Express Entry: Invitation to Apply (ITA)

April 15, 2023

People selected from Canada's Express Entry pool and who receive an invitation to apply are eligible for permanent residence in Canada. If you decide to accept the invitation, your application will be processed within a maximum of six months. In this article, we'll find out what an Invitation to Submit an Application (ISA) is.

What is an Invitation to Apply (ITA)?

An Invitation to Apply (ITA) is an official invitation issued by the Government of Canada to applicants who have applied to immigrate to Canada through the Express Entry system. The Invitation to Apply is sent to applicants who have obtained a sufficiently high score in the Express Entry (CRS) pool to be eligible to apply for permanent residence in Canada.

Receipt of a PDI means that the applicant has met the eligibility requirements and has been selected to apply for permanent residence. Applicants who receive a PDI have a limited period of time in which to submit a complete application for permanent residence, including supporting documents and fees.

How can I obtain an Invitation to Apply (ITA)?

If you want to obtain an Invitation to Apply (ITA) in Canada, there are three crucial things you need to do. Want to know what they are? We'll give you step-by-step instructions below!

Step 1: Create an Express Entry profile

Creating an Express Entry profile is the first step in obtaining an Invitation to Apply (ITA). To create a profile, applicants must provide information about their age, education, work experience, language skills and other factors that determine their eligibility for immigration. Once the profile has been completed, applicants are assigned a Global Ranking System (GRS) score based on their qualifications. The information provided must be based on authentic documents and be easily verifiable.

Step 2. Receive a valid job offer or provincial appointment

Having a valid job offer from a Canadian employer increases your chances of receiving an invitation to apply.

Step 3: Receive a designation from a Canadian province or territory

Being nominated by a province or territory also increases your chances of receiving an invitation quickly. To do so, submit an application to the Provincial Nominee Program (Express Entry Stream) of your choice.

How can you increase your chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA)?

Improve your language skills

By achieving a high score for your language skills, whether it's IELTS for Canadian immigration, CELPIP, TEF or TCF, you'll significantly increase your chances of obtaining an Invitation to Apply (ITA). Francophones and bilinguals also get extra points, which can help them reach their goal more quickly.

Improve your education

Having a diploma or certificate with official Canadian equivalency is an excellent way to obtain an Invitation to Apply (ITA), using your diploma and evaluation report to earn points for educational attainment.

Gain relative professional experience

Gaining work experience in your industry is a sure-fire way to earn a PDI. You can do this by working on a temporary or permanent basis.

Improve your Express Entry score

Overall, it's best to continually improve your Express Entry score until you receive an IPD! By fulfilling the above conditions, you'll be well on your way to achieving your goal.

Documents required for the Invitation to Apply (ITA)

An applicant must provide certain documents to IRCC when submitting an application after receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA). These documents support the qualifications and other information declared in the applicant's Express Entry profile, and provide proof that the applicant is not inadmissible to Canada.

The applicant must complete the online application and upload the following documents in English or French. If not, a certified translator must translate these documents.

Essential documents for all applicants: