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Canada Permanent Residency (PR) — Complete Document Checklist 2026

The most comprehensive checklist for Express Entry (Federal Skilled Worker, CEC, FST), PNP-aligned, and all other Canada PR streams.

Identity & Civil Status Documents Education Credentials Language Test Results Work Experience Documentation Proof of Funds (Settlement Funds)Police Clearance & Security Medical Examination Provincial Nomination (if PNP stream)Canadian Work / Study Experience (if CEC or applicable)Additional Forms & Declarations

Identity & Civil Status Documents

Valid passport — all pages including blank ones (bio page, stamps, endorsements)
Previous / expired passports (all pages scanned)
National identity card (Aadhaar card for India, CNIC for Pakistan, NID for Bangladesh)
PAN card (India applicants)
Birth certificate — government-issued long-form version
Birth certificate translations (if not in English or French)
Marriage certificate — government-issued, registered
Marriage certificate translation by certified translator
Marriage registration proof (Nikah Nama, church certificate, court registration)
Divorce decree absolute / final order (if previously married)
Death certificate of former spouse (if applicable)
Annulment decree (if applicable)
Legal separation agreement (if applicable)
Common-law statutory declaration (IMM 5409) signed by both partners
Proof of common-law relationship — joint lease, bills, bank accounts, photos over 12+ months
Children's birth certificates (all dependent children)
Adoption papers / court orders (if applicable)
Legal name change certificate / deed poll (if name differs across documents)
Gender marker change documents (if applicable)
2 passport-size photographs per applicant (35mm × 45mm, white background, IRCC specs)

Education Credentials

Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report from WES, IQAS, ICAS, WES, CES, or MCC
Original ECA application confirmation and tracking number
Bachelor's degree certificate / diploma
Master's degree certificate (if applicable)
PhD degree / doctorate certificate (if applicable)
All post-secondary transcripts — semester-wise with grading scale
Secondary school (Class 10 / O-Level) certificate and marksheet
Higher secondary (Class 12 / A-Level) certificate and marksheet
Diploma certificates (polytechnic, vocational, trade)
Professional designations — CA, CPA, P.Eng, RN, MD (with issuing body letter)
Apprenticeship completion certificates
Trade certification / Red Seal endorsement (for skilled trades)
Course completion certificates for specialized training
Continuing education / professional development certificates
Verified copies sent directly by institutions to ECA body
Medium of instruction letter from university (proving English/French instruction)

Language Test Results

IELTS General Training — official Test Report Form (TRF), valid within 2 years of ITA
CELPIP General — score report (alternative to IELTS for English)
PTE Core — score report (accepted since late 2023)
TEF Canada — score report (for French proficiency)
TCF Canada — score report (French alternative)
Second language test results (if claiming additional points for English + French)
Test centre confirmation / booking receipt
Score verification receipt (if scores were re-evaluated)

Work Experience Documentation

Detailed reference letters from ALL employers claimed in profile — must include: company letterhead, supervisor name & title, job title, duties (matching NOC), hours/week, dates of employment, salary/wages, contact info
Employment contracts / offer letters for each position
Pay stubs — last 6 months for current job, representative stubs for past jobs
Salary slips / wage statements
T4 slips (Canada) / Form 16 & Form 26AS (India) / W-2 (USA) / P60 (UK) for last 3+ years
Income tax returns / assessment notices — last 3 years minimum
Employer registration / incorporation proof (especially for self-employed or small companies)
Business registration documents (if self-employed)
Client contracts and invoices (if freelancer / self-employed)
Professional portfolio or published work (for creative / tech roles)
Promotion letters / internal transfer letters showing career progression
Termination / resignation letters (to verify employment end dates)
Social insurance / provident fund statements showing employer contributions (EPF for India, CPP for Canada)
LinkedIn profile printout (supplementary — not primary evidence)
Resume / CV — detailed, NOC-aligned, covering full work history
Letter from HR confirming employment details (if reference letter unavailable)
Board resolutions or AGM minutes (if company director / shareholder)

Proof of Funds (Settlement Funds)

Bank statements — last 6 months from ALL accounts (savings, current, NRE/NRO)
Bank balance certificate / letter from bank manager (dated within 1 week of submission)
Fixed deposit certificates with maturity value
Recurring deposit statements
Mutual fund / investment portfolio valuation statements
Stock / equity holdings statement from depository (CDSL/NSDL for India)
Real estate valuation (generally not accepted as primary proof — supplementary only)
Gold / precious metals holdings (supplementary only)
PPF / EPF balance statement (India)
RRSP / TFSA statements (if already in Canada)
Foreign currency accounts — converted to CAD at current rates
Gift deed with donor's bank statements (if funds are gifted)
Loan sanction letter (generally NOT accepted — funds must be unencumbered and available)
Proof that funds are transferable and available (not locked in long-term instruments)
Minimum funds per IRCC: single = CAD 14,690; couple = CAD 18,288; family of 3 = CAD 22,483; family of 4 = CAD 27,297 (check IRCC for 2026 updates)

Police Clearance & Security

Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) from EVERY country where you lived 6+ months since age 18
India PCC — from Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) via regional passport office
USA FBI clearance — via approved channeler or FBI directly
UK ACRO certificate / DBS check
UAE PCC — from Dubai or Abu Dhabi police
Canada RCMP criminal record check (if currently in Canada)
Local police verification certificate (some countries require this first)
Court records / case disposition (if any criminal charges — even dismissed)
Rehabilitation documents (if applicable, for DUI or other offenses)
Military service records / discharge certificate (if served in armed forces)

Medical Examination

Immigration Medical Examination (IME) from IRCC panel physician
Upfront medical results (recommended to complete before or right after ITA)
Chest X-ray results (included in IME)
Blood test / urinalysis results (included in IME)
Vaccination records — proof of routine immunizations
TB test results (if flagged)
Medical history declaration (HIV, hepatitis, TB, etc.)
Specialist reports (if panel physician refers for further assessment)
Pregnancy-related documents (if applicable at time of medical)
Child immunization records (for dependent children)

Provincial Nomination (if PNP stream)

Provincial Nomination Certificate (official nomination letter)
PNP application acknowledgement / file number
Employer's LMIA or job offer supporting the nomination
Settlement plan / intent to reside in nominating province
Connection to province evidence — prior work, study, family

Canadian Work / Study Experience (if CEC or applicable)

Canadian work permits — all current and expired
Canadian study permits — all current and expired
Canadian employer reference letters
Canadian pay stubs and T4s
Canadian educational transcripts and diplomas
PGWP (Post-Graduation Work Permit) if applicable
LMIA-approved job offer letter (if claiming arranged employment points)

Additional Forms & Declarations

Generic Application Form for Canada (IMM 0008)
Schedule A — Background Declaration (IMM 5669)
Additional Family Information (IMM 5406)
Supplementary Information — Your Travels (IMM 5562)
Use of a Representative form (IMM 5476) — if using RCIC or lawyer
Authority to Release Personal Information (IMM 5475) — if designating someone
Statutory declaration of common-law union (IMM 5409)
Separation declaration (if applicable)
Digital photograph specifications compliance
Fees payment receipt — processing fee + biometrics fee + RPRF (Right of PR fee)
Biometrics instruction letter and completion confirmation
Consent form for children (for biometrics)

Pro Tips

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Start ECA 3–4 months before you plan to create your Express Entry profile — WES takes 4–8 weeks after documents arrive

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IELTS CLB 7 (6.0 in each band) is the minimum for FSW, but CLB 9+ (L8/R7/W7/S7) gives maximum CRS points

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Bank statements must show a CONSISTENT balance — a sudden lump-sum deposit before applying raises red flags and may be questioned

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ALL documents not in English or French must be accompanied by a certified translation AND the original-language document

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Reference letters are the #1 cause of refusals — ensure they match your NOC code duties word-for-word

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PCC from India takes 3–21 days via PSK — apply early as police verification can cause delays

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Complete your medical exam upfront (before ITA) to save 30–60 days of processing time

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Keep all documents in both physical and high-resolution digital (300 DPI+) scanned format

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If self-employed, prepare client contracts + invoices + bank deposits matching your claimed income

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Arrange a NOC code validation with a licensed RCIC before submitting — incorrect NOC is a common rejection reason

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