PrepHome › Canada PR language requirements › Canada PR documents checklist
Canada PR Documents Checklist (Express Entry, from India)
For an Express Entry profile you need a valid passport, an approved language test result and, for education outside Canada, an ECA. After an invitation you have 60 days to upload the rest: work reference letters, proof of funds if your program needs it, police certificates, a medical exam, photos and documents for family members. The personal checklist IRCC creates in your account is the final list for your application.
PrepEve coaches IELTS live online. Trainers find where you lose marks and fix it with you.
- For your profile
- Passport, language test result, ECA
- After an invitation
- 60 days to submit everything
- Police certificates
- From each country you lived in for 6+ months in a row since age 18
- Indian police certificate
- Passport office, embassy or consulate, BLS centre or district police
- Translations
- Certified translation for documents not in English or French
Documents to create your Express Entry profile
| Document | What to check |
|---|---|
| Passport | Valid, with your details entered exactly as printed |
| Language test result | An approved test, such as IELTS General Training, less than 2 years old |
| Educational credential assessment (ECA) | For education outside Canada; less than 5 years old |
| Provincial nomination | Only if you have one |
| Job offer | Only if you have one |
You do not upload documents to create a profile. You enter details from them, such as your test results and ECA reference number, so keep them ready and accurate.
Documents after an invitation to apply
After an invitation, you have 60 days to submit your full application. IRCC builds a personal document checklist in your account based on your answers. Most applicants from India need:
| Document | Notes |
|---|---|
| Passport | Copies of the pages IRCC asks for |
| Language test results and ECA | The same ones you used in your profile |
| Work reference letters | For every job you claim points for |
| Proof of funds | Bank letters, unless you are exempt |
| Police certificates | For each country where you spent 6+ months in a row since age 18 |
| Medical exam | From an IRCC-approved panel physician |
| Digital photo | To IRCC’s photo specifications |
| Marriage certificate or proof of common-law relationship | If you have a spouse or partner |
| Birth certificates | For dependent children |
| Certified translations | For any document not in English or French |
What should a work reference letter include?
For each job you claim, IRCC asks for a letter on company letterhead, signed by your supervisor or an HR officer, with the company’s address, phone number and email. It should show:
- your job title, duties and responsibilities;
- your dates of employment;
- your hours per week;
- your annual salary and benefits.
IRCC checks that you did the duties in the lead statement of the occupation code (NOC) you chose, and most of its main duties, so make sure your letter and profile describe the same work.
Police certificates from India
IRCC lists these ways to get an Indian police certificate: the passport office, the Indian embassy or consulate if you live abroad, a BLS International centre, or your district police. A character certificate is not accepted. Certificates can take time, so IRCC suggests requesting them as soon as your profile is in the pool. If one is delayed past your deadline, you can upload proof that you applied with a letter of explanation, but IRCC accepts this only in rare cases.
Medical exam
Your medical exam must be done by a panel physician approved by IRCC; an exam by your own doctor is not accepted. Follow the instructions IRCC gives you, and keep the confirmation the clinic gives you. IRCC usually needs medical exams for your family members too, including those not coming to Canada with you.
Documents for your spouse and children
Your spouse or partner and dependent children need passports, photos and medical exams, and family members aged 18 or older need police certificates. If your spouse took a language test or got an ECA to add points, include those results too.
Common document mistakes
- Reference letters without hours per week or salary.
- Names spelled differently across documents, with no explanation.
- A language test or ECA that expired before you applied.
- A missing police certificate from a country you lived in.
- Translations that are not certified.
Official sources
- Express Entry: documents (IRCC)
- Apply for permanent residence through Express Entry (IRCC)
- How to get a police certificate: India (IRCC)
- When to get a police certificate (IRCC)
- Express Entry: language test results (IRCC)
- Educational credential assessment (IRCC)
Frequently asked questions
What documents are required for Canada PR from India?
Is a police certificate needed for Canada PR from India?
Where do I get a police certificate in India for Canada?
What should an experience letter for Canada PR include?
How long do I have to upload documents after an ITA?
Do Indian documents need translation for Canada PR?
What PrepEve students say on Google
4.7★ from 300+ Google reviews
Start with the document that sets your score
Book a free PrepEve assessment class. A trainer checks your level in all four skills and plans your path to your CLB target.