When a candidate in the Express Entry pool receives an Invitation to Apply (ITA), they have 60 days to submit a complete application for permanent residence. The ITA is time-limited and not extendable — if the application is not submitted within 60 days, the ITA expires and the Express Entry profile is removed from the pool. The PR application submitted after an ITA must be complete and include all required supporting documents — incomplete applications may be returned or refused. This page explains the 60-day window, the documents that must be gathered and submitted, the medical examination and biometrics requirements, and what happens after the application is submitted.

For the current application form, document checklist, and fees, refer to the IRCC apply for permanent residence through Express Entry page.

• Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), ss 10.1–10.3 — the Express Entry framework; ITA issued by the Minister; candidate must apply for PR within the time specified
• Ministerial Instructions respecting Express Entry — set the 60-day application period from ITA issuance
• Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR), s 10 — requirements for a complete application for permanent residence
• IRCC: Apply for permanent residence through Express Entry — canada.ca/express-entry-apply
• IRCC: Express Entry documents — canada.ca/express-entry-documents

The 60-day window

The ITA is valid for exactly 60 calendar days from the date it is issued. During this period, the candidate must:

• Gather all required supporting documents
• Complete all required steps (medical examination, biometrics instruction letter response)
• Submit the complete PR application through the IRCC portal

The 60-day period is not extendable — IRCC does not grant extensions except in very limited circumstances (such as a technical failure of the IRCC portal on the day of submission, which must be documented and reported immediately). If the application is not submitted within 60 days, the ITA expires automatically and the candidate's profile is removed from the pool. The candidate must create a new Express Entry profile and wait to receive a new ITA in a future round.

Documents required — what to gather

The PR application requires the following documents (specific requirements depend on the candidate's program — FSW, FST, or CEC — and individual circumstances):

Identity and civil status

• Valid passport (must be valid for at least 6 months from the application date — if expiring sooner, renew before applying and update the application)
• Identity photographs meeting IRCC specifications
• Birth certificate
• Marriage certificate or proof of common-law partnership (if applicable)
• Divorce, death, or separation documents (if previously married)

Language test results

• Official language test results — IELTS General Training or CELPIP General for English; TEF Canada or TCF Canada for French
• Test results must not have expired (most test results are valid for 2 years from the test date) — if the results used in the profile are approaching or have passed 2 years, the candidate should retake the test before submitting the application

Education

• For foreign credentials: an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) from a designated organization confirming the equivalency to a Canadian credential — for information on designated ECA organizations, see the ECA designated organizations page
• For Canadian credentials: transcripts and diploma/degree certificates from the Canadian institution

Work experience

• Reference letters or experience letters from employers — should specify the position title, NOC code, dates of employment, hours per week, salary, and duties
• Pay stubs, T4s (tax slips), or other corroborating evidence of employment

Police certificates

• Police certificates from every country in which the applicant has lived for 6 or more consecutive months in the last 10 years (other than Canada and periods when the applicant was under 18)
• For information on obtaining police certificates, see the police certificates page

Proof of funds

• Applicants who do not have a valid Canadian job offer must demonstrate sufficient settlement funds to support themselves and their family members — the minimum threshold varies by family size
• Accepted forms of proof: official bank letters, bank statements (typically 6 months), investment statements. For current minimum fund amounts, refer to the IRCC proof of funds page

Job offer (if applicable)

• A copy of the written job offer and the supporting LMIA or IRCC Employer Portal offer number (if job offer CRS points were claimed in the profile)

Medical examination

Most Express Entry applicants and their family members (whether or not accompanying) must complete an upfront medical examination with an IRCC-approved panel physician before or very shortly after the ITA is issued. Key points:

• The medical examination must be completed before the application is submitted (or the results must be very close to completion — applicants should not submit the application if medical results are still pending)
• Results are submitted directly by the panel physician to IRCC electronically — the applicant does not handle the medical records
• Medical results are valid for 12 months from the examination date — if the application is not finalized within 12 months, a repeat examination may be required
• For information on the medical examination process, see the medical examination page

Biometrics

Most applicants who have not provided biometrics to IRCC in the last 10 years must provide fingerprints and a photo. The biometrics process works as follows:

• After the PR application is submitted, IRCC sends a biometric instruction letter to the applicant
• The applicant must attend a biometrics collection point (Visa Application Centre or IRCC office) within 30 days of receiving the instruction letter
• Biometrics are not required at the time of application submission — the instruction letter is issued after

After submission — IRCC processing

Once the complete application is submitted:

• IRCC conducts a completeness check — if the application is incomplete, it may be returned without a decision
• IRCC assesses eligibility based on the information as it stood at the time the ITA was issued (not at the time the application is submitted)
• If circumstances have changed since the ITA was issued (such as a job offer falling through, or a family member being added), the candidate must update the application and notify IRCC — failure to report changes is misrepresentation
• IRCC may request additional documents or conduct an interview
• A decision is issued — if approved, the candidate and accompanying family members are granted permanent residence

For current processing times after application submission, refer to the IRCC Express Entry after you apply page.

The most common reason candidates fail to submit within 60 days is underestimating how long it takes to gather documents — particularly police certificates from certain countries (which can take weeks to months), employer reference letters, and ECA reports from some organizations. Candidates should begin gathering documents immediately upon receiving the ITA, prioritising items with the longest lead time first. Police certificates and the medical examination should typically be started or completed before the ITA is expected (proactively), given the unpredictability of the wait. If a candidate's language test results or ECA will expire during the 60-day window, the candidate should address this before the ITA is expected or immediately on receipt. If the ITA is received and it becomes clear the 60-day deadline cannot be met, the candidate should consider declining the ITA (the profile may be retained, depending on circumstances) rather than submitting an incomplete application. For the current document checklist, fees, and application guide, refer to the IRCC Express Entry application page.