Express Entry invitation to apply: a practical 60-day plan

An invitation to apply (ITA) in Express Entry starts a clock. You have 60 days to submit a complete permanent residence application, and the documents that take longest, such as police certificates from abroad and detailed employer letters, are rarely the ones people start with. Here is a practical way to use those 60 days.

Day 1: check that the invitation still fits your situation

Before you spend money on anything, reread the invitation. Note which program you were invited under and, if it was a category-based round, which category. Then ask:

• Do I still meet every requirement of that program today?
• Is my language test result still valid, and will it still be valid when I submit?
• Has anything changed since I created my profile: a new job, a marriage, a child, a new diploma?
• Can I prove every point I claimed in my Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score?

If a claim cannot be supported, recalculate your score without it. If you no longer meet the requirements, submitting anyway is not a strategy. An ITA is not a decision; IRCC still assesses the application against the evidence.

One more check if you are thinking of Quebec: Express Entry is for people who plan to live outside Quebec. Quebec has its own selection programs, such as the PSTQ and the PEQ.

Week 1: order what takes the longest

Start with what depends on other people or other countries:

• Police certificates for each country your checklist lists. Some take weeks. If one truly cannot be obtained in time, IRCC's instructions explain what to submit instead, including proof that you requested it.
• Employer reference letters for every job you claimed. Each should state your duties, dates, hours per week and salary, on company letterhead, signed by someone who can confirm them. A letter with a job title and nothing else will not prove that your duties match the occupation you claimed.
• Medical exam: if you have not had one, IRCC says to get it after you are invited, with an approved panel physician. You then include the document the physician gives you in your application. Book early: appointments are not always available right away. If you had an immigration medical exam in the past five years for another application, check IRCC's page first; you may be able to use it.

Weeks 2 to 4: build the file around your claims

Go through your profile line by line and attach the proof for each claim. Experience matters most, so check it carefully. The Federal Skilled Worker Program requires at least one year of continuous work in your primary occupation within the last ten years; the Federal Skilled Trades Program requires two years in a skilled trade within the last five. Compare your duties with the main duties of the occupation you selected, not just the title.

Then add:

• Proof of funds, if your program and situation require it. Show where the money comes from and that it is available, not just a balance on one day.
• Education documents and your credential assessment, if you claimed foreign education.
• Family documents for your spouse and dependent children, whether or not they are coming with you. Everyone must be declared.
• Translations of documents not in English or French, done according to IRCC's rules.

Weeks 5 to 7: the consistency review

This is the step most people rush, and it is the one that prevents refusals and misrepresentation findings. Put the forms and the documents side by side and check that dates, job titles, addresses and family details match everywhere. Explain any gap or difference in a short letter rather than hoping nobody notices.

Never keep an outdated or inflated answer to protect a score. Misrepresentation has serious consequences, and it does not require bad intent: an inaccurate statement can be enough.

Last week: submit, do not just save

Check that every document is readable and uploaded in the right field, pay the fees, and submit. An application saved in your account is not an application received. Keep the confirmation and the receipt.

If you run out of time

If the 60 days pass without a submission and you did not decline, the invitation expires and your profile is removed from the pool: you would have to create a new profile and be accepted into the pool again. If you know you cannot submit a complete, accurate file in time, declining is the better option. IRCC puts you back in the pool, although nothing guarantees another invitation. Our Express Entry page explains the programs and the steps after an invitation.

Frequently asked questions

Can I update my profile after receiving the ITA?

Your application must reflect your real situation when you submit. If something changed, declare it in the application and check how it affects your eligibility and score before you go further.

Does my spouse need police certificates too?

Family members included in the application usually do, depending on their age and where they have lived. Your personalized checklist tells you exactly who needs what.

Is a higher CRS score a guarantee of approval?

No. The score decides who is invited. Approval depends on meeting the program requirements, proving your claims and being admissible.

Official sources

Official pages consulted on October 11, 2026:

• IRCC — Express Entry
• IRCC — Express Entry: who can apply
• IRCC — Express Entry: apply for permanent residence