Moose
Guide
From ITA to PR: the Express Entry timeline
An Invitation to Apply is the turning point of Express Entry: you move from competing in a pool to preparing a complete permanent residence application. The emotional relief is real — and so is the paperwork deadline.
Day 0–60: submit a complete e-APR
Gather civil documents, police certificates, proof of funds when required, language results, ECA, work letters, and forms. Incomplete files cause returns or delays. The deadline in your IRCC account is the one that matters.
AOR: your planning anchor
Acknowledgement of Receipt means IRCC accepted the application as complete for processing. Many applicants use AOR as the date that anchors later expectations. Read what AOR means.
Biometrics, medicals, background
Complete biometrics and medical exams when asked (or upfront medicals when appropriate). Background and security checks can be quiet for long stretches — silence is not always a problem.
Decision documents
A Passport Request (PPR) or portal instructions, then COPR or eCOPR, mark the finish of the PR decision stage. Details vary for in-Canada and overseas applicants — see PPR, COPR, and eCOPR.
Compare your wait with the official processing times tool, not with strangers’ screenshots. Use Moose’s milestone estimator only as a planning aid.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have after an ITA?
IRCC typically gives 60 days to submit a complete e-APR. Confirm the exact deadline in your account — missing it usually means the ITA expires.
When does the 6-month standard start?
For Express Entry, IRCC’s service standard is generally discussed from a complete e-APR, not from the day you entered the pool. Always read the current processing-times tool notes on Canada.ca.
What is eCOPR?
An electronic Confirmation of Permanent Residence used in many in-Canada landing scenarios. PPR and COPR/eCOPR are final-stage documents — see our PPR/COPR guide.
Official sources
Track this journey in Moose
Log milestones, see planning ranges for your stream, and keep draws + news in one calm iPhone app.
Keep reading
What is AOR? Milestones explainedAOR, biometrics, medicals, PPR, and COPR in plain English.
PPR, COPR, and eCOPR explainedThe final-stage documents applicants wait for — compared in plain English.
Express Entry Processing Times 2026How long each PR step takes and how to read IRCC ranges.
PR Milestone EstimatorMap a planning window from your AOR date to later milestones.
Biometrics after AOR: timing and next stepsHow biometrics requests fit the PR timeline and how to complete them without delay.