An ITA, or Invitation to Apply, is an official document issued by the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to candidates who have been selected from the Express Entry pool to apply for permanent residence in Canada. It is a significant milestone in the immigration process.
When a candidate receives an ITA, it means that they have met the minimum eligibility requirements and have a high enough Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score to be invited to apply for permanent residence. The ITA provides the candidate with the opportunity to submit a complete application for permanent residence within a specified timeframe, usually 60 days.
Receiving an ITA does not guarantee permanent residence, but it is a crucial step towards that goal. Once a candidate receives an ITA, they must gather all the required documents, complete the application forms, and pay the necessary fees. The application is then submitted to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for further processing and assessment.
It’s important to note that the number of ITAs issued in each draw is limited, and the minimum CRS score required to receive an ITA can vary with each draw. Candidates with higher CRS scores have a better chance of receiving an ITA, but meeting the minimum eligibility requirements does not guarantee an invitation.