Essential Documents Needed to Respond to an ITA through Express Entry

By CIC Times [Published 04 Apr, 2025 | 04:22 AM] 302

Aspiring immigrants who received an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence through Canada’s Express Entry system must submit a complete application within 60 days. Meeting this deadline requires proper preparation and gathering of necessary documents.

In this, we will explore the essential documents you need for your application, why the Canadian immigration authorities require them, and the associated costs of obtaining these documents.

Essential Documents for a Complete PR Application

Candidates must gather the following mandatory documents to submit a complete Canada PR Visa application through Express Entry:

Valid Passport: A valid passport is crucial for confirming the applicant’s identity.
Birth Certificate: This verifies the applicant’s date of birth and family relations.
Recent Language Test Results: If your language test results are expired, you’ll need to retake a test, such as the IELTS (English) or TEF (French).
Education Credential Assessment (ECA): If your ECA report is expired, you'll need to update it. The ECA verifies the equivalency of your foreign education to Canadian standards.
Work Experience Documentation: Proof of your previous work experience, including pay stubs, work contracts, and other supporting documents.
Police Clearance Certificates: These certificates ensure that the applicant and their family members do not pose a security risk or have a criminal record.
Photographs: Photos of the principal applicant and any accompanying family members are required for identification purposes.

If your Education Credential Assessment (ECA) and language test results are still valid, you don’t need to renew them. However, in some cases, additional documentation might be required, such as:

Official transcripts from post-secondary schools
Proof of settlement funds to demonstrate financial ability
Immigration medical exam receipt (after receiving a request from the IRCC)
Family documents, like marriage or birth certificates

Why Does the IRCC Require These Documents?

The IRCC asks for these documents to assess the eligibility of applicants based on various factors like education, work experience, identity, health, criminal background, and family status. Here is a breakdown of the reasons behind the most common documentation requests:

Medical Exam Receipt: This ensures that the applicant and their family members meet health requirements and do not pose a medical risk to Canadians.

Police Certificates: These check for any criminal history to determine if the applicant poses a security risk.

Work Experience Documentation: To verify the applicant’s professional experience and eligibility for the Express Entry program.

Proof of Funds: This confirms that the applicant has sufficient financial resources to support themselves and their family in Canada.

The required documents will vary depending on whether the applicant is applying as a single person or with a family. For instance, dependents such as children may need to submit additional documents like birth certificates, adoption papers, or proof of legal custody.

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Associated Costs for Documentation

While some of the required documents come at no cost, others have associated fees. Below is an overview of the typical costs:

Language Test Results: For CELPIP, the cost is $290 + taxes, for IELTS exam the cost varies from $308 - $332 + taxes and for TEF, the cost is $390 + taxes.
Immigration Medical Exam: Costs typically range from $150 to $200, depending on the healthcare provider. Additional fees apply for follow-up tests or visits.
Police Clearance Certificates: Costs vary depending on the country, typically between $25 and $75.
Photographs: Expect to pay between $10 and $20 for a set of photos for yourself and any family members.
Education Credential Assessment (ECA): Typically costs between $220 and $260.
Official Transcripts: The cost varies depending on the institution.

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

The table below describes the reason for which the Canadian government requests the following documents:

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.

Documents for all Applicants in Special 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.

Conclusion

Responding to an ITA through the Express Entry system can be a complex process that requires careful organization of numerous documents. By preparing in advance, understanding the purpose of each document, and accounting for associated costs, you can ensure that your PR application is complete. Failure to meet the deadline or submit the documentation could lead to the expiration of your ITA.

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Source: canada.ca

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