ITA overview

As Express Entry draws/invitations rounds occur, the highest ranked candidates in the Express Entry pool are issued an Invitation to Apply (ITA). 

The ITA will come in the form of a letter that you will be able to access through your online account.

Your ITA will specify:

  • which program you were selected for and should be submitting an application for permanent residence under; 
  • your complete CRS score breakdown; and 
  • the date by which you should apply.

When there is an "all-program" draw (meaning the draw is not specific to a program, like the CEC or FSTP) and you are eligible for more than one Express Entry option at the same time (i.e. you are eligible for both the FSWP and CEC), the system will invite you to apply for one of the classes in the following order:

1. Provincial Nominee Class (PNC)

2. Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

3. Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)

4. Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)

Responding to the ITA and submitting your application

Once you have been issued an ITA, you will only have 60 days to respond in one of the following ways:

  • You accept the ITA and submit a complete application for permanent residence through your online account, which includes providing all your supporting documentation.
  • You decline the ITA in your online account, which results in your profile remaining in the Express Entry pool for the remaining days of its validity. You will be considered for future draws, provided you still meet the minimum eligibility requirements.
  • You do not respond to the ITA, meaning you did not submit an application for permanent residence or decline the invitation within the 60-day timeframe, your ITA will expire and you will no longer be in the Express Entry pool. At this point, you would have to start over and create a new Express Entry profile.
Star

Once you receive an ITA, your profile is "locked" and the profile information can only be revised if you formally decline the ITA through your online account. If you realize (after receiving an ITA) that your circumstances have changed or that the information in your profile (for which you received the ITA) is no longer accurate, IRCC recommends declining the ITA or risk being refused on section A.11.2 and assessed for misrepresentation. If you misrepresent your qualifications on your profile or application, you may be subject to a 5-year ban from submitting any further immigration or temporary residence applications, so always ensure that your information is up-to-date and accurate.

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