IRCC Clarifies Citizenship-by-Descent Documents Needed

The update follows recent reports that IRCC has asked some people who received Canadian citizenship certificates to return them while the department reviews their files.

What Has Changed?

IRCC’s latest guidance is not a huge overhaul, but it does make the department’s expectations when it comes to citizenship-by-descent a little clearer.

The guidance now clearly states that applicants must prove parentage and Canadian citizenship for each relevant person in the family line and that such proof should come from the original authority. What’s more, IRCC now states clearly that an application “cannot be supported solely by third-party records.”

What Documents Does IRCC Accept?

According to the updated guidance and official checklist, IRCC says applicants must provide one or more documents issued by the original authority for each person in the citizenship chain.

Accepted documents include:

• Provincial or territorial birth certificates;
• Birth certificates from another country showing the parent-child relationship in each generation;
• Canadian citizenship or naturalization certificates;
• Certificates of Registration of Birth Abroad;
• Certificates of Retention of Canadian Citizenship;
• British naturalization certificates issued in Canada or Newfoundland and Labrador;
• Proof of British subject status before January 1, 1947, or April 1, 1949 for Newfoundland and Labrador; and
• Proof of landed immigrant status in Canada before January 1, 1947 or April 1, 1949 for Newfoundland and Labrador.

For applicants missing a birth certificate or birth record, IRCC says they must provide other documents showing parentage and Canadian citizenship. These must also be issued by the original authority.

Examples include hospital records of birth, records from a physician or midwife who witnessed the birth, certified baptismal certificates or records where the baptism took place within a reasonable time after birth, census records, or boat manifests.

In other words, a record found through a genealogy website may help an applicant understand their family history and a potential claim, but it is not enough on its own to prove a claim to Canadian citizenship.

Genealogy Records Are Not Enough

I’ve been clear, just because you have a Canadian ancestor does not mean you’re automatically eligible for citizenship. You must definitively prove your link to Canada at each and every generation. Genealogy websites are not enough.

Said Lena Diab, Immigration Minister, when questioned by Conservative immigration critic, Michelle Rempel Garner, on June 16, 2026.

The update makes clear that genealogy records alone, like those provided by Ancestry.ca will not satisfy IRCC’s requirements.

That’s not to say they have no place in this application. Genealogy websites can be useful research tools, but it is important for applicants to remember that IRCC is looking for records from the authority that created or keeps the original document.

What to Do If You Cannot Get an Original-Authority Document

If an original authority document is unavailable, applicants need to provide two things:

(1) Provide a written explanation to IRCC outlining why the document is unavailable, what steps they took to try to get it, and what alternative documents they are submitting instead; and

(2) Proof that they made genuine efforts to obtain it from the proper authority, including evidence that they tried to get them.

Examples of accepted proof include emails or letters with issuing authorities or confirmation saying that the records are not available.

The stronger and more clearly organized the explanation is, the easier it will be for IRCC to understand the applicant’s family chain and assess whether the evidence supports the citizenship claim.

What If You Already Submitted an Application?

If IRCC needs more information, the applicant will likely receive a request letter asking for additional documents or an explanation, although this may not happen in every case. For this reason, applicants should not wait to receive a request before taking action.

Applicants should review their application and identify any documents that were not issued by the original authority. They should then contact the authority responsible for issuing or maintaining the relevant record and request an official copy.

If the record is unavailable, applicants should keep proof of their efforts. This could include emails to archives, record request confirmations, letters from registry offices, and official responses confirming that the record could not be found or issued.

As a result of these latest developments, all citizenship-by-descent applicants may experience increased processing times, particularly if IRCC needs to review supporting documents more closely, request additional evidence, or complete its internal review into how some applications were approved with insufficient documentation.

How To Send New Documents To IRCC

Applicants who obtain official records after submitting their application, or who want to provide supporting documents showing that original authority records cannot be acquired, can send them to IRCC using the IRCC webform.

When submitting documents through the webform, applicants should include their application details, clearly explain what documents are being added, and organize the evidence so that each generation in the citizenship chain is easy to follow.

This is an evolving story, and Moving2Canada will continue to watch it closely. Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date on citizenship-by-descent changes, IRCC updates, and what this may mean for affected applicants.