Express Entry Documents Checklist for Applicants
Applying for Canadian permanent residence through Express Entry can feel overwhelming, especially when you start thinking about all the documents you may need.
The good news is that you do not necessarily need every possible document listed online. Your exact document requirements depend on your Express Entry program, personal circumstances, family situation and the information in your application.
After you receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA), Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) provides a personalized document checklist through your online application. This checklist should be treated as the final authority for your individual application. IRCC explains that the system creates the checklist based on the information you provide in your application.
This guide explains the main documents applicants should prepare, what each document is used for and some common mistakes to avoid.
Important: Immigration requirements can change. Always compare your documents with the current instructions and personalized checklist provided by IRCC before submitting your application.
What Is the Express Entry Document Checklist?
The Express Entry document checklist is the list of forms and supporting evidence you need to submit with your permanent residence application after receiving an ITA.
It is important to understand the difference between preparing for Express Entry and submitting a permanent residence application.
Before creating your Express Entry profile, you may need information from documents such as your passport, language test results, educational credential assessment, proof of work experience and proof of funds.
After receiving an ITA, however, IRCC generates a personalized checklist based on your application. You must upload the documents requested by that checklist.
Therefore, an online checklist should be used as a preparation guide rather than a replacement for your official IRCC checklist.
Express Entry Documents Checklist at a Glance
Here are the main categories of documents an Express Entry applicant may need:
- Passport or travel document
- Language test results
- Educational Credential Assessment (ECA), where applicable
- Canadian education documents, where applicable
- Proof of work experience
- Proof of funds, where required
- Police certificates
- Provincial nomination documents, if applicable
- Job offer documents, if applicable
- Birth certificates
- Marriage or common-law documents, if applicable
- Divorce, separation or death certificates, where applicable
- Adoption documents, where applicable
- Immigration medical examination information
- Digital photographs
- Certified translations for documents that are not in English or French
- Forms and additional supporting documents requested by IRCC
Not every applicant will need every document.
1. Passport or Travel Document
Your passport is one of the most important identity documents in an Express Entry application.
You should have a valid passport or travel document showing your personal information and relevant travel information. IRCC recommends renewing a passport if it will expire within six months from the date you apply, where applicable.
Make sure the information in your Express Entry profile matches your passport.
Check your:
- Full name
- Date of birth
- Passport number
- Country of citizenship
- Issue date
- Expiry date
- Other relevant personal information
If your name or personal details have changed, you may also need documents explaining the change.
2. Language Test Results
Language ability is a major part of Express Entry.
Applicants generally need an approved language test to demonstrate their English or French language ability. IRCC states that applicants must take an approved language test and enter the results into their Express Entry profile.
Depending on your situation, this may include an English or French language test accepted by IRCC.
Before submitting your application, check that your language test results are still valid.
Keep a copy of your official test results and make sure the information entered in your Express Entry profile matches the result.
A simple mistake in a test date, test number or score can create unnecessary problems.
3. Educational Credential Assessment
If you completed your education outside Canada and want to claim points for that education, you may need an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA).
An ECA assesses your foreign educational credential against Canadian standards. IRCC notes that an ECA may be required for applicants under the Federal Skilled Worker Program or for applicants who want to receive points for education completed outside Canada.
Your ECA information should match the education details in your Express Entry profile.
Keep the ECA report and reference information available for your application.
4. Proof of Work Experience
Work experience is another important part of an Express Entry application.
Applicants may need documents demonstrating that their claimed employment experience is genuine and meets the requirements of their immigration program.
A common document is an employment reference or experience letter from an employer. IRCC specifically lists proof of work experience, such as a reference or experience letter, among documents applicants may need.
Depending on your circumstances and the personalized checklist, supporting evidence may include employment-related documents such as:
- Employer reference letters
- Employment contracts
- Pay records
- Tax documents
- Other evidence supporting your employment history
Your documents should tell a consistent story about your employment.
Pay attention to job titles, employment dates, hours worked and job duties. Information that conflicts with your Express Entry profile can lead to questions or requests for additional evidence.
5. Proof of Funds
Some Express Entry applicants must provide proof that they have sufficient settlement funds.
Proof of funds is intended to demonstrate that the applicant has access to the money required under the applicable immigration rules.
IRCC lists proof of funds among the documents that may be required for Express Entry.
The amount required can change and may depend on family size and the applicable program requirements.
For that reason, applicants should not rely on an old blog post or outdated screenshot for the required amount.
Check the current IRCC requirements before submitting your application.
Your financial documents should clearly demonstrate the required funds and should be consistent with the information you provide in your application.
6. Police Certificates
Police certificates are an important part of the Express Entry permanent residence application.
IRCC generally requires police certificates for the applicant and eligible family members aged 18 or older for countries where they lived for six months or more consecutively during the relevant 10-year period. Time before age 18 and time spent in Canada are treated differently under the rules.
Police certificates can take time to obtain, so waiting until the last minute can be risky.
IRCC recommends considering the process early because some countries take considerably longer than others to issue certificates.
For the country where you currently live, IRCC has specific rules concerning when the certificate must have been issued. Other countries can have different requirements depending on when you last lived there.
If a certificate is not available by the deadline, IRCC may, in limited circumstances, consider evidence that you made a genuine effort to obtain it, together with an explanation. This is not an automatic extension, so applicants should begin the process as early as possible.
7. Civil Status and Family Documents
Your family information must be supported by appropriate documents when applicable.
Depending on your circumstances, these may include:
- Birth certificates
- Marriage certificates
- Common-law relationship documents
- Divorce certificates
- Legal separation documents
- Death certificates
- Adoption certificates
- Documents showing a legal name change
IRCC identifies these types of identity and civil-status documents as common supporting documents for immigration applications.
For example, if you declare that you are married, your application may require evidence of the marriage. If you have dependent children, birth or adoption documents may be relevant.
The key is consistency. Your names, dates of birth, marital status and family relationships should be accurately reflected throughout the application.
8. Provincial Nomination Documents
If you were nominated by a Canadian province or territory through an Express Entry-linked Provincial Nominee Program stream, you may need to provide evidence of your nomination.
IRCC lists provincial nomination among the documents that applicants may need when preparing an Express Entry application.
Make sure the information in your Express Entry profile is consistent with your nomination information.
9. Job Offer Documents
Not every Express Entry applicant has a Canadian job offer.
If you are claiming points or benefits based on a qualifying job offer, you may need documentation supporting that claim.
IRCC lists a written job offer from an employer in Canada among the documents that applicants may need, where applicable.
Do not claim a job offer simply because you have an employment opportunity unless you meet the applicable immigration requirements.
10. Medical Examination
Applicants for permanent residence may need an immigration medical examination with an approved panel physician.
IRCC states that an immigration medical examination is a requirement for permanent residence applications, subject to the applicable instructions and circumstances.
Do not assume that an ordinary medical examination from your personal doctor is automatically acceptable for Canadian immigration purposes.
Follow the current IRCC instructions concerning medical examinations and approved panel physicians.
11. Certified Translations
What happens if your documents are not in English or French?
IRCC requires applicants to provide appropriate translations for documents in another language.
According to IRCC, an English or French translation may need to be provided by a certified translator, together with the required supporting copy of the original document.
Do not translate immigration documents yourself unless the applicable IRCC instructions specifically allow it.
Also remember that stamps, seals and other relevant information that are not in English or French may need to be translated.
Poor-quality or incomplete translations can make an otherwise straightforward application more difficult to assess.
12. Digital Copies and Document Quality
Because Express Entry applications are submitted online, applicants need electronic copies of their supporting documents.
IRCC instructs applicants to gather their documents and make electronic copies using a scanner or camera before uploading them through the document checklist.
Before uploading a document, check that:
- The document is readable.
- All important pages are included.
- Names and dates are visible.
- Stamps and signatures can be seen.
- The file opens correctly.
- The document is uploaded to the correct section.
- The scan is not unnecessarily blurry or cropped.
A technically uploaded document is not necessarily a useful document. Immigration officers need to be able to read and assess the evidence.
Common Express Entry Document Mistakes to Avoid
One of the easiest ways to make an application more stressful is to leave document preparation until the final days.
Here are several common mistakes applicants should avoid.
Waiting too long for police certificates
Some police certificates take considerable time to obtain. Start checking the requirements early.
Using an outdated checklist
Express Entry requirements and instructions can change. Use current IRCC information and your personalized checklist rather than relying entirely on older articles.
Providing inconsistent information
Your profile, forms and supporting documents should tell the same story.
Check employment dates, education details, marital status, addresses and other important information carefully.
Forgetting family documents
Applicants sometimes concentrate so heavily on their own documents that they forget documents relating to a spouse, partner or dependent child.
Review the application for every family member included.
Uploading poor-quality scans
A blurry photograph or incomplete scan can make it difficult to verify important information.
Ignoring translations
If a document is not in English or French, check the current IRCC translation requirements before uploading it.
Assuming every applicant needs the same documents
Express Entry is not a one-size-fits-all process.
Your personalized checklist is important because your requirements can depend on your program and circumstances.
How to Organize Your Express Entry Documents
A simple organization system can make the application process much easier.
Create folders on your computer for:
01 – Identity
Passport, travel documents and name-change records.
02 – Language
Language test results and related records.
03 – Education
Degrees, diplomas, transcripts and ECA documents where applicable.
04 – Employment
Reference letters and other employment evidence.
05 – Funds
Bank or financial documents required to demonstrate settlement funds.
06 – Police Certificates
Police certificates for each applicable country.
07 – Family
Marriage, birth, divorce, adoption and other civil-status documents.
08 – Immigration
Provincial nomination, job offer and other immigration documents where applicable.
09 – Medical
Medical examination information and related documents.
10 – Translations
Original documents and their required translations.
This system can make it easier to find documents when completing the online application.
Express Entry Document Checklist Before You Submit
Use this as a preparation checklist, but remember that your personalized IRCC checklist takes priority.
- Passport or travel document is available and information is accurate.
- Language test results are available and valid.
- ECA documentation is available if applicable.
- Education information matches the Express Entry profile.
- Work experience documents support your claimed experience.
- Proof of funds is available if required.
- Police certificates have been requested or obtained where applicable.
- Provincial nomination documents are available if applicable.
- Job offer documents are available if applicable.
- Birth certificates and other civil-status documents are ready.
- Marriage or common-law documents are ready if applicable.
- Divorce or separation documents are ready if applicable.
- Dependent children’s documents are ready if applicable.
- Medical examination requirements have been reviewed.
- Required translations have been prepared.
- Electronic copies are clear and complete.
- Every document on the personalized IRCC checklist has been reviewed.
- Forms and information have been checked for consistency.
- Required fees have been reviewed before submission.
Frequently Asked Questions About Express Entry Documents
What documents are required for Express Entry?
The documents vary by applicant. Common documents include a passport, language test results, education documents, work experience evidence, proof of funds, police certificates and civil-status documents. Your personalized IRCC checklist determines what you need to submit.
Do I need police certificates for every country I have visited?
Not necessarily. IRCC has specific rules based on your age, how long you stayed in a country and other circumstances. Generally, the relevant requirement concerns periods of six months or more of continuous residence during the applicable period.
Do I need an ECA for Express Entry?
An ECA can be required in certain circumstances, including for Federal Skilled Worker Program applicants and applicants who want to claim points for education completed outside Canada.
Do all Express Entry applicants need proof of funds?
No. Whether you need proof of funds depends on your circumstances and the applicable Express Entry program requirements. Always check the current IRCC rules.
Can I submit documents that are not in English or French?
You generally need to follow IRCC’s translation requirements for documents in another language. The translation may need to be completed by a certified translator, along with the required copy of the original document.
How long do I have to submit my application after receiving an ITA?
An applicant who receives an ITA generally has 60 days to submit the permanent residence application. Police certificate guidance also refers to this 60-day submission period.
Because the deadline is limited, it is wise to prepare documents before receiving an ITA whenever possible.