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Permanent Residency - Express Entry (Résidence permanente)

Apply for Canadian permanent residence through Express Entry: language test, credential assessment, profile, invitation to apply, a complete application within 60 days, fees, biometrics and medical exam, through to your Confirmation of Permanent Residence.

Curated by Raaya · Last reviewed Oct 2026

Steps

  1. Check eligibility and estimate your CRS score

    2 days

    Express Entry manages three federal programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program and the Canadian Experience Class. Use IRCC's eligibility questionnaire to see which you may qualify for, then estimate your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score with the official CRS tool. Points come from age, education, official language ability, work experience, Canadian experience, French ability, siblings in Canada and a provincial nomination.

    IRCC holds general and category-based draws (for example for French speakers or specific occupations), and cut-off scores change from draw to draw. Check recent rounds on the IRCC site to see how competitive your score is.

    A provincial nomination through a Provincial Nominee Program adds 600 points and is worth investigating if your score is below recent cut-offs.

    Tip: Avoid paid score calculators and agents promising guaranteed invitations; only IRCC issues invitations and the official CRS tool is free.

    Online
    canada.ca
    Remind me

  2. Take an approved language test (Test de langue)

    1 day

    Every Express Entry candidate needs results from an IRCC-approved test. For English: CELPIP-General, IELTS General Training or PTE Core. For French: TEF Canada or TCF Canada. Academic versions of IELTS are not accepted. Results must be less than 2 years old both when you create your profile and when you submit your permanent residence application.

    Minimums depend on the program: the Federal Skilled Worker Program requires CLB 7 in all four abilities in your first official language; the Federal Skilled Trades Program requires CLB 5 for speaking and listening and CLB 4 for reading and writing; the Canadian Experience Class requires CLB 7 or CLB 5 depending on your job's TEER category. Higher scores add many CRS points, and French adds extra points.

    Test fees are set by the testing organizations and vary by country.

    Tip: Check your result expiry date; an application submitted with expired results is refused.

    Where
    Approved test centre (CELPIP, IELTS General Training, PTE Core, TEF Canada or TCF Canada) · Bring the same valid passport you will use for your application. Results usually arrive in days to a few weeks; record the test date and registration number for your profile.
    Valid passport (Passeport)
    Attach my documents

  3. Get your Educational Credential Assessment (ECA)

    30 days

    If you studied outside Canada, you need an ECA from an IRCC-designated organization to claim points for your education (and it is required for the Federal Skilled Worker Program). Designated organizations are World Education Services (WES), the International Credential Assessment Service of Canada, Comparative Education Service (University of Toronto), the International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS) and the International Credential Evaluation Service (BCIT). Physicians and pharmacists use their professional bodies, and architects use the Canadian Architectural Certification Board.

    Most organizations require transcripts sent directly by your university in a sealed envelope or electronically. Processing often takes several weeks after all documents arrive, and fees vary by organization.

    The ECA report must be less than 5 years old when you create your profile and when you apply.

    Tip: Request your university transcripts at the same time you open the ECA file; waiting for the school is usually the longest part.

    Online
    canada.ca
    Degree certificate, transcripts and ECA report
    Attach my documents

  4. Create your Express Entry profile

    2 days

    Sign in to your IRCC secure account with a GCKey or a Sign-In Partner and create your Express Entry profile. You enter your personal details, language test results, ECA reference number, work history with National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes, funds and family information. If you are eligible, you enter the pool and receive a CRS score.

    Profiles stay in the pool for up to 12 months. Keep the profile current: update it when you get new test results, gain more work experience, have a birthday that changes your age points, or have a family change.

    Answer every question truthfully and consistently with the documents you will later upload; misrepresentation can lead to a five-year ban.

    Tip: Choose NOC codes by matching your actual main duties to the NOC description, not just your job title.

    Online
    canada.ca
    Valid passport (Passeport)Degree certificate, transcripts and ECA report
    Attach my documents

  5. Watch for an Invitation to Apply (Invitation)

    30 days

    IRCC invites the highest-ranked candidates in regular rounds. Check your IRCC account messages after each draw and review published cut-offs. While you wait, improve your score where you can: retake a language test, add French, gain more skilled work experience or apply to a Provincial Nominee Program.

    Start preparing documents now, because once invited you have 60 days to submit a complete application and extensions are not granted. Police certificates from some countries take weeks or months.

    If your profile expires after 12 months without an invitation, you can create a new one if you are still eligible.

    Tip: Request police certificates as soon as you enter the pool; they are the document most likely to delay an application.

    Police certificates
    Attach my documents

  6. Gather documents after your ITA (Rassembler les documents)

    10 days

    After the invitation, your account generates a personalized document checklist. Common items are a valid passport, language test results, ECA report, police certificates from each country where you lived for 6 months or more since age 18, reference letters from employers describing duties, hours and salary, proof of funds, birth and marriage certificates, and digital photos meeting IRCC specifications.

    If you apply through the Federal Skilled Worker or Federal Skilled Trades Program without a valid job offer and authorization to work in Canada, you must show settlement funds; under the July 2025 table this is $15,263 for one person and $19,001 for two, and IRCC updates the amounts periodically. Canadian Experience Class applicants are exempt.

    Documents not in English or French need certified translations.

    Tip: Employer reference letters must match the NOC duties and dates in your profile; vague letters are a common reason for refusal.

    Valid passport (Passeport)Employer reference lettersPolice certificatesProof of settlement funds (bank letters)
    Attach my documents

  7. Get your immigration medical exam (Examen médical)

    1 day

    You and your family members must pass an immigration medical exam with an IRCC panel physician; your own doctor cannot do it. Many applicants do an upfront medical exam soon after the invitation so the results are ready when they apply; the physician gives you an information sheet to upload as proof.

    The exam includes a physical exam, and depending on age, a chest X-ray and blood and urine tests. You pay the panel physician directly; fees vary by clinic and country.

    Results are generally valid for 12 months for travel purposes, and a previous immigration medical exam may be reusable if it was done within 5 years.

    Tip: Bring your passport, glasses or contact lenses, any medical reports for existing conditions and the IRCC medical form or instructions; missing items cause re-booking.

    Where
    IRCC panel physician · Bring your passport, IRCC instructions or form, glasses or contacts, list of medications and reports for any existing conditions. Keep the upfront medical information sheet to upload.
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  8. Check your application before you submit

    2 days

    Before paying and submitting, review every form and upload against your checklist. An incomplete application can be rejected, and you may not get a new invitation quickly.

    Confirm that what you enter in the application matches your profile and documents, especially work dates, NOC codes, education and family members. Include every family member, even those not coming with you, because undeclared family members cannot be sponsored later.

    Remember the 60-day deadline from the invitation, and that language test and ECA results must still be valid on the day you submit.

    Tip: Ask someone else to read your work history and family sections against your documents; a fresh eye catches date and name mismatches.

    • Passport bio page and all stamped pages for each applicant
    • Language test results less than 2 years old and ECA report less than 5 years old
    • Police certificates for every country with 6 or more months of residence since age 18
    • Detailed employer reference letters for each period of claimed work experience
    • Proof of settlement funds (unless exempt) dated close to submission
    • Upfront medical exam information sheet for each family member
    • Certified translations for documents not in English or French
    Degree certificate, transcripts and ECA reportEmployer reference lettersPolice certificatesProof of settlement funds (bank letters)
    Attach my documents

  9. Pay the IRCC fees (Frais de demande)

    1 day

    Pay online in your IRCC account when you submit. For an economic class principal applicant, the fee is $1,590: a $990 processing fee plus the $600 right of permanent residence fee. A spouse or partner pays the same $1,590, and each dependent child pays $270. You may pay the right of permanent residence fee later, but paying it upfront avoids delays at the end.

    Biometrics cost $85 per person or $170 for a family applying together. Medical exam, police certificates, translations and language tests are paid separately to the providers.

    IRCC fees are adjusted periodically; check the IRCC fee list on the day you pay.

    Tip: Pay with a card that allows large online international payments and save the receipt; it must be uploaded or kept as proof.

    Fee
    CA$990 · IRCC processing fee - economic class principal applicant
    Fee
    CA$600 · Right of permanent residence fee (per adult applicant)
    Fee
    CA$85 · Biometrics fee per person ($170 maximum for a family)
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  10. Submit your PR application (Soumettre la demande)

    1 day

    In your IRCC account, complete the electronic application for permanent residence, upload every document on your checklist, pay the fees and submit before the 60-day deadline. You will receive an acknowledgement of receipt in your account.

    After submission, IRCC checks completeness, then eligibility, admissibility, medical results and security. Most complete Express Entry applications are processed within about six months, but check the current processing time tool.

    If anything changes after you submit, such as a new job, a marriage, a birth or a new address, tell IRCC using the web form. Failing to report changes can lead to refusal.

    Tip: Download and keep a PDF copy of the full submitted application and every upload; you may need them for later applications or citizenship.

    Online
    canada.ca
    Valid passport (Passeport)Employer reference lettersPolice certificatesProof of settlement funds (bank letters)
    Attach my documents

  11. Give your biometrics (Biométrie)

    1 day

    After you submit, IRCC sends a biometric instruction letter to your account, usually within a day or two. You then have 30 days to give your fingerprints and photo at an official collection point: a Visa Application Centre outside Canada, or a designated Service Canada office inside Canada.

    Booking is free; do not pay anyone for an appointment. If you gave biometrics for another application in the last 10 years, the letter will say whether you need to give them again.

    Tip: Book the appointment the day the letter arrives; slots at busy Service Canada offices and VACs can be weeks out, and the 30-day clock is strict.

    Where
    Visa Application Centre (outside Canada) or Service Canada office (inside Canada) · Bring your passport and the biometric instruction letter. Appointments are free; fingerprints and a photo are taken in a few minutes.
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  12. Track your decision and get your COPR (Confirmation de RP)

    180 days

    Follow progress with the IRCC application status tracker and check your account messages. IRCC may ask for more documents, updated medicals or passport information.

    If approved, you receive a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR). If you are outside Canada and need a visa, you send your passport for a permanent resident visa; you must travel and complete landing before the COPR expiry date, which is tied to your medical or passport validity. If you are already in Canada, you can usually confirm your permanent residence online through IRCC's PR portal.

    After landing, your permanent resident card is mailed to your Canadian address. Next, apply for a SIN if you do not have one, and register for your provincial health card.

    Tip: Your COPR is proof of status until the PR card arrives; keep the original safe and do not let your passport expire before landing.

Documents you'll need

Valid passport (Passeport)Each applicant needs a valid passport; use the same passport for the language test, profile and application, and keep it valid until you land.
Degree certificate, transcripts and ECA reportYour diploma and transcripts plus the Educational Credential Assessment from a designated organization; the ECA must be less than 5 years old.
Employer reference lettersOne letter per employer on company letterhead with your title, main duties, hours per week, salary and dates of employment, signed by a manager or HR.
Police certificatesRequired from each country where you lived 6 months or more since age 18. Procedures and timing differ by country; IRCC lists how to get each one.
Proof of settlement funds (bank letters)Official letters from each bank showing balances and average balance over recent months. Not needed for the Canadian Experience Class or with a valid job offer and work authorization.

Official sources

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General guidance, not legal, tax or immigration advice. Rules change; confirm with the official source before you act.

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