Received an Express Entry ITA: What to Do Next

Receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) through Express Entry is an exciting milestone — but what comes next is critical. You have exactly 60 days to submit a complete, accurate permanent residence application.

What Is an ITA?

An Invitation to Apply is IRCC's formal invitation for you to submit a permanent residence application under one of the Express Entry programs. ITAs are issued following each draw from the Express Entry pool, which typically occur every two weeks, though frequency can vary based on IRCC's immigration targets and processing capacity. When you receive an ITA, a 60-day countdown begins immediately from the date the invitation is issued in your account. Missing this deadline means your ITA expires and you must re-enter the pool and wait for another draw.

The ITA is not a guarantee of permanent residence — it is simply permission to apply. Your application will still undergo thorough verification, and IRCC will confirm that all the information you provided in your Express Entry profile is accurate and supported by documentation. Any discrepancies between your profile and your actual documents can lead to refusal, so accuracy from the very beginning is essential.

In 2025, IRCC has maintained its commitment to processing 80% of complete Express Entry applications within six months. However, this timeline only begins once you submit a complete application with all required documents. Incomplete applications face significant delays or outright refusal, making the initial 60-day period absolutely critical to your success.

What Happens in the First 48 Hours

When you receive an ITA, log into your IRCC account and carefully review the details — confirm which program it is under (Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, or Canadian Experience Class) and verify the exact 60-day deadline date displayed in your account. Take a screenshot of your ITA letter and save it to multiple locations for your records.

Start organizing your documents immediately, because some items (like a medical exam or police certificates from certain countries) can take several weeks to obtain. Do not wait until day 50 to start gathering documents. Create a detailed checklist and timeline, working backwards from your deadline to identify which documents need to be requested first.

Within the first 48 hours, you should also book your medical examination appointment with an IRCC-designated panel physician. In major cities like Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal, these appointments can be booked two to three weeks out during busy periods. Rural areas may have limited panel physicians, requiring travel or even longer wait times. The medical exam results are typically valid for 12 months, so booking early protects you from expiry issues.

If you need police certificates from countries with lengthy processing times — such as India (which can take 8-12 weeks), China (4-8 weeks), or certain Middle Eastern countries — initiate these requests immediately. Some countries require you to be physically present to apply, while others accept applications through embassies or consulates in Canada. Research the specific requirements for each country where you've lived for six months or more since turning 18.

Understanding Your 60-Day Timeline

The 60-day deadline is firm and non-negotiable. IRCC does not grant extensions except in extremely rare circumstances involving medical emergencies or natural disasters. The countdown begins the moment your ITA is issued, not when you first log in to see it. If day 60 falls on a weekend or Canadian statutory holiday, your deadline does not extend to the next business day — you must submit by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on day 60.

Plan to submit your application at least 3-5 days before the deadline. This buffer protects you from technical issues with the IRCC portal, unexpected document problems, or last-minute discoveries of missing information. Many applicants have lost their ITAs because they waited until the final day and encountered website errors or realized a critical document was missing.

Break your 60 days into phases: Days 1-10 for document requests and appointments, Days 11-40 for receiving and organizing documents, Days 41-55 for completing the online application forms and uploading documents, and Days 56-60 as your buffer for final review and submission.

Document Checklist After an ITA

Identity Documents

A valid passport is mandatory and must be valid for at least six months beyond your intended entry date to Canada. If your passport expires sooner, renew it before submitting your application. You'll need the biographical page (the page with your photo and personal information) scanned in color at high resolution.

Two passport-sized photos meeting IRCC's exact specifications are required. These photos must be taken within the last six months, measure 50mm x 70mm, show a neutral facial expression with both eyes open and clearly visible, and have a plain white or light-colored background. The photographer must print their name, address, and the date the photo was taken on the back of each photo. Many applicants use professional immigration photo services to ensure compliance, as incorrect photos are a common reason for application returns.

Include copies of any previous passports covering the last 10 years if you need to account for time spent in other countries. These help establish your travel history and residential addresses, which IRCC cross-references with your police certificates and personal history.

Language Test Results

Your original language test results (IELTS General Training, CELPIP-General, TEF Canada, or TCF Canada) must still be valid at the time of application submission. Language tests are valid for two years from the test date. If your test results will expire during IRCC's processing of your application (which typically takes 4-6 months), they may still be accepted as long as they're valid when you submit, but taking a new test before expiry is the safest approach.

You'll need to enter your test reference number in your application, and IRCC will verify your scores directly with the testing organization. Ensure the name on your language test exactly matches the name on your passport. Even minor spelling differences can cause verification delays.

Educational Credentials

Your Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report is required if your education was completed outside Canada and you claimed points for it in your Express Entry profile. The ECA must be from a designated organization such as WES (World Education Services), ICAS (International Credential Assessment Service), or IQAS (International Qualifications Assessment Service). Like language tests, ECAs are valid for five years from the issue date.

Include copies of all diplomas, degrees, and transcripts referenced in your ECA report. If your documents are not in English or French, you must provide certified translations along with copies of the original documents. Certified translations must be completed by a member of a provincial or territorial translation association in Canada, or by a certified translator in the country where the document was issued.

Proof of Work Experience

Employment reference letters are among the most scrutinized documents in your application. Each letter must be on official company letterhead, include the company's full contact information (address, telephone, email), and be signed by your direct supervisor, the HR manager, or another authorized company representative. The letter must clearly state your job title, employment start and end dates (or indicate if still employed), number of hours worked per week, annual salary or hourly wage, and a detailed list of your main duties and responsibilities.

The duties listed must align closely with the lead statement and main duties of the National Occupational Classification (NOC) code you selected in your Express Entry profile. For example, if you claimed experience as a Software Engineer (NOC 21232), your reference letter should describe duties like designing and developing software applications, writing and testing code, troubleshooting software issues, and collaborating with stakeholders — not generic duties that could apply to any office job.

Supporting documents strengthen your work experience claims. Include pay stubs covering the entire employment period (or representative samples from each year), T4 slips for Canadian employment, Records of Employment (ROE) if you left a Canadian employer, tax returns showing employment income, and employment contracts. If you were self-employed or worked for a company that has since closed, provide alternative evidence such as business registration documents, contracts with clients, invoices, tax filings, or letters from clients confirming your work.

Police Certificates

You need police certificates from every country where you have lived for six consecutive months or more since turning 18 years old. This includes your country of citizenship, even if you've never lived there as an adult. The six-month period does not need to be recent — if you lived in Australia for seven months during a working holiday 10 years ago, you need an Australian police certificate.

Canadian residents need an RCMP criminal record check based on fingerprints. This can be obtained through accredited fingerprinting agencies across Canada, with results typically delivered within 3-5 business days electronically or 10-15 business days by mail. The cost is approximately $25 for the RCMP processing fee plus $40-75 for the fingerprinting service.

International police certificates vary dramatically in processing time and complexity. FBI background checks for U.S. residents take 12-14 weeks. Indian Police Clearance Certificates (PCC) require 8-12 weeks and must be obtained through specific channels depending on whether you're applying from India or abroad. UK police certificates (ACRO) are processed within 10 business days. UAE police certificates can be obtained in 2-3 days if you're in the UAE, but take 4-6 weeks through the embassy if you're in Canada.

Police certificates must be issued after the last time you lived in that country, or within six months of your application submission if you currently live there. If a police certificate expires while IRCC is processing your application, they may request an updated certificate, so timing is important.

Medical Examination

You must complete an immigration medical examination (IME) with an IRCC-designated panel physician. You cannot use your family doctor or a walk-in clinic — only physicians on IRCC's official panel are authorized to conduct these exams. The panel physician list is available on the IRCC website and includes doctors in Canada and internationally.

Bring your valid passport, any eyeglasses or contact lenses you use, and medical records related to any significant health conditions (such as diabetes, heart disease, or previous surgeries). The exam includes a physical examination, chest X-ray (for applicants 11 years and older), and blood and urine tests. The physician will ask about your medical history, current medications, and any past or present health conditions.

The cost of the medical exam varies by location but typically ranges from $200-450 CAD per adult and $100-250 CAD per child. The physician submits results directly to IRCC through the eMedical system, usually within 3-5 business days. You'll receive an IME number to enter in your application. Medical exam results are valid for 12 months, and your permanent residence must be finalized before this expiry date.

Proof of Funds

Unless you're applying under the Canadian Experience Class with a valid job offer, or you have a valid job offer under the Federal Skilled Worker Program, you must prove you have sufficient settlement funds to support yourself and your family when you arrive in Canada. As of 2025, the required amounts are: $14,690 for one person, $18,288 for two people, $22,483 for three people, $27,297 for four people, $30,690 for five people, $34,917 for six people, and $38,875 for seven or more people. These amounts are updated annually by IRCC based on 50% of the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO).

Provide bank statements from the last six months showing your account balance consistently meets or exceeds the required amount. The funds must be readily available and unencumbered — money that's locked in a term deposit you cannot access, or funds borrowed from someone else, do not qualify. If you have funds in multiple accounts, provide statements for all accounts. If your spouse or common-law partner has funds in their name, include their bank statements and a letter explaining that these funds are available for your family's settlement.

Bank statements must show the financial institution's name and contact information, your name, account number, and the balance for each month. If your statements are not in English or French, provide certified translations. Some applicants also include a letter from their bank on official letterhead confirming the account balance, average balance over six months, and the date the account was opened.

Fees to Pay

The permanent residence application fees for Express Entry in 2025 are structured as follows: $1,365 CAD for the principal applicant's processing fee (increased from $1,325 in 2024), $515 CAD for the Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF), $1,365 CAD for an accompanying spouse or common-law partner (processing fee), $230 CAD per dependent child under 22 years old, and $515 RPRF for your spouse or partner.

The RPRF can be paid upfront with your application or deferred until after your application is approved. Paying upfront slightly speeds up processing at the final stage, as IRCC doesn't need to wait for payment before issuing your Confirmation of Permanent Residence. However, if your application is refused, the RPRF is refunded while processing fees are not, so some applicants prefer to wait.

All fees must be paid online through the IRCC payment portal using a credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, JCB, or UnionPay) or a prepaid card. Debit cards are not accepted. After payment, you'll receive a receipt that you must upload to your application as proof of payment. Keep copies of all receipts for your records.

Additional costs to budget for include language testing ($300-400), Educational Credential Assessment ($200-300), medical examinations ($200-450 per adult), police certificates ($25-200 depending on country), passport photos ($15-30), and potentially immigration consultant or lawyer fees if you choose to hire professional assistance ($2,000-5,000 for full representation).

Completing the Online Application Forms

Once you have all your documents ready, you'll complete the online application forms in your IRCC account. The main form is the Generic Application Form for Canada (IMM 0008), which collects personal information, family details, education, and work history. You'll also complete the Schedule A Background/Declaration form (IMM 5669), which requires a detailed personal history accounting for every month of the last 10 years, including all addresses, employment, education, and periods of unemployment or travel.

The Additional Family Information form (IMM 5406) requires information about all your family members, including parents, siblings, spouse, and children, whether they're accompanying you to Canada or not. This form must be completed by both you and your spouse/partner if applicable.

Answer every question completely and accurately. If a question doesn't apply to you, enter "N/A" rather than leaving it blank. Consistency is critical — the information in your forms must match your Express Entry profile and your supporting documents exactly. Any discrepancies will trigger additional verification and delays, or potentially a refusal for misrepresentation.

The document upload section allows you to upload PDFs of all your supporting documents. Each document type has a specific upload field with file size limits (typically 4MB per file). Scan documents in color at 300 DPI resolution for clarity. If a document exceeds the file size limit, you may need to split it into multiple PDFs or compress it using PDF software. Label your files clearly (e.g., "Passport_JohnSmith.pdf" or "EmploymentLetter_CompanyABC_2020-2023.pdf") to help IRCC officers review your application efficiently.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

The most serious mistake is misrepresentation — providing false information or omitting relevant facts. This can result in a five-year ban from applying to Canada and rejection of all future applications. Misrepresentation includes exaggerating work experience, claiming education you didn't complete, hiding a criminal record, failing to declare a previous visa refusal, or omitting family members. Even if the misrepresentation was unintentional or due to misunderstanding, the consequences are severe. When in doubt, disclose information and provide an explanation rather than omitting it.

Other common mistakes include submitting reference letters that don't match the duties listed under your NOC code. IRCC officers are trained to identify generic reference letters that don't reflect the actual responsibilities of your claimed occupation. Your letters must be specific and detailed, using terminology from your field and describing actual projects or tasks you performed.

Providing police certificates that expire before IRCC processes your application is another frequent issue. While police certificates don't have a strict expiry date in IRCC's rules, they should be recent (issued within the last six months) and must be dated after you last lived in that country. If you submit a police certificate that's too old, IRCC may request a new one, delaying your application.

Using photos that don't meet IRCC's exact specifications causes unnecessary delays. The photos must be precisely 50mm x 70mm, taken within the last six months, and meet specific requirements for lighting, background, facial expression, and head position. Many applicants assume any passport photo will work, but IRCC's requirements are stricter than some countries' passport photo standards.

Forgetting to declare all countries of residence for the police certificate requirement is a critical oversight. Some applicants forget about short-term work assignments, extended vacations, or study abroad programs that exceeded six months. Review your travel history carefully and calculate the total time spent in each country since age 18.

Failing to provide certified translations for documents in languages other than English or French will result in your application being returned as incomplete. The translator must provide a signed affidavit confirming they're competent in both languages and that the translation is accurate. Simply translating a document yourself or having a bilingual friend translate it is not acceptable.

After Submission: What to Expect

Once you submit your application and pay all fees, you will receive an Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR) within 24-48 hours. The AOR email includes your unique application number (starting with the letter E followed by nine digits) and confirms that IRCC has received your application and begun processing it. Use this application number to track your application status through the IRCC portal and when communicating with IRCC.

Shortly after AOR, you'll receive instructions to provide biometrics (fingerprints and a digital photo) at a designated Service Canada location or Visa Application Centre. You have 30 days to complete biometrics after receiving the instruction letter. Biometrics appointments are typically available within a few days to two weeks, depending on location. The fee is $85 CAD per person or $170 CAD for a family. Biometrics are valid for 10 years, so if you've provided them for a previous Canadian visa or permit application within the last 10 years, you may not need to provide them again.

IRCC processes your application in stages, checking eligibility, admissibility, medical results, criminality, and security. You can track these stages through your online account, though updates may be infrequent. Processing times in 2025 average 5-7 months for most Express Entry applications, though some are completed faster and others take longer depending on the complexity of your case and the volume of applications IRCC is processing.

IRCC may request additional documents at any point during processing through an "additional document request" (ADR) in your account. Common ADR requests include updated police certificates if yours are expiring, additional proof of work experience if your reference letters were unclear, updated proof of funds if your bank statements are becoming outdated, or Schedule A forms with more detail about gaps in your personal history. Respond to ADRs promptly — you typically have 30 days to provide requested documents, and failing to respond can result in refusal.

After all checks are complete and your application is approved, you will receive a Passport Request (PPR). This is the final step before receiving your Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR). The PPR letter instructs you to send your passport (or a copy of your passport if you're from a visa-exempt country) to the designated IRCC office. For applicants in Canada, this is typically the Ottawa office. For applicants outside Canada, you'll send your passport to the visa office responsible for your country.

IRCC will stamp a permanent resident visa in your passport (if required) and issue your COPR document, which includes your photo, personal information, and the date by which you must land in Canada (typically the expiry date of your medical exam or one year from the exam date, whichever comes first). Once you receive your passport and COPR back, you can make plans to land in Canada or, if you're already in Canada, complete your landing at a port of entry or through a virtual landing appointment.

Preparing for Your Landing in Canada

Your landing is the moment you officially become a permanent resident of Canada. If you're outside Canada, you'll complete landing procedures when you first arrive at a Canadian port of entry (airport, land border, or seaport). A Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officer will review your COPR, ask you a few questions to confirm the information is correct, and have you sign the document. The officer will then welcome you to Canada as a permanent resident.

If you're already in Canada on a work permit, study permit, or visitor status, you may be eligible for a virtual landing appointment or you can travel to a U.S. border crossing, "flag-pole" (inform the U.S. border officer you're only there to complete Canadian immigration procedures), and complete your landing when you re-enter Canada. Virtual landing appointments became more common during the COVID-19 pandemic and continue to be offered to eligible applicants in 2025, though availability varies.

At landing, bring your COPR, valid passport, and proof of funds if you haven't already provided it. The officer may ask about your plans in Canada, where you'll be living, and whether you have a job lined up. Answer honestly and confidently. After landing, you'll receive information about applying for your Permanent Resident (PR) card, which typically arrives by mail within 4-6 weeks. The PR card is your official proof of permanent resident status and is required for re-entering Canada by commercial vehicle (plane, train, bus, or boat) after traveling abroad.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I travel outside Canada after receiving an ITA but before submitting my application?

Yes, you can travel outside Canada after receiving an ITA. However, if you travel to a new country and stay there for six months or more, you may need to obtain a police certificate from that country, which could complicate your application. Additionally, if you're applying from within Canada under the Canadian Experience Class, ensure your travel doesn't affect your status in Canada (for example, if you're on a work permit, don't let it expire while you're abroad). It's generally advisable to minimize international travel during your 60-day application period to avoid complications with document collection and submission deadlines.

What happens if my CRS score drops below the cut-off after I receive an ITA?

Once you receive an ITA, your CRS score at the time of the draw is locked in, even if your score drops afterward due to age, language test expiry, or other factors. However, you must still meet the minimum requirements of the program you were invited under (Federal Skilled Worker Program, Canadian Experience Class, or Federal Skilled Trades Program) at the time you submit your application. For example, if your language test expires during your 60-day application period, you must retake the test and submit valid results with your application. Your CRS score dropping doesn't invalidate your ITA, but you must maintain eligibility for the program itself.

Can I add my spouse or dependent children to my application after receiving an ITA?

Yes, you can add family members to your application after receiving an ITA, but you must declare them before you submit your permanent residence application. If you get married, enter a common-law relationship, or have a child after receiving your ITA but before submitting your application, you must update your application to include them, provide all required documents for them (medical exams, police certificates, etc.), and pay the additional processing fees. If you fail to declare a family member before submitting your application, you cannot sponsor them later as a permanent resident — this is considered misrepresentation. If a major family change occurs (marriage, birth of a child) after you've already submitted your application, contact IRCC immediately through the web form to update your application and add the new family member.