Documents to have before your profile
- Passport for you and every family member
- Language test results less than 2 years old: IELTS General Training, CELPIP-General or PTE Core for English; TEF Canada or TCF Canada for French
- Educational Credential Assessment for foreign education (ECA guide)
- Job offer details, if you have one
Documents after your invitation
| Document | Who needs it | Tips |
|---|---|---|
| Employment reference letters | Everyone claiming work experience | On company letterhead, with your job title, duties, hours per week, salary, dates and the signer's contact details |
| Police certificates | You and family members 18+ | From each country where you spent 6+ months since age 18 |
| Medical exam | You and all family members | Done by an IRCC panel physician |
| Proof of funds | FSW and FST candidates (most) | Bank letters with a 6-month average balance (proof of funds guide) |
| Birth certificates | Children, and often the applicant | |
| Marriage certificate or common-law proof | If you have a spouse or partner | See our common-law guide |
| Digital photos | Everyone on the application | Must meet IRCC's photo specifications |
| Provincial nomination certificate | PNP candidates | |
| Proof of Canadian status | People in Canada | Work or study permit |
IRCC gives you a personalized document checklist in your account after the invitation. Always follow that list; it may ask for more.
Reference letters: get them right
Your reference letters prove the work experience behind your CRS points. Each letter should match the NOC duties you claimed and show full-time hours (or the part-time equivalent). If you can't get a letter from a past employer, IRCC accepts other evidence with an explanation.
Tips to avoid delays
- Ask for police certificates early. Some countries take weeks or months.
- Book the medical exam soon after the ITA.
- Explain every gap in your history in a letter of explanation.
- Check names and dates match across every document.
- Get a professional review. Our Express Entry profile service checks everything before you submit.