Express Entry, step by step
After the ITA: from PR application to landing with your family
An invitation feels like the finish line. It's actually the start of the most paperwork-heavy 60 days of the whole process. Here's what to do, in what order, so nothing delays your landing.
Updated November 2026 · 3 min read
The short answer
- After an ITA you have 60 days to submit a complete PR application online.
- Key documents: passports, police certificates, medical exams, reference letters, ECA, test results, proof of funds (FSW) and civil-status documents.
- Fees are about CAD 1,525 per adult (processing plus right of permanent residence) and less for dependent children; check IRCC's current fee list.
- Processing takes about six months for most Express Entry files. You then receive a COPR and land before its expiry date.
1The 60-day window
- 1
Days 1–3: request police certificates
For every country you've lived in for six months or more since age 18. Some take weeks.
- 2
Days 1–7: book medical exams
With an IRCC panel physician, for you and every family member, accompanying or not.
- 3
Days 5–30: collect documents
Reference letters, payslips or tax records, ECA, test results, marriage and birth certificates, passport pages, digital photos.
- 4
Days 20–45: proof of funds
Official bank letters showing current and average balances. See proof of funds.
- 5
Before day 60: pay and submit
Upload everything, pay fees, submit. Then give biometrics when asked.
2Fees
| Who | Approximate fee |
|---|---|
| Principal applicant | ≈ CAD 1,525 (processing + right of permanent residence fee) |
| Spouse or partner | ≈ CAD 1,525 |
| Each dependent child | ≈ CAD 260 |
| Biometrics | CAD 85 per person, CAD 170 max per family |
3Processing and the COPR
IRCC's service standard for most Express Entry applications is about six months. You may be asked for extra documents. When approved, you receive a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) and, if you need one, a visa in your passport. The COPR's expiry is usually set by the earliest medical exam date plus one year, or a passport's expiry.
4Landing
- From outside Canada: fly in before the COPR expires and confirm PR at the port of entry, or through IRCC's online PR confirmation if invited to use it.
- From inside Canada: IRCC usually confirms PR online; you then receive your PR card by mail.
- Accompanying family members must land at the same time or after the principal applicant.
5Your first weeks as a permanent resident
- Get a Social Insurance Number at Service Canada (often on the day of landing).
- Apply for provincial health coverage; some provinces have a short waiting period, so consider private insurance for the gap.
- Open a bank account and start building Canadian credit.
- Enrol children in public school. See one parent's French, PR for the family.
- Remember the residency obligation: two years of physical presence in every five-year period to keep PR.
6Frequently asked questions
How long do I have after an Express Entry ITA?+
60 days to submit a complete PR application. You can also decline the invitation and stay in the pool if you can't submit on time.
How long does Express Entry PR processing take?+
IRCC's service standard is about six months for most complete applications after submission, though times vary.
Can I land in a different province than I planned?+
Yes. Express Entry PR (outside the Provincial Nominee Program) lets you live anywhere in Canada except Quebec, which runs its own selection.
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