How Long Do I Have to Apply After Receiving an Express Entry ITA?
Author : Akshay Seth | Published On : 07 Sep 2026
After receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) through Express Entry, you generally have 60 calendar days to submit your complete application for Canadian permanent residence. The deadline is limited, so it’s best to start collecting documents and preparing your application as soon as you receive the ITA.
Table of Contents
- What Is an Express Entry ITA?
- How Long Do You Have to Apply After an ITA?
- When Does the 60-Day Period Start?
- What Should You Do After Receiving an ITA?
- What Documents Do You Need?
- What Happens If You Miss the 60-Day Deadline?
- Can You Decline an ITA?
- Tips to Avoid Missing Your Deadline
- Final Thoughts
What Is an Express Entry ITA?
An Invitation to Apply (ITA) is an invitation from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to submit an application for permanent residence through Express Entry.
To receive an ITA, you first need to create an Express Entry profile and enter the pool. IRCC ranks eligible candidates using the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). The department then conducts invitation rounds and invites candidates who meet the requirements of that round.
Getting an ITA doesn’t mean your permanent residence application has been approved. You still have to submit a complete application and provide documents to support the information in your Express Entry profile.
How Long Do You Have to Apply After an ITA?
You generally have 60 calendar days to submit your permanent residence application after receiving an Express Entry ITA.
IRCC recommends starting your application as soon as possible. Some documents can take time to obtain, and waiting until the last few days can leave you with very little time to deal with missing information or unexpected delays.
The 60-day period is set out in Canada’s Express Entry rules. The invitation remains valid for the specified period, so you need to submit your application before the deadline shown in your IRCC account.
It’s a good idea to check your account as soon as you receive the ITA and make a note of the submission deadline.
When Does the 60-Day Period Start?
Your ITA will show the information you need about your invitation and application deadline.
Once you receive the invitation, check your IRCC account and confirm the date by which you must submit your application. Don’t rely only on an approximate calculation of the 60 days.
The safest approach is to treat the date shown by IRCC as your final deadline and plan to submit your application before that date.
What Should You Do After Receiving an ITA?
Once you receive an ITA, there are several things you should take care of.
1. Check Your ITA
Read the invitation carefully. Check the immigration program under which you’ve been invited and review the information in your account.
2. Review Your Express Entry Profile
Go through the information you provided when creating your profile. Your final application needs to be consistent with your actual circumstances and the documents you provide.
If something has changed since you entered the Express Entry pool, check whether the change affects your eligibility or CRS score.
3. Start Collecting Documents
Begin gathering the documents on your personalized checklist. Some documents, such as police certificates, can take time to obtain.
4. Complete the Application
Fill out the required forms and upload the documents requested by IRCC. Make sure the information is accurate and complete.
5. Pay the Required Fees
Pay the applicable processing fees and other required fees when submitting your application.
6. Submit Before the Deadline
Before clicking submit, review your application and documents carefully. Make sure you’ve answered all required questions and uploaded the requested documents.
What Documents Do You Need?
The documents required can vary depending on your personal circumstances and the Express Entry program under which you were invited.
Your checklist may include:
- Passport or travel document
- Language test results
- Educational documents
- Educational Credential Assessment (ECA), where required
- Employment reference letters
- Proof of work experience
- Police certificates
- Proof of funds, where required
- Marriage or other civil-status documents, if applicable
- Documents for accompanying family members
- Medical examination information
- Other documents requested by IRCC
You should check your personalized document checklist rather than relying on a general list.
What About Police Certificates?
Police certificates can take time to obtain, so it’s worth dealing with them early.
If you can’t obtain a required police certificate before the application deadline, IRCC has specific guidance for these situations. Depending on the circumstances, you may be able to provide evidence that you requested the certificate along with an explanation. This doesn’t guarantee that IRCC will accept the document later.
For this reason, don’t leave police certificates until the end of your 60-day period.
What Happens If You Miss the 60-Day Deadline?
If you don’t submit your application within the required period, your ITA expires.
You can’t simply submit the same ITA after the deadline. If your invitation expires, you may need to create a new Express Entry profile and enter the pool again, provided you still meet the eligibility requirements.
You would then need to receive another ITA before you could submit a permanent residence application through Express Entry.
There’s no guarantee that you’ll receive another invitation. Your CRS score, eligibility, the type of invitation rounds held by IRCC, and other factors can affect your chances.
That’s why it’s better to start preparing your application soon after receiving your ITA.
Can You Decline an ITA?
Yes. If you’re unable or unwilling to submit your permanent residence application, you can decline the ITA.
Depending on your situation, declining the invitation can return your Express Entry profile to the pool. You may then be considered for future invitation rounds if you remain eligible.
However, declining an ITA doesn’t guarantee that you’ll receive another one. Your circumstances and the requirements of future invitation rounds may be different.
Before declining an invitation, make sure you understand how it could affect your Express Entry application.
Tips to Avoid Missing Your Deadline
The 60-day period can go quickly, especially if you have several documents to collect. A few simple steps can make the process easier.
Start early. Begin collecting documents as soon as you receive the ITA.
Check your documents. Make sure your passport, language test results and other documents are valid and match the information in your application.
Request police certificates early. Some countries take longer than others to issue them.
Review your CRS information. Make sure you can provide evidence for the education, work experience, language ability and other factors you claimed in your Express Entry profile.
Check for changes. If your job, marital status, family situation or other important details have changed, check whether the change affects your application.
Keep a personal deadline. Don’t plan to submit on the final day. Giving yourself extra time allows you to fix an error or deal with a missing document.
Review everything before submission. A complete application gives IRCC the information it needs to process your application.
If you’re unsure about the documents or steps involved, you can also seek professional guidance from an experienced immigration consultant.
Final Thoughts
An Express Entry ITA gives you a limited period to submit your application for Canadian permanent residence. You generally have 60 calendar days to submit your complete application.
Use this time to check your ITA, review your Express Entry information and start collecting the required documents. Pay particular attention to documents that may take longer to obtain, such as police certificates.
Most importantly, check the deadline in your IRCC account and aim to submit your application before the final day.
If you need help with your Canada PR visa application after receiving an ITA, IRA Immigration can assist you with the Express Entry application process and document requirements.
