Canada · Express Entry
The official steps, and the ordering rules IRCC states
The order below is IRCC’s own page-by-page navigation across 4+ pages, not a sequence we arranged.
Every step below is an official page or section, in the order the immigration authority itself publishes them. What this adds is the 6 ordering rules stated in the government’s own words, each moved next to the step it governs and labelled with whether it was written as a requirement or as advice.
To be precise about how scattered they are: the 6 sentences come off 4 official pages, and 3 of them already sit together on one page. 7 of the 12 steps and sub-steps have no stated timing rule at all, and say so.
Two kinds of rule, kept apart
- 5 use “must” — stated as requirements.
- 1 use “should” — stated as advice, and kept as advice. Presenting advice as a requirement would be us inventing one.
What this covers
This follows IRCC's own page-by-page order for Express Entry. IRCC labels that navigation “Document navigation” rather than “the process” — its declared process is the four-step summary quoted below, and the two are not merged here. It covers the federal Express Entry route only, not Provincial Nominee Programs or other Canadian pathways. It also does not reproduce IRCC’s document checklist — the one that counts is generated inside your IRCC account after you complete the online form.
What the authority itself calls “the process”
“How the Express Entry process works: Create a profile and enter the pool. We'll invite the candidates with the most points in rounds. If you're invited to apply, fill out the application. We'll review your application and make a decision.”IRCC — Immigrate through Express Entry · read 2026-08-31 →
The official step order
- 1
Who can apply
- What this step is
- Compare the eligibility requirements for the three Express Entry programs.
- How the official page describes it
- Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) lists the requirements for each of the three programs managed through Express Entry (Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program) so you can read them against your own situation.
- Official page
- IRCC — Who can apply →read 2026-08-31
No timing rule is stated for this step. Its position comes from the official page order, not from a published dependency.
- 2
Check your score
- What this step is
- Calculate your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score.
- How the official page describes it
- IRCC publishes a CRS tool that calculates a score from the details you enter.
- Official page
- IRCC — Check your score →read 2026-08-31
- Worth noting
- The score this produces is IRCC's calculation from what you enter, not ours.
No timing rule is stated for this step. Its position comes from the official page order, not from a published dependency.
- 3
Get your documents ready
- What this step is
- Obtain the documents IRCC lists for the program you're applying under.
- How the official page describes it
- IRCC groups these into language test results, educational credential assessment, job offer, proof of funds and police certificates, each with its own page and its own rules.
- Official page
- IRCC — Get your documents ready →read 2026-08-31
No timing rule is stated for this step. Its position comes from the official page order, not from a published dependency.
- 3.1
Language test results
- What this step is
- Take a language test that IRCC designates for Express Entry.
- How the official page describes it
- IRCC lists which tests it accepts and how to convert results to Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) levels.
- Official page
- IRCC — Language test results →read 2026-08-31
Ordering rule stated for this step
Stated as “must”stated as a requirementLanguage results are checked against two separate moments: when you complete your profile, and again when you submit your application.
“Your test results must be less than 2 years old when you: complete your Express Entry profile, and submit your application for permanent residence”
IRCC — Language test results · read 2026-08-31 → - 3.2
Educational credential assessment
- What this step is
- If your education was completed outside Canada, get an educational credential assessment (ECA).
- How the official page describes it
- IRCC designates specific organisations that can issue an ECA for immigration purposes.
- Official page
- IRCC — Educational credential assessment →read 2026-08-31
Ordering rule stated for this step
Stated as “must”stated as a requirementAn ECA is what makes you eligible as the principal applicant under the Federal Skilled Worker Program, if you studied outside Canada.
“If you completed your education outside Canada, you need an Educational credential assessment (ECA) to: be eligible as the principal applicant for Federal Skilled Workers Program (Express Entry), or earn points for education you got outside Canada”
IRCC — Educational credential assessment · read 2026-08-31 → - 3.3
Proof of funds
- What this step is
- Show you have the settlement funds IRCC requires, if your program requires it.
- How the official page describes it
- IRCC publishes the required amount by family size and states what counts as acceptable evidence.
- Official page
- IRCC — Proof of funds →read 2026-08-31
No timing rule is stated for this step. Its position comes from the official page order, not from a published dependency.
- 3.4
Police certificates
- What this step is
- Obtain police certificates for the countries IRCC specifies.
- How the official page describes it
- IRCC states which countries you need a certificate from, based on where you have lived and for how long, and gives per-country instructions.
- Official page
- IRCC — Police certificates →read 2026-08-31
Ordering rule stated for this step
Stated as “must”stated as a requirementFor the country you currently live in, the certificate's issue date is measured backwards from your submission date. For other countries the rule is different — it is measured from when you last lived there.
“The police certificate for the country where you currently live must be issued no more than 6 months before the date you submit your application. For any other country, the police certificate must be issued after the last time you stayed there for 6 months in a row or longer.”
IRCC — Police certificates · read 2026-08-31 →
- 4
Create your profile
- What this step is
- Submit an Express Entry profile to enter the pool.
- How the official page describes it
- IRCC's online profile asks for the details behind your CRS score and places you in the pool once submitted.
- Official page
- IRCC — Create your profile →read 2026-08-31
Ordering rule stated for this step
Stated as “must”stated as a requirementA new profile cannot be created while an existing profile is still active.
“Don't create a new profile until your existing profile expires. If you do, you'll need to withdraw your existing profile first.”
IRCC — Apply for permanent residence · read 2026-08-31 → - 5
Rounds of invitations
- What this step is
- Wait for a round of invitations in which your score is high enough to receive an invitation to apply (ITA).
- How the official page describes it
- IRCC publishes each round's date, program, number of invitations and lowest CRS score invited.
- Official page
- IRCC — Rounds of invitations →read 2026-08-31
- Worth noting
- IRCC publishes past round results. It does not publish a future cutoff, and neither do we.
No timing rule is stated for this step. Its position comes from the official page order, not from a published dependency.
- 6
Apply for permanent residence
- What this step is
- Complete and submit the online application after receiving an invitation to apply.
- How the official page describes it
- IRCC's online form generates a personalised document checklist once completed, and you upload documents and pay the fees through the same account.
- Official page
- IRCC — Apply for permanent residence →read 2026-08-31
- Worth noting
- The authoritative document checklist is the personalised one IRCC generates inside your account after you complete the online form. It is not published publicly and is not reproduced here.
Ordering rules stated for this step
Stated as “must”stated as a requirementAn invitation to apply is time-limited from the moment it is issued.
“Your invitation to apply is valid for 60 days only. Start filling out the application form right away, so that you can get all the information and documents you need before your invitation expires.”
IRCC — Apply for permanent residence · read 2026-08-31 →Stated as “should”stated as advice, not a requirementIRCC advises taking the medical exam after an invitation, rather than before. This is advice, not a requirement.
“If you've never had a medical exam before, you should get one after you're invited to apply. Your exam results must be valid when you: submit your application for permanent residence and get permanent residence in Canada”
IRCC — Apply for permanent residence · read 2026-08-31 → - 7
After you apply
- What this step is
- Complete biometrics and follow the application while IRCC processes it.
- How the official page describes it
- IRCC describes biometrics, processing and how to check application status.
- Official page
- IRCC — After you apply →read 2026-08-31
No timing rule is stated for this step. Its position comes from the official page order, not from a published dependency.
- 8
If we approve your application
- What this step is
- Confirm permanent resident status or prepare to arrive in Canada.
- How the official page describes it
- IRCC sets out what happens after approval depending on whether you are inside or outside Canada.
- Official page
- IRCC — If we approve your application →read 2026-08-31
No timing rule is stated for this step. Its position comes from the official page order, not from a published dependency.
What this page does not do
- · It doesn’t assess whether you meet any of these requirements.
- · It doesn’t tell you which steps apply to you or which you could skip.
- · It doesn’t calculate any dates. The rules above are quoted; the arithmetic is yours.
immigrate.io is not a law firm and not a licensed immigration adviser.
← Browse all countriesExpress Entry is one of several Canadian routes. If you describe your situation in your own words, the pathway finder will show which official Canadian routes mention the things you mentioned — and which requirements you didn’t.
It matches wording against a fixed list of official pathways. It doesn’t assess your situation or tell you whether to apply.
Describe your situation →