Express Entry: Steps to Take After Receiving an Invitation to Apply for Permanent Residence
Candidates who are successful in the Express Entry system are issued an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Canadian permanent residence. These invitations are typically released by Canada on a biweekly basis.
Once you receive an ITA, the next step is to complete and submit your permanent residence application to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). This resource offers detailed information about ITAs and the full application process.
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About the ITA
An Invitation to Apply (ITA) is issued to candidates in the Express Entry pool who have been selected by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to apply for permanent residence through the Express Entry system. ITAs are distributed during scheduled draws from the pool, which consists of individuals who have expressed interest in immigrating to Canada. These invitations are given based on priority ranking.
An ITA should not be mistaken for eligibility to join the Express Entry pool, nor should it be confused with a Canadian job offer or a provincial nomination certificate. It is an automated notification sent to eligible Express Entry candidates through their online profiles.
How ITAs Are Obtained
To enter the Express Entry pool, applicants must first meet the minimum requirements of a federal economic immigration program. Once accepted into the pool, candidates are ranked using the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).
The CRS evaluates applicants based on several factors, including:
- core human capital characteristics
- spouse or common-law partner factors (if applicable)
- skill transferability elements
- additional factors such as a provincial nomination, valid job offer, Canadian education, having a sibling in Canada, or French language proficiency
The CRS operates on a maximum score of 1,200 points.
The Government of Canada issues Invitations to Apply to candidates based on their CRS ranking. During each draw, a minimum cut-off score is announced, and only candidates who meet or exceed that score are invited to apply for permanent residence.
Required Documentation
All applicants who receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) must submit supporting documents with their application, along with the required government processing fees. These generally include:
- A valid passport
- Birth certificate
- Language test results
- Proof of work experience
- Police clearance certificate(s)
- Upfront medical exam receipt
- Photographs of the main applicant and accompanying family members
Depending on the immigration program and the details provided in the Express Entry profile, additional documents may also be requested, such as:
- Canadian educational credential or an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA)
- Letter of explanation or attestation
- Official post-secondary transcripts
- Secondary school completion records
- Employment offer letter from a Canadian employer (if applicable)
- Proof of relatives in Canada (if applicable)
- Proof of sufficient settlement funds
- Legal documents confirming name or date of birth changes (if applicable)
- Marriage certificate(s), if applicable
- Statutory declaration of common-law union and evidence of cohabitation for at least 12 months
- Divorce, separation, or annulment documents (if applicable)
- Death certificate of a former spouse or partner (if applicable)
- Birth certificates for dependent children
- Adoption records (if applicable)
- Custody documents for children (if applicable)
- Non-passport travel documents
- Certified trade qualification issued by a Canadian provincial or territorial authority
- Employment contracts and/or pay slips
- Tax-related documents
Misrepresentation
If any information provided by a candidate is found to be false or misleading, it is considered misrepresentation and may lead to penalties depending on the seriousness of the case. These rules exist to ensure that all applicants submit complete, accurate, and honest information when applying to enter Canada, helping maintain the integrity of the immigration system.
A candidate who submits false information when entering the Express Entry pool may be barred from reapplying for up to five years. For this reason, it is essential to ensure that all details submitted are correct and truthful at all times.
A person may be deemed inadmissible for misrepresentation if they directly or indirectly provide false information or withhold important facts that could affect the processing of their application. Applicants are fully responsible for the accuracy of their submission and the authenticity of all supporting documents, even if the error was unintentional.
Examples of misrepresentation include:
- An applicant relies on a friend or relative to provide supporting information, but the information turns out to be false. Even if the applicant was unaware of the issue, they remain responsible and may still be found inadmissible for submitting incorrect documents or details.
- A person claims they have no criminal record, but background checks reveal otherwise. This is considered direct misrepresentation.
Misrepresentation is not limited to these examples. In some cases, applicants may be given a chance to explain or respond to concerns before a final decision is made.
Accepting an ITA
Once an Invitation to Apply is issued, the information in the Express Entry profile is retained for 60 days. During this period, candidates must submit a complete application along with all required documents.
Because the deadline is limited, applicants are advised to gather and prepare all necessary documents in advance of receiving an ITA. If the 60-day deadline is missed, the invitation becomes invalid, and the candidate must re-enter the Express Entry pool to be considered again.
After all required documents are uploaded and the application is complete, the candidate can submit their application. Submission is treated as acceptance of the ITA. An Acknowledgment of Receipt (AOR) is then automatically issued.
IRCC will review the application to determine if it is complete and meets eligibility requirements. This process is typically completed within six months after submission.
Expiration of an ITA
If an application is not submitted within the required timeframe, the ITA will expire. Candidates who neither submit an application nor formally decline the invitation within 60 days will lose the opportunity, and the ITA will no longer be valid.
Those who still wish to apply for permanent residence through Express Entry must create a new profile and re-enter the pool, provided they still meet the eligibility requirements.
Declining an ITA
Candidates who choose to decline an Invitation to Apply will be returned to the Express Entry pool, where they may be considered in future draws as long as they remain eligible under a federal economic immigration program.
However, receiving another invitation is not guaranteed. Declining an ITA does not negatively impact future chances of being selected.
