Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is requesting approximately 3,900 new citizens to return their citizenship certificates due to a technical error in the citizenship process. The error stemmed from a flaw in the online portal used between January 1, 2018, and March 1, 2023, which incorrectly displayed information regarding fulfilling residency requirements. Affected individuals were granted citizenship despite not meeting the required physical presence obligations. IRCC has stated that citizenship has not been revoked at this time and individuals are not required to take immediate action. The department is proactively contacting those affected and providing instructions for returning the certificates and initiating the process to correct their citizenship status. While the error does not impact the individuals’ current status in Canada, it necessitates a review to ensure compliance with citizenship laws. IRCC assures the public that this was an isolated incident and measures have been taken to prevent recurrence.