Express Entry Invitation to Apply (ITA): Next Steps

What Is an Express Entry Invitation to Apply?

An Invitation to Apply, commonly called an ITA, is an invitation issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to an eligible candidate in the Express Entry pool to submit an application for permanent residence.

Invitations are issued through Express Entry rounds of invitations . The candidate must be eligible for the particular round and meet the applicable ranking and selection requirements.

An ITA identifies the immigration program under which the candidate has been invited. It does not establish that the applicant has already satisfied every requirement for permanent residence.

What Should You Do Immediately After Receiving an ITA?

The first step is to open your IRCC account and carefully review the invitation. Confirm the immigration program, application instructions and deadline displayed in your account.

Before beginning document uploads, review the information in your Express Entry profile against your actual circumstances and the evidence available to support it.

1. Read the invitation and identify the program.
2. Record the application submission deadline.
3. Reconfirm program and round eligibility.
4. Recalculate your CRS score where necessary.
5. Identify missing or time-sensitive documents.
6. Complete the online application accurately.
7. Review the application before submission.

Candidates should prioritize documents that can take considerable time to obtain, particularly police certificates and employment records.

How Long Do You Have After Receiving an ITA?

Under the current Express Entry process, candidates have 60 calendar days from the invitation to submit their complete online permanent residence application.

The deadline is not simply a period for beginning the application. The required forms, supporting documents and applicable payments must be submitted through the online system before the deadline.

This table is a planning framework, not an IRCC schedule. Some applicants may need substantially more time to collect documents.

Do You Need to Confirm Your Eligibility Again?

Yes. Receiving an invitation does not remove the requirement to qualify for the immigration program under which you were invited.

Express Entry manages applications under the Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Worker Program and Federal Skilled Trades Program. Express Entry-aligned provincial nominees must also satisfy the relevant nomination and federal requirements.

Review the program named in your invitation rather than assuming that eligibility under a different Express Entry program is sufficient.

See the Express Entry eligibility guide for the distinction between entering the pool and qualifying for permanent residence.

Should You Recalculate Your CRS Score After an ITA?

You should verify that the information supporting your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score is accurate and that any relevant changes have been properly assessed.

IRCC may assess whether you satisfied the applicable requirements when the invitation was issued and when your application was submitted. Changes in your circumstances can affect your eligibility or points.

Important factors can include language results, education, work experience, marital status, provincial nomination and other criteria relevant to the applicable CRS rules.

Learn how the ranking system works in the Express Entry CRS Score guide .

What If Your Circumstances Change After an ITA?

Changes in personal circumstances should be disclosed accurately in the permanent residence application. Their consequences depend on the particular change, the immigration program and the applicable legal requirements.

Examples include:

• marriage, divorce or a change in common-law status;
• the birth or adoption of a child;
• changes in employment or qualifying work experience;
• changes affecting a provincial nomination;
• changes in settlement funds;
• changes affecting admissibility; and
• changes to information used to claim CRS points.

Not every change has the same effect. A change may affect CRS ranking, program eligibility, family composition, supporting documents or admissibility.

Applicants should not preserve outdated information merely because it appeared in their original Express Entry profile.

What Documents Are Required After an ITA?

After completing the online forms, IRCC generates a personalized document checklist. The documents required depend on the applicant's program, personal history and family circumstances.

Documents not in English or French may require translations meeting IRCC's instructions. The original document, translation and any additional certification requirements should be checked carefully.

The personalized IRCC checklist takes priority over any general online document list.

How Do You Prove Your Work Experience?

Employment evidence should substantiate the work experience used to establish eligibility or claim CRS points.

Relevant evidence may include employer reference letters, employment contracts, pay records, tax documents and other supporting records, depending on the circumstances.

Employer letters should accurately describe employment dates, job duties, working hours, compensation and other information necessary to assess the claimed work experience.

Job titles alone are not sufficient to establish that an applicant performed the duties required for a particular occupation.

Do You Need Proof of Funds After an ITA?

Proof of settlement funds is generally required for applicants under the Federal Skilled Worker Program and Federal Skilled Trades Program, subject to applicable exemptions.

Applicants invited under the Canadian Experience Class are generally not required to demonstrate settlement funds. Certain applicants authorized to work in Canada with a qualifying valid job offer may also qualify for an exemption under the applicable rules.

IRCC may still provide a proof-of-funds upload field. Applicants who are exempt should follow IRCC's instructions for explaining the exemption.

Where funds are required, they must be genuinely available and supported by acceptable evidence. Borrowed funds and real-property equity do not satisfy the ordinary settlement-funds requirement.

The minimum required amount depends on family size and can be updated by IRCC. Check the current amount rather than relying on an older threshold.

When Should You Obtain Police Certificates?

Police certificates should be requested as early as possible because processing times vary by country and issuing authority.

Under IRCC's general Express Entry instructions, police certificates are required for the applicant and relevant family members aged 18 or older for countries where they lived for six consecutive months or longer during the applicable ten-year period, subject to IRCC's detailed rules.

Requirements concerning the certificate's issue date depend on whether it relates to the country where the person currently lives or a country where they previously lived.

What if a police certificate is delayed?

IRCC provides instructions for applicants who cannot obtain a required certificate before the submission deadline.

In appropriate circumstances, applicants may submit a letter of explanation together with evidence of their efforts to obtain the certificate. Acceptance is not guaranteed, and an incomplete application may be rejected.

Do You Need an Immigration Medical Examination?

Permanent residence applicants and relevant family members must satisfy applicable medical admissibility requirements.

IRCC's instructions determine whether an upfront immigration medical examination is required, whether an existing examination may be reused, and what evidence must be submitted.

Medical examinations must be conducted by an IRCC-approved panel physician where required. A regular family doctor cannot substitute for a panel physician unless that doctor is also approved by IRCC.

Check the current medical instructions and personalized document checklist before booking or uploading examination records.

How Do You Complete the Express Entry PR Application?

Once invited, applicants complete their electronic Application for Permanent Residence, commonly referred to as the e-APR, through their IRCC account.

The application collects detailed information concerning identity, family composition, addresses, education, employment, travel, personal history and other matters relevant to eligibility and admissibility.

Applicants should check that dates and information are internally consistent and accurately supported by their documents.

An employment period used to claim qualifying experience must be supported by evidence. Other periods in a person's history may still need to be disclosed even if they do not generate CRS points.

Information should not be omitted or altered simply to make the application match an earlier profile entry.

How Do You Pay Fees and Submit Your Application?

After completing the required forms and uploading supporting documents, applicants must review the application and pay the applicable government fees through the IRCC online process.

Fees may include application processing fees, the right of permanent residence fee and biometrics fees, where applicable.

The exact amount depends on the applicant's circumstances and IRCC's current fee schedule.

1. Review all completed application sections.
2. Check every required document upload.
3. Confirm names, dates and personal information.
4. Review eligibility and CRS-related evidence.
5. Pay the applicable fees.
6. Submit the application electronically.
7. Retain the submission confirmation and records.

Saving a draft application does not constitute submission. Applicants should confirm that the application has actually been transmitted.

Can You Decline an Invitation to Apply?

Yes. An applicant who decides not to proceed may decline an ITA through the IRCC account.

Declining an invitation generally returns an otherwise eligible profile to the Express Entry pool, where the candidate may be considered for future invitation rounds.

A future invitation is not guaranteed. It depends on continued eligibility, profile validity, future round requirements and CRS ranking.

If the invitation expires without an application or a formal decline, the consequences are different from actively declining it. Applicants should not assume that an expired invitation automatically returns their profile to the pool.

What Happens After You Submit Your PR Application?

After submission, IRCC assesses the application under the applicable immigration program and admissibility requirements.

Processing may include a completeness review, biometrics, medical assessment, background checks, verification of documents and requests for additional information.

The applicant must continue to monitor the IRCC account and respond to requests within the deadlines provided.

An ITA, a submitted application and an acknowledgement of receipt are different milestones. None of them, by itself, guarantees permanent residence approval.

What Mistakes Should You Avoid After an ITA?

Common application problems include inaccurate information, insufficient evidence, missed deadlines and failure to reassess eligibility after material changes.

• Assuming an ITA guarantees permanent residence.
• Failing to verify the program named in the invitation.
• Relying on CRS points that cannot be substantiated.
• Submitting incomplete employment evidence.
• Using police certificates that do not meet IRCC rules.
• Misunderstanding proof-of-funds requirements.
• Omitting relevant family or personal history information.
• Failing to disclose material changes.
• Waiting until the deadline to upload documents.
• Assuming a saved application has been submitted.

Depending on the circumstances, an application may be rejected as incomplete, refused for failure to meet eligibility requirements, or raise concerns about misrepresentation.

Accurate disclosure and evidence-based claims are essential throughout the process.

Express Entry Invitation to Apply FAQs

What does ITA mean in Express Entry?

ITA means Invitation to Apply. It allows a selected Express Entry candidate to submit an application for permanent residence.

How many days do I have after receiving an ITA?

Under the current process, you have 60 calendar days to submit the online application.

Does an ITA guarantee permanent residence?

No. IRCC must still assess the complete application and determine whether all applicable requirements have been met.

Can my CRS score change after an ITA?

Changes in your circumstances may affect your CRS score or eligibility. The consequences depend on the relevant facts and rules.

Do I need proof of funds for Canadian Experience Class?

Canadian Experience Class applicants are generally exempt from the settlement-funds requirement, although they should follow the document checklist instructions.

Can I submit without a police certificate?

IRCC has specific procedures for applicants unable to obtain a certificate on time. An explanation and evidence of efforts may be considered, but acceptance is not guaranteed.

Can I decline an ITA and wait for another draw?

Yes. Declining generally returns an otherwise eligible profile to the pool, but a future invitation is not guaranteed.

What happens if my ITA expires?

You lose the opportunity to apply under that invitation. An expired invitation should not be treated as equivalent to a formal decline.

Can I change my application after receiving an ITA?

You must provide accurate and current information in the application. Material changes may affect eligibility, points or supporting requirements.

Is receiving an ITA the same as receiving an AOR?

No. An ITA is an invitation to submit an application. An AOR acknowledges receipt of an application after submission.