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Notice: The CRS structure changed on November 3, 2026. IRCC says profiles in the pool are recalculated automatically, taking up to about two weeks, with draws paused during the transition. The next round date is not confirmed. Official sources

Immigration guides

After an Express Entry invitation: the 60 days, your score, fees and what comes next

What to check before you submit, when to decline, the fees IRCC lists and the steps after you apply.

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You have 60 days

IRCC says an invitation to apply is valid for 60 days only and asks you to start the application right away. If you neither apply nor decline within 60 days, the invitation expires and your profile is removed from the pool; to be considered again you must submit a new profile, meet the eligibility and be accepted into the pool. If you decline, you go back into the pool and are considered in future rounds if you are still eligible. Declining does not affect whether you are invited later, although IRCC does not guarantee another invitation.

Recalculate your score before you submit

If your situation or your spouse’s changes, IRCC asks you to recalculate your score before applying. Examples it gives are losing a job offer or a provincial nomination, or language results that have expired or are lower after a retest. A work permit that expires before you apply can also lower the score. If your recalculated score is below the lowest score in your round, IRCC says you should decline; if you apply anyway, it may refuse the application and not refund the fee.

Fees IRCC lists

IRCC’s fee list shows CAD 1,590 for the principal applicant and CAD 1,590 for a spouse or partner, each including the CAD 600 right of permanent residence fee (CAD 990 each without it), and CAD 270 for each dependent child. The right of permanent residence fee does not apply to dependent children. At a minimum, you pay the processing fees when you submit; the right of permanent residence fee is paid when the application is approved, or earlier to avoid delays. Biometrics cost CAD 85 per person, or a maximum of CAD 170 for a family applying together.

Documents worth checking early

Your medical exam results must be valid both when you submit and when you become a permanent resident, and IRCC asks you not to book more than one exam appointment. If your passport expires within six months of the day you apply, IRCC suggests renewing it. Keep each document’s issue date in your timeline so you can see which ones could expire before a decision.

After you submit

IRCC first checks that the application is complete, that the fee is paid, that the requirements are met and that the documents are included; an incomplete application is rejected and the processing fee refunded. If you are between 14 and 79, IRCC sends a letter asking for biometrics, and you have 30 days from the date on the letter to give them. You can follow progress in your IRCC account, and IRCC also lists a Client Application Status tool that it updates daily. IRCC cannot approve the application until all fees are paid.

From PR approval to your first PR card

Follow the approval instructions to confirm your status. If you confirm online from inside Canada, IRCC asks you to confirm you are in Canada and give a Canadian mailing address and photo in the Permanent Residence Portal. After confirmation, download your electronic Confirmation of Permanent Residence (e-COPR) and keep a private copy. If you confirm at a port of entry, give the officer your Canadian address or update it with IRCC afterward. Your first card is normally issued without a separate application or card fee if IRCC receives the address and photo within 180 days of the date you became a permanent resident. Check that your mailing address remains current while you wait.

Frequently asked questions

How long do I have to submit after an Express Entry invitation?

IRCC says the invitation is valid for 60 days only.

What if my score drops after I am invited?

If your recalculated score is below the lowest score in your round, IRCC says you should decline. If you apply anyway, it may refuse the application and not refund the fee.

Does declining an invitation hurt my chances later?

No. IRCC says declining won’t affect whether you are invited later, but it does not guarantee another invitation.

Official sources

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