In Express Entry, applicants are required to submit a complete electronic application for permanent residence (e-APR) within 90 calendar days of being issued an invitation to apply (ITA). The application and all supporting documents must be submitted electronically through the applicant’s online account.
The Express Entry 6-month processing standard begins when the application is submitted. This is based on the application received date in the Global Case Management System (GCMS). It ends when Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) makes a final decision on the application.
A complete application includes the following:
• the e-APR;
• the cost recovery fees; and
• all supporting documentation to validate information contained in the applicant’s Express Entry profile and e-APR.
Applicants and their family members must undergo upfront medical examinations and submit all required police certificates as part of their complete application. Medical results must be valid and applicants are encouraged to undergo medical examinations closer to the date their application is submitted to avoid processing delays.
