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Free cheat sheet · Express Entry

Express Entry glossary: every IRCC term and acronym explained

IRCC letters, forums and your online account are full of acronyms. Here is what each one means, in plain English, in the order you meet them: from your profile to your PR card.

  • 70+ terms grouped by stage
  • Official acronyms and forum shorthand
  • French-specific terms: NCLC, TCF, TEF, C16
  • Links to the right tool for each step
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PDF · free · no sign-upChecked October 6, 2026

Quick answer

In Express Entry, an ITA (invitation to apply) means IRCC has invited you to apply for permanent residence; you then have 60 days to submit. An AOR (acknowledgement of receipt) confirms IRCC has received your application. A COPR (Confirmation of Permanent Residence) is the document you get when you are approved, and the eCOPR is its electronic version. Your rank in the pool comes from your CRS score: check yours with the CRS calculator.

Programs and your Express Entry profile

The words you meet when you check your eligibility and build your profile.

IRCC · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
The federal department that runs Express Entry, work permits and citizenship. Its official pages are on canada.ca.
Express Entry
IRCC's online system for managing applications for three federal economic programs (FSW, CEC, FST) and part of the Provincial Nominee Program. It is a selection system, not a program in itself.
FSW · Federal Skilled Worker Program
For skilled workers with foreign work experience. You must pass a 67-point selection grid before you can enter the pool: test yours with the FSW points calculator.
CEC · Canadian Experience Class
For people with skilled work experience in Canada. The language minimum depends on the TEER of your job.
FST · Federal Skilled Trades Program
For qualified tradespeople with a job offer or a Canadian certificate of qualification in their trade.
PNP · Provincial Nominee Program
Provinces and territories nominate people who fit their local needs. Some streams are linked to Express Entry and some favour French speakers: see French-speaking PNP streams.
Profile
Your online form in the Express Entry system describing your age, education, work, language and family. You have 60 days to complete and submit it once you start.
Pool
The group of eligible candidates waiting to be invited. A profile expires after 12 months in the pool if you are not invited.
NOC · National Occupational Classification
Canada's list of occupations, each with a 5-digit code. Your job duties, not your job title, decide which NOC code fits.
TEER · Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities
The skill-level category of a NOC code, from TEER 0 (management) to TEER 5. Express Entry counts work in TEER 0 to 3.
PA · Principal applicant
The person whose profile is scored and invited. A couple can compare both ways and choose who is the PA.
Accompanying spouse
A spouse or common-law partner who will immigrate with you. Their education, language and Canadian work can add a few CRS points.
Common-law partner
Someone you have lived with in a conjugal relationship for at least one continuous year. IRCC treats them like a spouse.
Dependent child
A child who can be included on your application as a family member. IRCC sets age and dependency conditions, so check them on canada.ca.

Scores, language tests and credentials

What sets your rank: CRS, CLB and NCLC, the tests IRCC accepts, and your education assessment.

CRS · Comprehensive Ranking System
The points system (out of 1,200) that ranks everyone in the pool. Check yours with the CRS calculator.
Core human capital
The CRS points for your age, education, official languages and Canadian work experience.
Skill transferability
Extra CRS points for combinations, such as strong language plus a degree, or foreign plus Canadian work experience.
Additional points
CRS points outside the core factors, such as a provincial nomination, strong French, a sibling in Canada or Canadian study. Job offer points were removed on 25 March 2025.
CLB · Canadian Language Benchmarks
Canada's 12-level scale for English. IRCC converts your IELTS, CELPIP or PTE Core scores to CLB levels.
NCLC · Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens
The French equivalent of CLB. IRCC converts TCF Canada and TEF Canada scores to NCLC: use the NCLC score converter.
First official language
The language (English or French) in which you score highest and declare first. It carries most of your language points.
Second official language
Your other official language. A result of NCLC or CLB 5 or more in it can add CRS points.
TCF Canada · Test de connaissance du français pour le Canada
A French test by France Éducation international accepted by IRCC. Listening and reading are scored out of 699, writing and speaking out of 20.
TEF Canada · Test d'évaluation de français pour le Canada
A French test by CCI Paris Île-de-France accepted by IRCC. For Express Entry you enter the "Équivalence ancien score" column.
Équivalence ancien score
The TEF Canada column IRCC uses for Express Entry (listening /360, reading /300, writing and speaking /450). IRCC says entering the "Score / 699" column instead can lead to refusal.
IELTS General Training
The IELTS version IRCC accepts for Express Entry. IELTS Academic and IELTS One Skill Retake are not accepted.
CELPIP-General · Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program
An English test IRCC accepts for Express Entry. Only the General version counts.
PTE Core · Pearson Test of English Core
The Pearson English test IRCC accepts for Express Entry.
Test validity
Language results must be less than 2 years old when you submit your profile and again when you submit your PR application.
ECA · Educational Credential Assessment
A report confirming your foreign degree is valid and equal to a Canadian one. It must be less than 5 years old: see the ECA checklist.
Designated organization
A body IRCC approves to issue ECAs, such as WES, ICAS, IQAS, CES (University of Toronto) or ICES. Doctors and pharmacists use their professional body.
Proof of funds
Evidence that you have enough money to settle in Canada, required for FSW and FST unless an exception applies. Check the amount with the proof of funds calculator.

Draws and the invitation (ITA)

How IRCC picks candidates from the pool, and what an invitation means.

Draw · Round of invitations
IRCC invites a set number of candidates from the pool at a given time. Follow every round on the Express Entry draw tracker.
ITA · Invitation to apply
IRCC's invitation to apply for permanent residence. It is valid for 60 days: use the after-ITA checklist to plan them.
Cut-off score
The lowest CRS score invited in a draw. Anyone at or above it, and eligible for that round, gets an ITA (subject to the tie-breaking rule).
Tie-breaking rule
If several candidates have the cut-off score, IRCC invites those who submitted their profile earliest, by date and time.
General draw
A round open to candidates eligible for any of the three Express Entry programs.
Program-specific draw
A round limited to one program, for example the Provincial Nominee Program or the Canadian Experience Class.
Category-based selection
Rounds for candidates with a skill IRCC targets, such as French, healthcare or trades. Check which you fit with the category checker.
Enhanced nomination
A provincial nomination issued through Express Entry. It adds 600 CRS points.
Base nomination
A provincial nomination outside Express Entry. You then apply to IRCC for PR outside the Express Entry system, and it adds no CRS points.
EOI · Expression of interest
A profile some provinces ask you to submit before they invite you to apply for a nomination.

Application and processing: AOR, BIL, ADR, PPR

The acronyms you see after you submit. Some are official, some are forum shorthand: both are explained.

eAPR · Electronic application for permanent residence
Forum shorthand for the online PR application you complete after your ITA. See the Express Entry document checklist.
AOR · Acknowledgement of receipt
The message in your account confirming IRCC has received your application. It is not an approval.
BIL · Biometrics instruction letter
The letter asking you to give your fingerprints and photo. You have 30 days from the letter date to do it.
Biometrics
Your fingerprints and a digital photo, given at a visa application centre or other collection point. The fee is per person, with a family maximum.
Medical exam
A health exam done by an IRCC panel physician. The results are valid for 12 months.
Panel physician
A doctor approved by IRCC to do immigration medical exams. Your own doctor cannot do it.
PCC · Police clearance certificate
A police certificate from each country where you lived for long enough. See the police certificates guide.
LOE · Letter of explanation
A short letter you add to explain a gap, a missing document or anything unusual. Use the letter of explanation template.
Reference letter
An employer letter proving your duties, hours and pay for each job you claim. Use the reference letter template.
RPRF · Right of permanent residence fee
A fee paid before PR is granted by you and your accompanying spouse or partner, on top of the processing fee. Check the current amount on IRCC's fee list.
ADR · Additional document request
Forum shorthand for IRCC asking you for more documents or information. Answer by the deadline in the message.
PFL · Procedural fairness letter
A letter telling you IRCC has concerns that could lead to refusal, giving you a chance to respond. Take it seriously and answer fully.
Misrepresentation
Giving false or misleading information or documents, even on someone else's advice. It can lead to refusal and a ban of at least 5 years.
GCMS · Global Case Management System
IRCC's internal case system. "GCMS notes" are the officer notes on your file, which you can request through an access to information and privacy (ATIP) request.
BOWP · Bridging open work permit
An open work permit that can let some applicants already working in Canada keep working while their PR application is processed.
PPR · Passport request
Forum shorthand for IRCC's request for your passport (or passport details) near the end of processing. It usually means a decision is close, but it is not a guarantee.

Landing and after: COPR, PR card, PRTD, SIN

The documents and steps once you are approved.

COPR · Confirmation of Permanent Residence
The document issued when your PR is approved, with your photo and details. Check it against your passport: IRCC cannot extend it, so land before it expires.
eCOPR · Electronic Confirmation of Permanent Residence
The electronic COPR uploaded to your PR portal account after you confirm you are in Canada. It can take up to a few weeks.
PR visa · Permanent resident visa
A visa placed in your passport with the COPR, only if your country of citizenship needs one to travel to Canada.
PR portal · Permanent Residence Portal
The portal where applicants inside Canada confirm their PR online. Do not create your own account: IRCC creates it for you.
Landing
The moment you become a permanent resident, when an officer confirms your COPR at the border or through the PR portal.
POE · Port of entry
An airport or land border where you enter Canada and present your COPR.
CBSA · Canada Border Services Agency
The agency whose officers check your documents and finalise your landing at the port of entry.
PR card · Permanent resident card
The card that proves your status when you return to Canada by commercial transport. The first one is free if you send your photo and address within 180 days of landing.
PRTD · Permanent resident travel document
A travel document for permanent residents abroad without a valid PR card, so they can return to Canada by plane, train, bus or boat.
Residency obligation
To keep PR status you must be physically present in Canada for at least 730 days in the last five years. The days do not need to be in a row.
SIN · Social Insurance Number
The 9-digit number from Service Canada you need to work and access benefits. Apply with your COPR or eCOPR, first item on the PR landing checklist.
Physical presence (citizenship)
To apply for citizenship you need at least 1,095 days in Canada in the last five years: count yours with the citizenship calculator.

French-language terms: francophone draws, Mobilité Francophone, FCIP

The words that matter if you plan to use French to immigrate.

French-language category
Category-based draws for candidates with NCLC 7 or higher in all four French skills. See every round on the French draw tracker.
French bonus points
Additional CRS points for NCLC 7 or higher in all four French skills: 25 points, or 50 if you also have CLB 5 or higher in all four English skills.
NCLC 7
The French level that opens French-category draws and bonus points. Find out where you stand with the free French level check.
Mobilité Francophone · Francophone Mobility Program
An LMIA-exempt work permit for French speakers with a job outside Quebec. It needs NCLC 5 in speaking and listening: see the Mobilité Francophone checklist.
C16
The LMIA exemption code employers use in the Employer Portal for Mobilité Francophone.
LMIA · Labour Market Impact Assessment
A document from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) allowing an employer to hire a foreign worker. Some programs, like C16, are exempt.
Employer Portal
IRCC's online portal where employers submit LMIA-exempt job offers and pay the compliance fee.
FCIP · Francophone Community Immigration Pilot
A PR pilot for French speakers with a job offer from a designated employer in one of six Francophone minority communities outside Quebec. It asks for NCLC 5 in all four skills.
CSQ · Certificat de sélection du Québec
Quebec's selection certificate. Quebec chooses its own economic immigrants, so it does not use Express Entry.

Official term or forum shorthand?

IRCC's own messages use full phrases like "acknowledgement of receipt" or "request for additional documents". Shorthand such as eAPR, ADR and PPR comes from applicant forums. When you search or ask IRCC through the webform, use the official wording.

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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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