What documents do I need to respond to an ITA through Express Entry?

Preparing your documents in advance can help you meet the 60-day deadline to respond with your application for permanent residence after you receive an invitation to apply (ITA) through Canada’s Express Entry system.

There are many documents necessary to respond to an ITA, many of which require additional costs and vetting to obtain.

See your eligibility for all Express Entry streams

Failure to respond to your ITA with a complete application for permanent residence (PR) within the allotted timeframe can lead to the expiration of your invitation.

If your invitation expires, you will be required to restart the Express Entry process should you wish to still immigrate through one of the system’s programs.

This article will cover

What documents are needed for a complete PR application;
The reasons that Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) officers request each document and who has to submit documentation; and
Associated costs of each document.

What documents do I need for a complete PR application?

To submit a complete PR application, most Express Entry candidates will require the following documents:

Valid passport;
Birth certificate;
New language test results (if expired)*;
New Education Credential Assessment (ECA) reports (if expired)*;
Documentation proving claimed work experience;
Police clearance certificates; and
Photographs of the principal applicant and accompanying family members.

*If your ECA reports and language test results remain valid at the time you submit your application for PR, you do not need to acquire new ones.

Depending on your situation and the information in your Express Entry profile, as part of your application for PR through Express Entry, you may also require:

Official transcript from post-secondary schooling completed;
Proof of settlement funds;
Receipt from an immigration medical exam*;
Birth certificates;
Marriage certificates;
Death certificates;
Certified copy of a certificate of qualification in a skilled trade occupation issued by a Canadian provincial or territorial authority;
Copies of work contracts and/or pay stubs; and
Documents relating to income taxation.

*Though immigration medical exams are a necessary part of PR applications for those that require them, IRCC advises applicants only get their exam done once asked to by the Canadian government. This will occur after the submission of an applicant’s PR application.

In some circumstances, if you submit your PR application from inside Canada and have completed an immigration medical exam in the last five years, you may be exempt from needing to provide an immigration medical exam until October 5, 2029.

For a more complete list of possible required documentation to respond to an ITA, visit our dedicated webpage.

Costs associated with getting documents

Not all of the required documents for a PR application necessarily have an associated cost. For those that do, the following table details typical prices to obtain these documents:

Needed Document	Associated Cost (CAD)
Language test results – English
CELPIP	$290 + taxes
IELTS	$308 – $332 + taxes
Language test results – French
TEF	$390 + taxes
TCF	$390 + taxes
Receipt from immigration medical exam	Typically varies between $150–$200 depending on the healthcare provider, for those aged between 15 and 75 years. Fees vary if the applicant is below 15 or above 75. If follow-up visits/tests are required, these additional costs are the applicant’s responsibility and non-refundable.
Police clearance certificates	Varies by country, typically between $25–$75 depending on the country and police station.
Photograph of principal applicant and family	Varies by photography service; typically around $10–$20 depending on the number of people being photographed.
Official transcripts of post-secondary school	Can vary depending on the location and jurisdiction of the school.
Education Credential Assessment	$220 – $260 depending on the service and the number of credentials assessed.

Why does IRCC need these documents, and who must submit them?

The following tables describes the reasons for which IRCC requests different documents—as well as the applicants they must be submitted on behalf of, if required in the PR application.

Mandatory documents for all applicants:

Document Type	Purpose of the Document for IRCC Officers	Must be submitted on behalf of
Medical exam receipt	To assess the health of the applicant and their family members, and the potential medical cost they may incur in Canada.	- The principal applicant. - Accompanying spouse/common-law partner. - Dependent children (including non-accompanying).
Police certificates	To assess whether an applicant or their family members have a criminal record or pose any kind of security risk to Canadians.
Copy of the biographical data page of passport or travel document	To confirm the applicant’s identity.
Proof of work experience	To prove and validate that the applicant meets program .requirements
Digital photos	To confirm identity.

Mandatory for applicants in these situations:

Document Type	Purpose of the Document for IRCC Officers	Must be submitted on behalf of
Copy of birth certificate or equivalent document (dependents)	To prove the dependent child’s relationship with the parent(s).	Dependent children, including any non-accompanying children.
Proof of studies	To confirm education claims and ensure that the applicant meets program requirements.	- The principal applicant. - The accompanying spouse/common-law partner.
Provincial or territorial certificate of qualification	To validate the applicant’s claim of having a provincial or territorial certificate of qualification.	- The principal applicant. - The accompanying spouse/common-law partner.
Letter of job offer from the employer	To confirm an applicant’s qualifying offer of arranged employment, validate eligibility, and screen for fraud concerns.	The principal applicant.
Proof of funds	To confirm whether the applicant meets the low-income cut-off (LICO) based on their available funds and family size.	The principal applicant, based on the total number of people in their family.
Use of a Representative form [IMM 5476]	To verify the appointment of a representative to do business on behalf of the applicant and their family members.	The principal applicant.
Marriage certificate	To validate marital status claims and any associated eligibility or points allocation.	The principal applicant.
Evidence of a common-law union and cohabitation	To validate marital status claims and ensure eligibility has been calculated correctly.	- The principal applicant. - The accompanying spouse/common-law partner.
Divorce certificate and legal separation agreement	To validate marital status claims and ensure eligibility has been calculated correctly.	- The principal applicant. - The accompanying spouse/common-law partner.
Death certificate	To validate claims of death of a spouse or common-law partner.	The principal applicant.
Adoption certificate	To validate claims that the dependent child has been adopted and to verify legal custody of the child.	Dependent children, including non-accompanying children.

Document Type	Purpose of the Document for IRCC Officers	Must be submitted on behalf of
Proof of relationship to a relative in Canada	To validate a claim and award points for: - Having a relative in Canada who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident (FSWP adaptability points). - Having an adult brother or sister who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident residing in Canada (CRS points).	- The principal applicant. - Their spouse or common-law partner.
Other name	To confirm identity and aliases and screen for fraud concerns.	- The principal applicant. - Their spouse or common-law partner. - Their dependent children, including non-accompanying.
Authority to Release Personal Information to a Designated Individual [IMM 5475]	To appoint a designated individual to inquire about the application status and/or change the applicant’s address information.	- The principal applicant. - Their spouse or common-law partner (if applicable). - Accompanying dependent children aged 18 or older.
Documents related to the e-APR not captured in other fields	To allow applicants to provide IRCC with additional information they feel is relevant to their application.	- The principal applicant. - Their spouse or common-law partner. - Their dependent children.