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What is an Invitation to Apply (ITA)?

An Invitation to Apply (ITA) is an invitation that allows some people who submitted a profile to Express Entry to apply for permanent residence.

If you accept the invitation, you application will be processed in 6 months or less.

To get an ITA, you need to:

Have a highly-ranked Express Entry profile;
Have a valid job offer; or
Have been nominated by a province or territory.

I submitted a profile to Express Entry. When will I get an ITA?

IRCC has an up-to-date notice about the number of ITAs being issued that month, and minimum number of points you need to get an ITA.

If your Express Entry profile qualifies, you will be sent an ITA during this period.

Your profile expires after one year. If you don’t get an ITA for permanent residence, can withdraw your profile and submit it again to be considered for another year.

How can I improve my chances of getting an ITA?

You can improve your chances of getting an ITA by improving your Express Entry profile score, so it is more highly ranked.

The best ways you can improve your score are to:

Contact provinces and territories to be considered for the Provincial Nominee Program.
Secure a valid job offer in Canada.

You can also:

Improve your language skills.
Improve your education.
Get more relevant work experience.

This chart outlines the points you can get for each category.

What happens after I get an ITA?

If you get an ITA, you will:

Be told what skilled immigrant program you have been accepted into;
Have 90 days to apply for permanent residence; and
Need to submit all the required documents and fees to complete your application for permanent residence.

Your application will take 6 months (or less) to process if it is complete and accurate.

If your application for permanent residence is successful, you will get a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) and/or a Permanent Residence Visa.

For More Information

Invitations to Apply - Information on Invitations to Apply (ITA), documents you may need to if you get an ITA, and what to do if you want to decline the offer. From Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
Apply - Skilled Immigrants - Information on the online form, required documents, and fees needed to apply for permanent residence. From Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
Skilled Immigrants (Express Entry) - Information on selection criteria and how to apply. From Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.