What documents are required for Express Entry?

For the profile: passport, language test results, an ECA or Canadian education proof, and your work history. After the ITA you upload those plus reference letters, police certificates, an upfront medical exam, proof of funds unless you're exempt, and civil status documents such as a marriage certificate or children's birth certificates.

Do I need to upload documents to create an Express Entry profile?

No. You type in details from your documents, such as your test scores and ECA reference number. You upload copies only after you're invited to apply, but the documents must already exist and be valid when you enter the details.

How many days do I have to submit documents after the ITA?

Your invitation to apply is valid for 60 days. All required documents, or a letter of explanation with proof of request for any that are delayed, must be uploaded within that time.

Does IRCC give a document checklist for Express Entry?

Yes. After you fill in the online application form, the system gives you a personalized document checklist in your account, based on your answers. Upload only what it lists.

Do I need proof of funds for the Canadian Experience Class?

No. Canadian Experience Class applicants, and people who are authorized to work in Canada and have a valid job offer, don't need proof of funds. You still upload a letter explaining why you're exempt. Check your amount with the proof of funds calculator.

Does my spouse need documents if they're not coming to Canada?

Yes. Family members must have a medical exam even if they're not coming with you, and your spouse needs police certificates if they're 18 or older. You also declare them in the application.

Can a friend or relative translate my documents for Express Entry?

No. You, your family members, your representative or consultant can't translate them. Use a certified translator who is a member of a professional translation association, or an affidavit from the translator only if a certified translator isn't available.

Express Entry · Canada PR

Express Entry document checklist

Every document IRCC asks for, in the order you actually need them: what to have ready for your profile, what to upload in the 60 days after your invitation, and what your spouse and children need. Checked against canada.ca.

Profile documents vs after-ITA documents
Principal applicant, spouse and children
Conditional documents and translation rules
Mistakes that get files rejected as incomplete

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PDF · free · no sign-upChecked October 6, 2026

Quick answer

For an Express Entry profile you need a valid passport, language test results less than 2 years old, an ECA report (or Canadian education proof) and details of your work experience. After the invitation to apply, you have 60 days to upload copies of those plus police certificates, a medical exam, proof of funds (unless exempt), reference letters and civil status documents. IRCC gives you a personalized checklist in your account.

Documents for the profile vs documents after the ITA

You don't upload anything to create a profile: you type in details from your documents. You upload the documents themselves only after you get an invitation to apply (ITA). Have them ready early, because the ITA gives you 60 days.

Documents for the profile vs documents after the ITA
Document	Profile (before ITA)	Application (after ITA)
Passport	Number and dates	Upload a copy
TCF / TEF or English test	Scores, test date, certificate number	Upload the results
ECA report or Canadian diploma	ECA reference number and organization	Upload the report
Work experience	Dates, hours, NOC, duties	Upload reference letters
Proof of funds	Amount you have	Upload official bank letters (unless exempt)
Police certificates	Not needed	Upload for each required country
Medical exam	Not needed	Done with a panel physician before you submit
Provincial nomination	Nomination details, if you have one	Upload the nomination document

Your test results and ECA must still be valid on the day you submit the application, not just on the day you created the profile.

Documents needed to create your Express Entry profile

Gather these before you open your profile. Your CRS score is built from them, so every number must match the paper.

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Before you enter the pool

Valid passport or travel documentIf it expires within 6 months, IRCC suggests renewing it before you apply.
Language test results less than 2 years oldTCF Canada, TEF Canada or an approved English test. Convert scores with the NCLC converter.
TEF Canada: use the "Équivalence ancien score" columnTEF onlyEnter CO /360, CE /300, EE and EO /450 from that column. IRCC's system does not accept the "Score / 699" column.
Educational credential assessment (ECA) for immigration purposesRequired for Federal Skilled Worker with education outside Canada, and to score foreign education points. See the ECA checklist.
Proof of Canadian educationIf applicableDiploma or degree from a Canadian school, instead of an ECA for that credential.
Work history with exact dates and hoursList every job with start and end dates, hours a week and NOC code. Your reference letters must match later.
Settlement funds amountKnow your required amount with the proof of funds calculator.
Provincial nomination detailsIf applicableOnly if a province has already nominated you.
Canadian certificate of qualification in a tradeIf applicableIssued by a province or territory. Mainly for Federal Skilled Trades.

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Conditional documents (only if they apply to you)

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Upload these only if you claimed them

Job offer letterIf applicableStart date, employer name and address, pay, duties, hours, NOC code and LMIA number if there is one. Job offers no longer add CRS points since March 25, 2025.
Provincial nomination documentIf nominatedFrom the province that nominated you. Compare streams in French PNP streams.
Proof of Canadian educationIf applicableDiploma or degree and transcripts from the Canadian school.
Proof of relationship to a relative in CanadaIf applicableFor a sibling claim: proof you're related and proof of their status as a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
Documents confirming other names you've usedIf applicableIf your name differs across documents (marriage, spelling, aliases).
Canadian certificate of qualification in a tradeIf applicableIssued by a Canadian province or territory.
Gift deed or gift letter for family moneyIf applicableIf part of your funds came from family. Use the gift letter template.

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Translation rules for documents not in English or French

If a document is in any other language, upload two things: the English or French translation, and a scan of the original (or of the certified photocopy the translator worked from). Stamps and seals that aren't in English or French must be translated too.

The translation must be stamped by a certified translator, meaning a member in good standing of a professional translation association, in Canada or abroad, whose seal shows a membership number. Only if that's not possible can the translation come with an affidavit sworn by the person who translated it.

You can't translate your own documents.
No family member, representative or consultant can translate them, even if they're a lawyer, notary or translator.
A translator still working toward certification doesn't count as certified for IRCC.
IRCC accepts common file formats such as PDF and JPG. Scan in colour so seals and stamps stay readable.

The missing-document trap

IRCC rejects an application that doesn't include all the required documents and refunds the processing fee, and by then your ITA is used up. If a document isn't ready by day 60 (a slow police certificate is the classic case), never leave the slot empty: upload a letter of explanation together with proof you requested it, such as a receipt or tracking number.

Common Express Entry document mistakes

Start police certificates and the medical exam in the first week after the ITA.
Check that test results and the ECA will still be valid on the day you submit.
Make job dates, hours and duties in the profile match your reference letters exactly.
Use your personalized checklist in your IRCC account as the final list.
Recalculate with the CRS calculator before you accept the ITA if anything changed.

Don't enter the TEF "Score / 699" numbers in your profile.
Don't upload a translation without a scan of the original.
Don't use a character certificate or local certificate where IRCC asks for a national police certificate.
Don't use borrowed money or property value as proof of funds.
Don't claim points you can't document: misrepresentation can bar you for 5 years.

Keep a copy

Download the PDF to print it or keep it on your phone. Prints cleanly on A4 and Letter.

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Sources

Last checked against official sources on Oct 6, 2026. Rules change: always confirm on canada.ca before you submit anything.

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