Cancellation of certificates for mementos
This section contains policy, procedures and guidance used by IRCC staff. It is posted on the department’s website as a courtesy to stakeholders.
Certificates can be of tremendous sentimental value to a person. It is possible to cancel a certificate and return it to the applicant to keep as a souvenir.
Physically cancelling certificates
If an applicant wants to keep a previous paper certificate, the certificate must be stamped "CERTIFICATE NO LONGER VALID" on the side of the certificate that contains biographical data. In some cases, both sides will have to be stamped. When cancelling a certificate, care should be taken to preserve its significance as a memento, while still rendering it invalid.
Miniature certificates must be cancelled with a pin stamp that punctures the certificate by CPC Sydney as they have the necessary equipment.
A Client Note must be created in GCMS stating that the certificate was cancelled and returned to the applicant. The certificate status must also be updated in GCMS.