Express Entry Documents Checklist After ITA (2026)

Getting an Invitation to Apply feels great for about a day. Then the clock starts: you have 60 days to send IRCC a complete application for permanent residence. Most of that time goes into collecting documents, and missing or weak documents are one of the most common reasons applications get refused.

Use this list to stay on track. If you can, request police certificates and reference letters before you’re even invited, because those take the longest.

Identity and family documents

• Your passport, with copies of every page that has a stamp, visa or note. The same for each family member.
• Birth certificates for you and any dependent children.
• Your marriage certificate. If you declared a common-law partner, proof you live together, such as a shared lease, joint bills or a joint bank account.
• A divorce or death certificate if you were married before.
• Digital photos that meet IRCC’s photo specifications.

Proof of every point you claimed

Everything in your profile has to be backed up. If a document doesn’t support a claim, IRCC can recalculate your score. If it falls below the cut-off of the round you were invited in, the application is refused.

• Your language test results. These must be the same results you entered, and still valid on the day you apply.
• Your ECA report, plus copies of your degrees and transcripts.
• Canadian school documents if you claimed points for study in Canada.
• Your provincial nomination certificate, if you have one.
• Proof of a sibling in Canada: their status document, proof of address and birth certificates showing the shared parent or parents.

Work experience letters

In most applications, the reference letters matter more than anything else. Each one should be on company letterhead and include:

• your job title and the dates you held it
• your main duties, which need to line up with the lead statement and most main duties of your NOC code
• your hours per week and your salary or hourly wage, plus benefits
• the name, title, phone number, email and signature of your manager or someone in HR

Back the letters up with pay slips, tax documents (T4s and notices of assessment for Canadian jobs), contracts or employment records. If an old employer won’t give you a letter, explain why and send what you can, such as a sworn statement from a coworker along with pay records.

Police certificates

You and every family member aged 18 or older need a police certificate from each country or territory where you lived for 6 months or more in a row since turning 18. Some countries are quick. Others take weeks or even months. If one is delayed, upload proof that you applied for it.

Medical exam

Since August 21, 2025, you have to finish the immigration medical exam before you submit your application. That applies to you and every family member, including a spouse or child who isn’t coming with you. Book it with an IRCC-approved panel physician once you’re invited, then upload the information sheet or the IMM 1017B form the doctor gives you. If you already live in Canada and had a low-risk medical exam in the last 5 years, you may be able to reuse it. Results are generally valid for 12 months.

Proof of funds

Federal Skilled Worker and Federal Skilled Trades applicants have to show settlement funds, unless they’re already authorized to work in Canada and have a valid job offer. If you’re applying through the Canadian Experience Class, you don’t need it. Our proof of funds guide has the current amounts and what the bank letter needs to say.

Forms and fees

You’ll fill in the online forms in your IRCC account, including a background declaration for each adult. If a lawyer or consultant is helping you, add the Use of a Representative form (IMM 5476).

Here are the fees in effect since April 30, 2026. Biometrics are paid separately.

Who	Processing fee	Right of PR fee	Total
Principal applicant	$990	$600	$1,590
Spouse or partner	$990	$600	$1,590
Dependent child	$270	None	$270

What happens after you submit

1. IRCC sends you an acknowledgment of receipt (AOR).
2. If you need to give fingerprints and a photo, you’ll get a biometrics instruction letter.
3. IRCC reviews your eligibility, medical results and security checks, and may ask for more documents.
4. If you’re approved, you get a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR). If you live outside Canada, they’ll also ask for your passport.

IRCC aims to process most complete Express Entry applications in about 6 months. The real wait changes over time, so check IRCC’s processing times tool for the latest estimate.

Quick answers

Can I decline an ITA?

Yes. If you can’t get everything ready in 60 days, declining is better than sending an incomplete application. You go back into the pool and can be invited again.

What if my score changes after I’m invited?

If a change like losing a job offer or a new marital status pushes your score below the round’s cut-off, you may no longer be eligible. Age is the exception: your age points are locked on the day you’re invited.

Do my documents need to be translated?

Yes. Anything that isn’t in English or French needs a certified translation, uploaded together with a copy of the original.

Not in the pool yet? Start with how to create an Express Entry profile.