certificates for 33 individuals and expects to complete the review of the remaining 67 in the coming days. A separate review of roughly 6,500 other citizenship‑by‑descent certificates issued under the new law has been completed. The changes highlight the importance of thorough documentation for proving parent‑child relationships and other eligibility criteria.