Receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) through Canada’s Express Entry system can feel like the hardest part of the immigration process is finally over.
It is a major milestone.
But an ITA is not the same as permanent residence approval.
After receiving an invitation, you still need to submit a complete permanent residence application, provide supporting documents and satisfy Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) that you meet the requirements of the program and the information you provided in your Express Entry profile.
For some applicants, this stage can be more stressful than creating the original profile because there is now a deadline.
So, what exactly happens after you receive an ITA?
First, Understand What an ITA Means
An Invitation to Apply means that IRCC has selected you from the Express Entry pool and invited you to submit an application for permanent residence.
It does not mean that IRCC has already approved you.
Your Express Entry profile contained information about your age, education, language ability, work experience and other factors.
After receiving an ITA, you must provide documents that support the information you declared.
This is why accuracy is extremely important.
If your circumstances have changed since you entered the Express Entry pool, you should not simply submit your old information without checking whether the change affects your eligibility or CRS score.
You Usually Have 60 Days to Apply
One of the most important things to understand after receiving an ITA is the deadline.
You generally have 60 days to submit your complete permanent residence application after accepting the invitation.
That may sound like a long time.
It is not.
Some documents can take weeks to obtain, particularly documents that require third-party processing.
Applicants should therefore begin gathering their documents as soon as possible rather than waiting until the final days.
If you do not submit your application within the required period, your invitation can expire.
You may then have to create another Express Entry profile and wait for another invitation.
Review Your Express Entry Information Carefully
Before submitting anything, go back through the information you provided in your Express Entry profile.
Check your:
- Personal information
- Education
- Language test results
- Employment history
- Work experience
- Family information
- Marital status
- Number of accompanying family members
- Canadian work experience
- Foreign work experience
- Provincial nomination, if applicable
This is not the time to assume that everything is correct simply because you were invited.
Your ITA was based on the information in your profile.
If that information was incorrect or your circumstances have changed, it can affect your application.
Your CRS Score Must Be Supported
This is particularly important.
Your CRS score was calculated from the information in your Express Entry profile.
After receiving an ITA, you will need to provide evidence supporting the factors that contributed to that score.
For example, if you claimed points for education, you may need to provide the relevant educational documents.
If you claimed points for foreign work experience, you will need evidence showing that the work experience meets the applicable requirements.
If you claimed language points, your valid language test results must support your claim.
The goal is not simply to have a high CRS score.
The goal is to have a high CRS score that you can prove.
Gather Your Employment Documents
Employment documentation is one of the areas where applicants should be especially careful.
Your work experience can affect both your eligibility and your CRS score.
Depending on your circumstances, you may need employment reference letters containing information such as:
- Your job title
- Your employment dates
- Your salary
- Hours worked
- Main duties
- Employer information
The duties are particularly important.
Your job title alone does not determine whether your work experience qualifies under a particular occupation.
The actual duties you performed should correspond to the occupational classification you claimed.
This is why applicants should not choose an occupation simply because its name looks similar to their job title.
Check Your Language Test Results
Language tests are another important part of the application.
Your Express Entry profile may have received points based on your English or French language results.
Make sure your test results are still valid when you submit your permanent residence application.
If a language test expires during the application process, the consequences can depend on the circumstances.
Applicants should therefore keep track of their test validity rather than assuming that a result remains valid indefinitely.
If you have taken another language test since creating your profile, make sure the information in your application accurately reflects your circumstances.
Get Your Police Certificates
Applicants may also need police certificates as part of the permanent residence application.
These documents can take time to obtain, particularly when an applicant has lived in multiple countries.
Do not wait until the final week of your 60-day period before beginning this process.
Think about every country where you have lived for the required period and determine what documentation is required.
Family members included in the application may also need police certificates depending on their age and circumstances.
Prepare for the Medical Examination
Permanent residence applicants generally need to complete an immigration medical examination with an approved panel physician.
Do not simply visit any hospital or doctor.
The examination must be performed by a physician approved for immigration medical examinations.
The medical examination is part of Canada’s admissibility assessment.
Receiving an ITA does not remove the medical requirement.
Provide Your Biometrics When Required
Biometrics may also be required.
This generally involves providing fingerprints and a photograph at an authorised collection location.
If IRCC requires biometrics from you, follow the instructions and complete the process within the specified period.
Applicants should pay attention to official instructions rather than relying on information from friends or old immigration videos.
Canadian immigration requirements can change.
What If Your Situation Has Changed?
This is one of the most important questions after receiving an ITA.
Imagine that you entered the Express Entry pool while single and then got married.
Or perhaps you changed jobs.
Maybe your language test expired.
Perhaps you discovered that one of the employment periods in your profile was entered incorrectly.
Do not ignore the change.
An applicant has an obligation to provide truthful and accurate information.
A change in circumstances can affect your CRS score, eligibility or the documents required.
If the change means that your CRS score would have fallen below the cut-off for the draw in which you were invited, this can be particularly serious.
The safest approach is to assess the change before submitting the application rather than hoping that IRCC will not notice it.
What If You Cannot Get a Required Document?
Sometimes an applicant genuinely cannot obtain a document within the required period.
For example, a government authority may have delays in issuing a police certificate.
This does not mean you should simply ignore the missing document.
Where IRCC allows an explanation or alternative evidence, the applicant should follow the applicable instructions and provide a clear explanation supported by evidence of the steps taken to obtain the document.
Do not manufacture a document.
Do not submit something that has been altered.
And do not assume that an immigration officer will accept an explanation that is unsupported by evidence.
Can You Add Someone to Your Application After Receiving an ITA?
Family circumstances can change during the immigration process.
For example, an applicant may marry or have a child.
If this happens, IRCC needs to know.
Do not assume that you can simply add a family member later without reporting the change.
Family composition can affect fees, medical examinations, documentation and eligibility.
The best approach is to report significant changes accurately and follow IRCC’s instructions for updating the application.
What Happens After You Submit the Application?
Once your complete permanent residence application has been submitted, IRCC begins processing it.
The application can involve several assessments.
These may include:
- Completeness
- Eligibility
- Medical admissibility
- Security checks
- Criminality checks
- Other admissibility requirements
IRCC may request additional documents or information if necessary.
This is why submitting the application is not the end of the process.
You may still receive correspondence from IRCC during processing.
How Long Does Permanent Residence Processing Take?
Processing times can change.
They can also differ depending on the type of application, the volume of applications being processed, whether additional information is required and other factors.
Applicants should therefore be careful with websites or social media posts promising that every Express Entry application will be processed within a specific number of months.
A previous applicant’s processing time does not guarantee yours.
The best approach is to check the current official processing information applicable to your application.
What If Your Application Is Refused?
Receiving an ITA does not guarantee approval.
An application can be refused if the applicant does not meet the requirements or if information provided in the application cannot be supported.
This is one reason applicants should take the post-ITA stage seriously.
Do not treat the application as a formality.
Review the information carefully, provide complete documentation and ensure that your evidence supports what you claimed in your Express Entry profile.
Common Mistakes to Avoid After an ITA
Several mistakes can create unnecessary problems.
Waiting too long
The 60-day deadline can disappear quickly.
Start gathering documents immediately.
Claiming points you cannot prove
Do not include education, work experience or other factors simply because they increase your CRS.
You need evidence.
Providing inconsistent information
Your profile, application forms and supporting documents should tell the same story.
Large unexplained differences can raise questions.
Using incorrect work experience
Your work experience needs to meet the applicable requirements.
A job title alone is not enough.
Ignoring changes in circumstances
Marriage, divorce, a new child, a change in employment or other significant changes should not simply be hidden from IRCC.
Relying on outdated information
Canadian immigration policies change.
Information that was correct several years ago may no longer apply.
What Should You Do Immediately After Receiving an ITA?
A simple checklist can help.
Step 1: Confirm the details of your invitation.
Step 2: Review the information in your Express Entry profile.
Step 3: Check whether your circumstances have changed.
Step 4: Calculate whether your CRS score remains accurate.
Step 5: Start collecting employment and education documents.
Step 6: Request police certificates where required.
Step 7: Arrange your medical examination when appropriate.
Step 8: Prepare your financial and supporting documents.
Step 9: Complete the application carefully.
Step 10: Submit before the deadline.
The earlier you start, the more time you have to resolve problems.
An ITA Is a Big Achievement, But It Is Not the Finish Line
For many Express Entry candidates, receiving an ITA is the moment they have been waiting for.
It means that Canada has selected them to submit a permanent residence application.
But it also marks the beginning of another important stage.
Your job now is to demonstrate that the information used to rank you is accurate and that you meet all the requirements for permanent residence.
Do not rush through the application simply because you are excited about receiving the invitation.
Take the time to check every important detail.
Your employment history should be properly documented.
Your education should be supported.
Your language results should be valid.
Your family information should be accurate.
And any changes in your circumstances should be disclosed.
Final Thoughts
An Invitation to Apply is one of the most important milestones in the Express Entry process, but it should never be treated as an automatic approval.
The 60-day application period can pass quickly, particularly when an applicant needs police certificates, employment letters, medical examinations and other supporting documents.
The strongest approach is to start immediately, review your Express Entry profile carefully and make sure every claim can be supported with genuine documentation.
For applicants who have received an ITA, the question is no longer simply:
“Will Canada invite me?”
You have already received the invitation.
The question now is:
“Can I prove that I qualify?”
That is what the post-ITA stage is really about.
Planning Your Canadian Immigration Application?
Worldbridge Immigration helps prospective immigrants understand Canadian immigration pathways and prepare for the requirements involved in their applications.
If you have received an Invitation to Apply and are unsure about your documents, eligibility, work experience or next steps, getting your application reviewed before submission can help you identify potential issues early.
