Express Entry manages three immigration programs, i.e., CEC, FSTP, and FSWP. Here’s what to include in an Express Entry application for PR. 

Applicants who have self-determined eligibility for Express Entry will indicate to the government their expression of interest in obtaining Canadian PR status. 

Once an applicant submits an online profile, the federal government determines their eligibility for a program that Express Entry manages.

Moreover, they accept eligible applicants into the Express Entry pool and rank them according to CRS. The CRS is a points-based system the government uses to assess and rank applicants in the pool of applications. In addition, IRCC calculates it based on an applicant’s age, education, work experience, language skills, & other factors.

Once a candidate determines their eligibility for Express Entry, meets the requirements of the program & enters the pool of applicants, they need to provide a variety of supporting documents.

What Are Necessary Documents For All Applicants? 

According to IRCC, here’s what to include in an Express Entry application for PR, i.e., the necessary documentation. 

  1. Medical Examination 

A medical examination confirmation is to assess the applicant’s & their family member’s health. 

As of October 1, 2023, an upfront immigration medical no longer needs to be provided when you submit your application. Applicants have to wait for instruction from IRCC for further instructions as to when they need to undertake the examination. 

  1. Police Certificates 

Police certificates are provided to show evidence that the applicant has no criminal record. Applicants must provide police certificates from all nations where they have stayed for six months or more in a row within the last ten years. Any time period before the age of 18 does not require this.

IRCC requires that police certificates must be a scan of the original certificates in color. Certified true copies & unauthorized copies are unacceptable. 

  1. Proof Of Identity 

Applicants should provide a copy of a passport/ travel document’s biographical data page to confirm their identity. 

  1. Proof Of Work Experience 

In order to validate the application and substantiate each work experience claim, it is necessary to provide proof of work experience.

The personalized document checklist in the applicant’s account prompts the candidate with an upload field for each work experience declared. IRCC specifies that the following documents are mandatory:

  • A reference/ experience letter from the employer.
  • Must indicate all positions held while employed at the company & should include the following details: job title, job status, duties & responsibilities, dates worked for the company, number of work hours per week, & annual salary & other benefits 
  • If an applicant is self-employed, articles of incorporation or other evidence of business ownership, evidence of self-employment income & documentation from third-party individuals indicating the service provided along with payment details

What Other Documents Could Be Required? 

According to IRCC, the following documents are mandatory, if applicable, i.e., based on the personal circumstances of the candidate & their dependents: 

  • Copy of birth certificate or other equivalent document to prove the dependent children’s relationship to the parents. This is only needed if the applicant identifies dependent children
  • Proof of studies to confirm education claims & validate that the applicant meets program requirements 
  • Provincial/ territorial certificate of qualification to validate an applicant’s claim of having a provincial or territorial certificate of qualification
  • Letter of offer from the employer to prove an applicant’s qualifying offer of arranged employment & to make sure the applicant meets program requirements & to screen for concerns of fraud
  • Evidence of funds to confirm whether the candidate meets the low-income-cut-off 
  • Use of a representative form when appointing a representative to do business on behalf of the applicant & their family members
  • Marriage certificate or evidence of common law union & cohabitation to validate marital status claim
  • Divorce certificate & legal separation agreements
  • Death certificates to validate the claim of death of a spouse/ common-law partner  
  • Adoption certificate to validate claims that a dependent child is adopted 
  • If you require any of these documents based on your personal circumstances & do not provide them, applications will be considered incomplete

Supporting Documentation Tips

Alongside knowing what to include in an Express Entry application for PR, an applicant needs certain supporting documentation. Once the candidate is invited to apply, they will only have 60 days to submit the complete application for permanent residence. 

Moreover, applicants should ensure that documents are high-quality, easy to read & are appropriately named. IRCC requires all documents that are not in English/ French to be accompanied by an official translation or a certified copy of the original/ authentic document in French/ English.