Express Entry Documents Checklist

In terms of Express Entry Documents Checklist, only the information contained within Language test results and ECA are needed during the Express Entry profile creation process. Most of the documents are only needed after you receive the ITA. You do not need to upload any documents during the Express Entry profile creation process.

With that said, you will need to update your language test results (certificate number) and Canadian equivalent on your ECA (with a reference number on certificate) in relevant fields within the profile. The scan copy of your documents needs to be uploaded during your post ITA application submission (e-APR).

Express Entry Personalized Documents Checklist

Your Personalized document checklist is generated after you have completed all the entries in your post ITA application form (e-APR). The personalized document checklist is dynamic and changes based on the information you have already supplied in your post ITA application form. You should provide “all” the documents that appear in your Personalized document checklist. We have already discussed the processes to obtain Language test results and Education Credential Assessment above. For a better understanding of the complete Express Entry process, we will discuss the few mandatory documents from Generic Document Checklist.

Following documents (including others that are specific to your situation) are mandatory and applications that do not contain the following documents will likely be rejected as incomplete.

• Digital Photo
• Medical examination confirmation
• Police certificates
• Copy of the biographical data page of a passport or travel document
• Proof of work experience
• Proof of funds (only mandatory for FSW and FST stream)

Some other common Express Entry requirements include :

• your language test results
• your valid written job offer from an employer in Canada, if you have one
• your provincial nomination, if you have one
• your Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report, if you included the results in your Express Entry profile.
• documents to prove marital status or relationship e.g. Evidence of common-law union and cohabitation, Marriage certificate, Divorce certificate and legal separation agreement,

Below you will find further details regarding each of the documents discussed above.

Requirements and processes to obtain these documents are discussed in greater details in the next lessons.

• Requirements, steps and tips for Express Entry Proof of funds
• Requirements, steps and tips for Express Entry Proof of work experience
• Requirements, steps and tips for Express Entry Police certificates
• Requirements, steps and tips for Express Entry Medical examination

Medical examination confirmation

Purpose

Assessing the health of applicants & their family members

Requirements

1. A valid & upfront medical examination confirmation at the time of applying
2. Immigration medical examination (IME) number to be included in e-APR.
3. Copy of information printout sheet/upfront medical report form (whichever is provided by panel physician once medical examination is complete)

Documents Needed For Exceptional Circumstances

1. Proof of a scheduled medical appointment
2. A letter explaining best efforts

Who Should Submit this Document?

1. The principal applicant
2. Spouse/common-law partner of applicant
3. Dependent children of the applicant, including non-accompanying

Note

If you’re unable to complete your IME in time due to COVID-19, you will be given 90 days to complete this step. 

Police certificates

Purpose

These are important for determining if the applicant or their family members have any criminal record/ if they pose a security risk to Canada

Requirements

1. For the applicant’s current country of residence, the police certificate needs to have been issued within 6 months before the submission of the e-APR.
2. If the applicant no longer resides in certain countries, the police certificate needs to have been issued after the last time they stayed in that country for 6 months or more in a row.
3. Police certificates that meet the above requirements are acceptable even if they have an expiry date that has passed.
4. There is a requirement to provide a police certificate for countries in which the individual has travelled for 6 months or more in a row. This is irrespective of whether or not the individual had an established residential address during this time.
5. It is mandatory to produce police certificates for each country (except Canada) where an individual has spent 6 months or more in a row within the last 10 years. They do not need to provide one for any period of time before the age of 18.
6. Police certificates that are submitted should be scanned versions of the originals in colour. Certified true copies and unauthorized copies are not accepted & will result in rejection of an application for the reason of being incomplete.
7. If a required police certificate is not included with the application nor any supporting documentation is provided, it would be rejected as incomplete.
8. Certain countries do not issue police certificates to applicants but prefer to directly communicate with the relevant Canadian authorities. Existing IRCC procedures to obtain documentation should be followed in such cases.
9. Instructions to applicants on Where to obtain a police certificate are provided on the IRCC website.

Documents Needed For Exceptional Circumstances

1. Proof of having requested a police certificate for certain countries
2. Explanation of best efforts (this does not guarantee acceptance)
3. The applicant should provide an explanation of the delay in a document & upload the same in the country-specific field. This document needs to show that a police certificate was requested by the applicant soon after receiving their invitation to apply.
4. In exceptional cases, the applicant can upload a document into the upload field stating country-specific details explaining their best efforts.

Who Should Submit this Document?

1. The principal applicant
2. Applicant’s spouse/common-law partner
3. Applicant’s dependent children 18 years of age or older, including non-accompanying

Proof of work experience

Purpose

For proving every work experience claim & to validate that the applicant meets program requirements

Requirements

1. A reference/experience letter from the employer, as an official document printed on company letterhead (this needs to include the applicant’s name, the company’s contact information as well the name, title and signature of the immediate supervisor/personnel officer at the company),
2. A reference/ experience letter from the employer, indicating all positions held while employed at the company. It must also include the following details: job title, job status (if current job), duties and responsibilities, dates worked for the company, number of work hours/ week & annual salary + benefits
3. Self-employed applicants can include documents such as evidence of business ownership, articles of incorporation/other income and documentation from third-party individuals or papers that are indicating the service provided along with payment details (self-declared main duties or affidavits are not acceptable proof of self-employed work experience), other evidence of self-employment
4. For Canadian work experience, proof may include copies of notices of assessment that the Canada Revenue Agency has issued (Please note that the time period for these documents should reflect the work experience timeframe,T4 tax information slips etc.

Documents Needed For Exceptional Circumstances

1. Proof of having requested the document.
2. Explanation of best efforts (this does not guarantee acceptance)
3. The applicant should provide an explanation of the delay in a document & upload the same with LOE. This document needs to show that a work experience letter was requested by the applicant soon after receiving their invitation to apply.

Who Should Submit this Document?

1. The principal applicant
2. Applicant’s spouse/common-law partner (if work experience in Canada is claimed)

Birth certificate or any other equivalent document

Purpose

This proves the relationship between the dependent’s children to their parents

Requirements

1. This is required only in case the applicant identifies dependent children.
2. equivalent document from the birth country
3. letter of explanation (in case no birth certificate is available in the country).

Documents Needed For Exceptional Circumstances

1. Proof of having requested the document.
2. Explanation of best efforts (this does not guarantee acceptance)
3. The applicant should provide an explanation of the delay in a document & upload the same with LOE.

Who Should Submit this Document?

1. All dependent children identified by the applicant, including non-accompanying

Proof of Education

Purpose

As a confirmation of educational claims and a validation that the applicant meets program requirements for Education.

Requirements

1. This is important for earning program-specific points for education. The applicant needs to provide proof that they completed either a Canadian secondary education or a post-secondary educational program; or
2. Applicants need to obtain an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA). The ECA reference number should be included in their application, along with proof of the foreign educational credentials for which they are claiming the points
3. Proof of education stating a completion of Canadian or foreign educational program. This can include copies of secondary or post-secondary education documents like diplomas/certificates etc.
4. If available, transcripts for successful completion of secondary or post-secondary studies should be included as well.
5. The Designated Learning Institution (DLI) number of the Canadian Institution should be provided. This is where they completed their highest degree and wish to claim points for their Canadian educational credentials.
6. The candidate will be asked to enter the # of their DLI by using the list of DLI posted on IRCC website.
7. The applicant will not be awarded additional Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points if for having a Canadian education credential in case they obtained more than half of their education via distance learning. In case the reduction in CRS points results in the applicant having a score below the minimum CRS, their applicant would be refused.
8. In case there is a suggestion in the background information that the applicant’s Canadian education credential may have been obtained via distance learning either abroad or while present in Canada, the request for/acceptance of supporting documents lies at the discretion of the supporting officer
9. Where an ECA has been obtained, the applicant needs to provide the ECA reference number in their e-APR to ensure their acceptable online validation directly from the issuing organization.
10. It is not necessary to submit a scanned copy of the ECA when submitting the e-APR. However, IRCC may request it at a later date.
11. Applicants should indicate that their education was completed by correspondence. This can be done by typing in brackets {by correspondence} on the same line in which the name of the education institution is listed in the Education Background Information tab of GCMS. Whether further documentation is needed to verify the country of the educational institution, depends on the discretion of the officer in charge.

Documents Needed For Exceptional Circumstances

1. Proof of having requested the document.
2. Explanation of best efforts (this does not guarantee acceptance)
3. The applicant should provide an explanation of the delay in a document & upload the same with LOE.

Who Should Submit this Document?

1. The principal applicant
2. Applicant’s spouse/common-law partner

Provincial or territorial certificate of qualification

Purpose

For validation of an applicant’s claim of having a provincial/territorial certificate of qualification

Requirements

1. This document is requested only in case the applicant indicates having a provincial or territorial certificate of qualification.
2. It is required to submit a copy of the certificate of qualification

Documents Needed For Exceptional Circumstances

1. Proof of having requested the document.
2. Explanation of best efforts (this does not guarantee acceptance)
3. The applicant should provide an explanation of the delay in a document & upload the same with LOE.

Who Should Submit this Document?

1. The principal applicant
2. Applicant’s spouse/common-law partner

Letter of offer from the employer

Purpose

This is a valid confirmation of an applicant’s qualifying offer of arranged employment, This also validates that the applicant meets program requirements and can be screened for concerns of fraud

Requirements

1. This document is required only in case the applicant claims to have a qualifying offer of arranged employment.
2. A letter from the employer(s) who offered the applicant a job in Canada is required. Also, it must be printed on the company letterhead that includes the applicant’s name, contact details about the company & the name, title and signature of the proposed immediate supervisor/personnel officer of the applicant.
3. The applicant must include the following details regarding the job offer: expected start date, a commitment that the applicant shall be employed on a continuous, paid, full-time job, for work that is for at least 1 year after issuance of a PR visa. In addition to that, job title, current job status (if current job), duties and responsibilities, number of work hours per week and annual salary plus benefits etc should also be specified.
4. In case there is an associated Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) to the offer of employment, the LMIA number needs to be provided as part of the application.
5. It is not required to provide a scanned copy of the LMIA when submitting the e-APR. However, it could be requested by IRCC at a later date.

Documents Needed For Exceptional Circumstances

1. Proof of having requested the document.
2. Explanation of best efforts (this does not guarantee acceptance)
3. The applicant should provide an explanation of the delay in a document & upload the same with LOE.

Who Should Submit this Document?

1. The principal applicant

Proof of funds

Purpose

For a confirmation of whether or not the applicant meets the low-income cut-off (LICO). This is assessed by the amount of money they hold in comparison to the number of people in their family accompanying them.

Requirements

1. The applicant needs to provide an official letter(s) from one or more financial institutions enlisting all current bank & investment accounts along with any outstanding debts, like those related to credit cards and loans.
2. The letter(s) need to be printed on the letterhead of the financial institution. They should also include the applicant’s name, contact information of the financial institution, applicant’s account numbers, the date each account was opened as well as the current balance of each account along with the average balance for the past six months.
3. It is possible that other documents are requested when necessary.

Documents Needed For Exceptional Circumstances

1. Proof of having requested the document.
2. Explanation of best efforts (this does not guarantee acceptance)
3. The applicant should provide an explanation of the delay in a document & upload the same with LOE.

Who Should Submit this Document?

1. The principal applicant

Use of a Representative form [IMM 5476]

Purpose

For the appointment of a representative to do business on behalf of the applicant & their family members

Requirements

1. This is requested only in case the applicant indicates they are using a representative or in case a consultant completes an application on behalf of the applicant using the consultant portal.
2. The principal applicant must sign the IMM 5476 form (PDF, 648.31KB) and, in case it is applicable, their spouse or common-law partner should do the same.
3. Every accompanying dependent child 18 years of age or older needs to complete and sign their own IMM 5476 form. Even in case a representative is also conducting business on their behalf, they have to fill their own form.

Documents Needed For Exceptional Circumstances

1. LOE to explain any exceptional situations

Who Should Submit this Document?

1. The principal applicant
2. Applicant’s spouse/common-law partner, if applicable
3. Applicant’s accompanying dependent children aged 18 years or older

Evidence of common-law union and cohabitation

Purpose

For the validation of “Common-Law” marital status claims

Requirements

1. This documentation is only requested in cases where marital status is listed as common-law.
2. The applicant needs to submit a Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union form [IMM 5409 (PDF, 636.51KB)] as well as an evidence of cohabitation for a period of at least 12 continuous months.
3. Copies of joint bank account statements, copies of leases & utility bills can be included as evidence of cohabitation, but is not limited to them.

Documents Needed For Exceptional Circumstances

1. Proof of having requested the document.
2. Explanation of best efforts (this does not guarantee acceptance)
3. The applicant should provide an explanation of the delay in a document & upload the same with LOE.

Who Should Submit this Document?

1. The principal applicant

Marriage certificate

Purpose

For the validation of marital status claims

Requirements

1. This document is requested only in case marital status is listed as married.
2. The marriage needs to be valid both under the law of the country where it happened and under Canadian law.
3. A marriage that is performed in an embassy or consulate needs to comply with the law of the host country where it happened and, not the country of nationality of the embassy or consulate.
4. If the applicant married in Canada, they need to provide a copy of the marriage certificate that has been issued by the province or territory where the marriage happened
5. In case the applicant was married outside Canada, they need to include a copy of a legal certificate that has been issued by the country, the territory or the region where the marriage happened

Documents Needed For Exceptional Circumstances

1. Proof of having requested the document.
2. Explanation of best efforts (this does not guarantee acceptance)
3. The applicant should provide an explanation of the delay in a document & upload the same with LOE.

Who Should Submit this Document?

1. The principal applicant

Divorce certificate and legal separation agreement

Purpose

To validate marital status claims

Requirements

1. The certificate of divorce is required only when status is listed as ‘divorced’
2. In case the applicant was divorced in Canada, they need to include a copy of the divorce order or certificate of divorce that was issued by the province or territory where the divorce happened
3. In case the applicant was divorced outside Canada, they need to include a copy of a legal certificate issued by the country, the territory or the region where the divorce happened
4. If available, applicants should also provide a copy of the legal separation document

Documents Needed For Exceptional Circumstances

1. Proof of having requested the document.
2. Explanation of best efforts (this does not guarantee acceptance)
3. The applicant should provide an explanation of the delay in a document & upload the same with LOE.

Who Should Submit this Document?

1. The principal applicant
2. Applicant’s spouse or common-law partner

Death certificate

Purpose

To validate the claim of death of the spouse or common-law partner

Requirements

1. This is requested only in case the marital status is listed as widowed.
2. Applicants need to include a copy of a death certificate, or other legal certificate or any executorships that were issued by the country, the territory or the region where the death occurred.

Documents Needed For Exceptional Circumstances

1. Proof of having requested the document.
2. Explanation of best efforts (this does not guarantee acceptance)
3. The applicant should provide explanation of the delay in a document & upload the same with LOE

Who Should Submit this Document?

1. The principal applicant

Adoption certificate

Purpose

For the validation of claims that a dependent child is adopted

Requirements

1. This is required only in case the dependent child status is listed as adopted.
2. The applicant must provide a copy of the adoption certificate, or other legal adoption papers, and/or other relevant documents issued by the country, the territory or the region that formalized the adoption.

Documents Needed For Exceptional Circumstances

1. Proof of having requested the document.
2. Explanation of best efforts (this does not guarantee acceptance)
3. The applicant should provide an explanation of the delay in a document & upload the same with LOE.

Who Should Submit this Document?

1. Applicant’s dependent children, including non-accompanying