This update is part of the Bill C-3 citizenship by descent hub, with the Citizenship guide. Applicants whose Canadian citizenship by descent applications are refused by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, also known as IRCC, have several options to address the decision. A refusal does not necessarily mean the end of a citizenship journey, as various avenues exist to resolve issues and continue the pursuit of Canadian citizenship.

IRCC may refuse applications for multiple reasons. These include gaps in lineage documents, errors in the application form, or a broken chain of descent. The department tightened its documentation standards in June 2026, now expecting records from each generation to come from the original issuing authority.

A lawyer at Cohen Immigration Law stated that IRCC usually gives applicants a chance to respond before making a final decision. This opportunity often comes as a procedural fairness letter or a request for additional information or documents. If a refusal letter is received, it should outline the basis for IRCC's decision, though the reasons provided may be general.

After receiving a refusal letter, applicants can choose to reapply with missing documents or stronger supporting evidence. They can also request their Global Case Management System, or GCMS, notes through an Access to Information and Privacy request to gain more context on the decision. The timeline for a GCMS notes response is 30 days, which can be extended.

Applicants can also challenge a refusal by pursuing reconsideration, which asks IRCC to re-examine its decision, or by pursuing judicial review, which takes the decision to the Federal Court. An application for leave for judicial review must be filed and served within 30 days after notification of a decision. Reconsideration and judicial review can be pursued simultaneously. New applications currently join a queue that runs about 33 months.