What Happens After Receiving an ITA for Canada PR?

Receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) is an important milestone for individuals seeking Canadian permanent residence through the Express Entry system. It means that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has invited the selected candidate to submit a complete application for permanent residence.

However, receiving an ITA does not mean that permanent residence has already been approved. Candidates must complete the next stage of the process by submitting accurate information, providing supporting documents, paying the required fees and meeting the immigration program requirements.

The most important point is that an Express Entry ITA is generally valid for only 60 days. Applicants should use this time carefully to prepare and submit their electronic Application for Permanent Residence (e-APR).

Understanding what happens after receiving an ITA can help applicants avoid mistakes, meet deadlines and move towards their Canadian permanent residence goal.

What Is an Invitation to Apply (ITA)?

An Invitation to Apply (ITA) is an official invitation issued by IRCC to an eligible candidate in the Express Entry pool. It allows the candidate to submit an application for Canadian permanent residence under the immigration program specified in the invitation.

Express Entry manages applications under three main federal economic immigration programs:

Canadian Experience Class (CEC).
Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP).
Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP).

Candidates are ranked using the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). During invitation rounds, IRCC invites eligible candidates according to the selection criteria and ranking applicable to that round.

An ITA is not a permanent residence approval. It is permission to proceed to the full application stage, where IRCC verifies the candidate's eligibility, claimed points and admissibility.

What Happens Immediately After Receiving an ITA?

After receiving an ITA, candidates should sign in to their IRCC secure account and carefully review the invitation message.

The message confirms the immigration program under which the candidate has been invited and explains the next steps.

The candidate should:

Confirm the program mentioned in the invitation.
Check the date the invitation was issued.
Note the 60-day submission deadline.
Review the information entered in the original Express Entry profile.
Start preparing the supporting documents.
Check whether any personal circumstances have changed.
Complete the electronic permanent residence application.

Applicants should not assume that receiving an ITA guarantees approval. IRCC will assess the complete application before making a final decision.

How Much Time Do You Get After Receiving an ITA?

Candidates generally have 60 days from the date of receiving an ITA to submit their complete electronic application for permanent residence.

This deadline is important because an ITA cannot normally be extended simply because the applicant needs more time to collect documents.

Applicants should begin preparing immediately rather than waiting until the final weeks.

During this period, they need to:

Complete the online application forms.
Collect supporting documents.
Obtain police clearance certificates.
Arrange the required medical examination.
Prepare financial documents, if applicable.
Obtain translations of documents that are not in English or French.
Pay the required government fees.
Review and submit the application before the deadline.

If the candidate does not submit the application or decline the invitation within 60 days, the invitation expires and the Express Entry profile is removed from the pool. The candidate will generally need to submit a new Express Entry profile to be considered in future rounds.

Step-by-Step Process After Receiving an ITA

Step 1: Review Your ITA and Immigration Program

The first step is to check the invitation received through your IRCC account.

Confirm whether you have been invited under the Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Worker Program or Federal Skilled Trades Program.

Review the program requirements and make sure that you remain eligible.

Step 2: Recheck Your CRS Score and Express Entry Information

Before submitting your application, review the details in your Express Entry profile.

Check the information relating to:

Age.
Education.
Language test results.
Skilled work experience.
Canadian work experience, if applicable.
Provincial nomination, if applicable.
Valid job offer, if applicable.
Spouse or common-law partner details.
Family information.

If your personal circumstances or those of your spouse or common-law partner have changed, recalculate your CRS score.

For example, a change in job offer status, provincial nomination or language test validity may affect your score. If your recalculated score is below the minimum cut-off for your invitation round, IRCC advises you to decline the invitation. Submitting an application despite no longer meeting the applicable score requirements may result in refusal.

Step 3: Complete the Electronic Application for Permanent Residence

Complete all required sections carefully.

You may be asked to provide details about:

Personal information.
Family members.
Education history.
Employment history.
Travel history.
Address history.
Previous immigration applications.
Language test results.
Work experience.
Background and admissibility information.

Make sure the information is accurate and consistent with the documents you provide.

Step 4: Prepare the Required Documents

Once you complete the online forms, IRCC generates a personalized document checklist.

Common documents may include:

Valid passport or travel document.
Birth certificates, where applicable.
Language test results.
Educational Credential Assessment (ECA), if applicable.
Educational certificates and transcripts.
Employment reference letters.
Supporting evidence of work experience.
Police clearance certificates.
Proof of funds, if required.
Marriage certificate, if applicable.
Divorce certificate or legal separation documents, if applicable.
Common-law union documents, if applicable.
Birth or adoption documents for dependent children, where applicable.
Digital photographs.
Use of a Representative form (IMM 5476), if using an authorized representative.
Other documents listed in the personalized checklist.

The exact documents depend on the immigration program and the information declared in the application. Applicants should follow their own IRCC checklist rather than relying on a generic list.

Step 5: Obtain Police Clearance Certificates

Police clearance certificates are an important part of the permanent residence application.

IRCC generally requires police certificates for the principal applicant and family members aged 18 or older for each country where they have lived for six months or more in a row during the last 10 years.

Applicants should request these certificates as early as possible because some countries take several weeks or months to issue them.

The validity requirements depend on the country and the applicant's residence history.

If a certificate cannot be obtained before the 60-day deadline, IRCC may consider limited exceptions where the applicant provides an explanation and evidence of having made reasonable efforts. Acceptance is not guaranteed.

Step 6: Complete the Immigration Medical Examination

An immigration medical examination is part of the permanent residence process.

Applicants must generally complete the examination with an IRCC-approved panel physician. Family members may also need medical examinations, even if they are not accompanying the applicant to Canada.

If the applicant has never completed an immigration medical examination, IRCC instructs them to arrange it after receiving the ITA. The results must remain valid when the permanent residence application is submitted and when permanent residence is granted.

Applicants who completed an immigration medical examination within the previous five years and are currently living in Canada may not need another examination in certain circumstances. IRCC will determine whether the previous results can be used.

Step 7: Arrange Proof of Funds, If Required

Some Express Entry applicants must demonstrate that they have sufficient settlement funds.

Proof of funds is generally required for applicants under the Federal Skilled Worker Program and Federal Skilled Trades Program, unless an applicable exemption applies.

Applicants under the Canadian Experience Class are generally exempt from this requirement.

Evidence may include:

Official bank letters.
Bank account statements.
Details of available savings.
Other financial documents accepted by IRCC.

The required amount depends on family size and the applicable IRCC financial requirements. Applicants should check the latest figures before submitting their application.

Step 8: Pay the Government Processing Fees

Applicants must pay the applicable fees through their IRCC secure account.

Depending on the application, fees may include:

Permanent residence processing fees.
Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF).
Biometrics fees.
Fees for accompanying family members.

The fee amount depends on the number of applicants and the applicable fee schedule.

Applicants should use the official IRCC fee calculator or payment instructions to confirm the amount before making payment.

Step 9: Upload Documents and Submit Your e-APR

Before submitting the electronic Application for Permanent Residence (e-APR), review every section carefully.

Check that:

All mandatory fields are completed.
All required documents are uploaded.
Scanned copies are clear and readable.
Documents are translated into English or French where required.
Information matches the original Express Entry profile.
Applicable fees have been paid.
The application is submitted before the ITA expires.

After submission, save the confirmation and application details for future reference.

What Happens After Submitting the e-APR?

Submitting the electronic application is an important milestone, but IRCC must still review the application and assess whether the applicant meets the requirements.

The process generally includes the following stages.

1. Application Completeness Check

IRCC checks whether the application is complete, the required forms have been filled out, the fees have been paid and the necessary documents have been submitted.

An incomplete application may be rejected.

2. Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR)

After a complete application is received, the applicant generally receives an Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR).

The AOR confirms that IRCC has received the permanent residence application. It is not an approval of the application.

3. Biometrics Request

Applicants between 14 and 79 years of age generally need to provide fingerprints and a photograph for each permanent residence application, even if they previously provided biometrics and those biometrics are still valid.

If IRCC sends a biometrics instruction letter, applicants generally have 30 days from the date of the letter to complete the process.

Applicants should follow the instructions in the letter and attend an authorized biometrics collection location.

4. Medical and Background Checks

IRCC assesses medical, criminality and background information to determine whether the applicant and accompanying family members are admissible to Canada.

The immigration officer may review:

Medical examination results.
Police certificates.
Criminality information.
Security-related information.
Immigration history.
Other relevant records.

5. Additional Document Requests

IRCC may request additional information or documents if clarification is required.

Applicants should monitor their IRCC account and respond within the deadline stated in the request.

6. Application Processing

IRCC reviews the application against the relevant immigration program requirements.

The officer verifies the information provided in the Express Entry profile and permanent residence application, including eligibility, CRS points and admissibility.

Applicants can monitor their application status through the available IRCC online services.

What Happens If Your Application Is Approved?

If IRCC approves the permanent residence application, the applicant receives instructions through their IRCC account.

Depending on whether the applicant is inside or outside Canada, IRCC may issue:

A Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR).
A permanent resident visa, if the applicant is from a country that requires one.

Applicants should carefully check the personal information on their COPR and ensure that it matches their passport.

The COPR has an expiry date and cannot be extended. Applicants must follow the instructions and complete the required permanent residence confirmation process before it expires.

For applicants outside Canada, the documents are used to complete the landing process when they travel to Canada. Applicants already in Canada generally complete their permanent residence confirmation through the applicable IRCC process.

What Happens If Your ITA Expires or You Decline It?

Candidates have two different options if they do not wish to proceed with an invitation.

If You Decline the ITA

If you formally decline the invitation, your Express Entry profile is returned to the pool, provided you remain eligible.

You may be considered in future invitation rounds, but receiving another ITA is not guaranteed. You may need to improve your CRS score or update your profile.

If You Take No Action Within 60 Days

If you neither submit the application nor decline the invitation within the 60-day period:

The ITA expires.
Your Express Entry profile is removed from the pool.
You generally need to create and submit a new Express Entry profile.
You must meet the eligibility requirements again.
You may be considered for future invitations if accepted into the pool.

It is therefore important to make a decision before the invitation deadline.

Common Mistakes to Avoid After Receiving an ITA

Applicants should avoid the following mistakes during the post-ITA process:

Waiting too long to request police clearance certificates.
Missing the 60-day submission deadline.
Providing incorrect employment or education information.
Claiming CRS points that cannot be supported by documents.
Failing to disclose relevant travel or address history.
Uploading incomplete or unclear documents.
Submitting expired language test results.
Ignoring changes in marital or family circumstances.
Failing to provide required translations.
Not checking the IRCC account for additional requests.
Assuming that an ITA guarantees permanent residence approval.

Providing accurate information and complete documentation is essential throughout the process.

Can You Work in Canada While Waiting for PR Approval?

Receiving an ITA or submitting an Express Entry permanent residence application does not automatically authorize someone to work in Canada.

Applicants who are already in Canada must continue to maintain valid temporary resident status and comply with the conditions of their existing work or study authorization.

Some applicants with a submitted permanent residence application may qualify for a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP), subject to specific eligibility requirements.

A BOWP may allow eligible applicants to continue working while waiting for a decision on their permanent residence application.

How Long Does It Take to Get Canadian PR After Receiving an ITA?

The processing time depends on the immigration program, application completeness, background checks and individual circumstances.

IRCC has historically aimed to process most complete Express Entry applications within six months, but this is not a guarantee for every application.

Some applications may take longer if:

Additional documents are requested.
Police certificates are delayed.
Medical or security checks require more time.
Background information needs further verification.
The application involves complex family or immigration circumstances.

Applicants should check the official IRCC processing-time information for the latest estimates.

Important Things to Remember After Receiving an ITA

Before submitting your Canadian permanent residence application, remember:

An ITA is an invitation to apply, not a permanent residence approval.
The ITA is generally valid for 60 days.
Review your Express Entry profile and CRS score before applying.
Follow the personalized IRCC document checklist.
Request police certificates as early as possible.
Complete the required medical examination.
Pay all applicable fees.
Submit accurate and complete information.
Monitor your IRCC account after submission.
An AOR confirms receipt of an application, not approval.
Permanent residence is granted only after IRCC approves the application and the required confirmation process is completed.

Conclusion

Receiving an Invitation to Apply is a major milestone in the Canadian immigration journey. However, the work does not end with the ITA. Applicants must complete their electronic permanent residence application within 60 days, provide the required documents, pay the applicable fees and satisfy IRCC's eligibility and admissibility requirements.

Careful preparation, accurate information and timely submission can help applicants avoid unnecessary delays and application problems.

Countrywide Visas can help candidates understand the post-ITA process, organise supporting documents and prepare for the next stage of their Canadian permanent residence application.

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What Happens After Receiving an ITA?