Applicants who receive an Express Entry Invitation to Apply (ITA) can apply for permanent residence in Canada.
Applicants who receive an ITA will also receive a message from Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) indicating which skilled immigration program they should apply under and how to apply for permanent residence.
On This Page You Will Find:
- Overview of Invitations to Apply (ITAs): Learn what an ITA is and what it means for your journey to Canadian permanent residence.
- Steps After Receiving an ITA: Detailed guidance on actions to take, including validating language test results, obtaining police certificates, and updating personal information.
- Skilled Immigration Programs: An overview of the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, and Canadian Experience Class.
- Impact of Declining or Ignoring an ITA: What happens if you decline or fail to respond to an ITA.
- Tips to Improve CRS Scores: Strategies for increasing your chances of receiving another ITA.
It is important to note that receiving an ITA does not automatically mean that an applicant will be accepted as a permanent resident. After receiving an ITA, an applicant must submit a complete application for permanent residence.
This application will be accepted or rejected depending on whether or not the candidate meets relevant criteria.
Note: Applicants who receive an ITA may be asked to prove that the information they entered on their Express Entry profile is accurate. If it is found that the applicant gave false information in his or her profile, the application will be refused and the applicant may be subject to further action such as:
- being deemed inadmissible to Canada
- being barred from entering Canada in any way for five years
Applicants who receive an ITA will have 60 days to submit an application for permanent residence. During that period, it is recommended that applicants complete the following:
1. Check Language Test Results
Applicants should check to make sure that their language test results will still be valid on the day that they submit their permanent residence application. Language test results are valid for two years. If the test results will expire before application submission, applicants should either:
- be tested again,
- make sure to submit their application before the results expire, or
- decline their invitation to apply
2. Get a police certificate
Permanent residence applicants must obtain a police certificate for themselves and all family members over 18. Each family member must get a police certificate from each country in which they lived for more than six months while older than 18. It may take a long time for these police certificates to be processed, so applicants should begin the process as soon as possible.
3. Check program requirements
Once applicants have determined which skilled immigration program they will be applying to, they should confirm that they meet the requirements for that program:
4. Update Personal Information
Applicants whose personal situation has changed since receiving an ITA should recalculate their Comprehensive Ranking System score using our online tool. If an applicant’s new score is lower than the minimum score selected in the same draw, it is recommended that the applicant deny the ITA.
If an applicant applies for permanent residence and it is discovered that their score is no longer high enough, the application will be refused and the application fee will not be refunded. Changes that can lower an applicant’s score include:
- The loss of a job offer
- The loss of provincial nomination for permanent residence
- Expired language test scores
- New language test results that are lower than prior results
Note: Adding a spouse or common-law partner can increase or decrease the applicant’s score based on the spouse or partner’s:
- Language skills
- Education
- Chances of becoming successfully established in Canada
Applicants with an ITA who fail to apply for permanent residence within 60 days will be removed from the candidate pool. Applicants removed from the pool will have to make a new Express Entry profile and be accepted into the pool again in order to receive a new ITA.
Find out how to create an Express Entry profile.
5. Declining an Invitation to Apply
As seen above, in some cases, applicants will be better served by declining their ITA. Applicants who decline their ITAs will be placed back in the pool of candidates as long as they are still eligible for the Express Entry system. While in the pool, applicants should be sure to keep their personal information up to date.
Candidates in the pool should also seek opportunities to increase their Comprehensive Ranking Points Score score by:
- Obtaining a job offer
- Obtaining a provincial nomination
- Improving their language test scores
Declining an ITA does not have a negative effect on an applicant’s chances of getting another ITA in the future.
Candidates who fail to respond to an invitation to apply by either accepting or declining the invitation will be removed from the Express Entry pool.
FAQ: Express Entry Invitations To Apply
1. What is an Invitation to Apply (ITA) in the Express Entry system?
An ITA is an invitation issued to high-ranking Express Entry candidates to apply for permanent residence in Canada. It specifies which skilled immigration program the applicant should use and provides instructions for applying. Receiving an ITA does not guarantee permanent residence, as applicants must meet the program requirements and submit a complete application within 60 days.
2. What should I do after receiving an ITA?
After receiving an ITA, you should:
- Confirm your language test results are valid.
- Obtain police certificates for yourself and family members over 18.
- Verify you meet the requirements of the recommended immigration program.
- Update your personal information if your circumstances have changed.
These steps ensure your application is complete and eligible for processing.
3. Can I decline an ITA, and what happens if I do?
Yes, you can decline an ITA without any negative consequences. If you decline, you remain in the Express Entry pool, provided you are still eligible. This allows you to improve your CRS score or wait for another opportunity. Failing to respond to an ITA, however, results in removal from the pool, requiring you to create a new profile.
4. Why might someone decline an ITA?
Candidates may decline an ITA if their circumstances change, such as losing a job offer or provincial nomination, or if their CRS score is no longer competitive. Declining an ITA allows them to update their profile, improve their score, and receive a new ITA in the future when better prepared.
5. How can I improve my CRS score if I decline an ITA?
To improve your CRS score, consider:
- Securing a job offer backed by a Labour Market Impact Assessment.
- Obtaining a provincial nomination for 600 additional points.
- Retaking language tests to achieve higher scores.
- Pursuing further education or gaining Canadian work experience.
These strategies increase your chances of receiving another ITA in future draws.
