Documentation Guide (Express Entry - Federal Skilled Worker Program)

This Guide describes the documentation generally required in support of an immigration application
under the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) immigration program under Express Entry 2015. This Guide also
provides you with more information on how to use the Canadavisa Client Portal.
Please collect the documents outlined in this Guide. You must provide clear, legible copies of any
documents provided electronically. Any document that is not in English or French must be
accompanied by an original certified translation.
INTRODUCTION - WHAT IS EXPRESS ENTRY?
Express Entry (EE) is not a new immigration program. It is a new application management system
launched by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC). The EE system includes a multi-stage immigration
process. Stage one involves potential candidates making an expression of interest in immigrating to
Canada by uploading an electronic profile to CIC. The profiles of eligible candidates are placed into the
CIC pool, where they are ranked according to a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). Stage two
involves the government of Canada, provincial and territorial governments and Canadian employers
selecting Candidates from the CIC pool. Selected candidates will receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for a
Canadian permanent resident visa and will have only 60 days to submit a completed electronic
application and all supporting documents. No extensions will be granted.
In the first stage, only candidates who are eligible for one of Canada's economic immigration programs,
such as the FSW program, are eligible to enter the CIC pool of candidates. Entry to the CIC pool does not
guarantee issuance of an ITA for Canadian permanent residency.
When creating the EE profile, the language test results score must be entered. Language tests results are
valid for two (2) years. An Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) is also required in order to enter the
CIC pool under FSW program, unless you were educated in Canada.
A job offer from a Canadian employer is not a requirement to enter the CIC pool. If a candidate does not
have a job offer from a Canadian employer or a nomination from a Canadian province or territory, he or
she will be required to create a Job Seeker Account with the Government of Canada's Job Bank. The Job
Bank is an online job board that will help candidates get matched with employers in Canada.
In the second stage, all candidates in the CIC pool are ranked according to the CRS, which awards points
differently from how points are awarded under the FSW program. Under the CRS, points are awarded
for core human capital, skill transferability, and a qualifying job offer from a Canadian employer or a
nomination from a Canadian province or territory.
Core human capital includes factors such as age, education, language proficiency, and work experience,
and up to 500 points may be awarded. These individual factors are also considered in combination with
each other under the skill transferability calculation, which can give the candidate up to 100 additional
points. A provincial nomination or an arranged job offer is not required in order to enter the CIC pool or
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Documentation Guide (Express Entry - Federal Skilled Worker Program)

to be issued an invitation to apply. However, if a candidate is nominated by a province or receives an
offer of arranged employment, an additional 600 points are awarded.
In the third stage, candidates with the highest ranking CRS will receive an ITA, regardless of when they
were accepted into the CIC pool. According to CIC, draws for ITAs are expected to take place at regular
intervals over the course of the year. A candidate's rank is determined using the CRS. In other words, EE
will not select the first candidates to submit their application for permanent residence but the
candidates who obtain the highest CRS rank. In order to be able to apply for Canadian permanent
residency, a candidate must receive an ITA.
In the fourth stage, if an ITA for a Canadian permanent resident visa is received, the candidate will have
only sixty (60) days to submit a complete application for permanent residency to Canada. Invited
candidates must demonstrate that they meet eligibility and admissibility requirements under the
immigration laws of Canada. Candidates should be truthful in their self-declared EE profile and
application for permanent residency. If false information is provided the candidate could be found
inadmissible for misrepresentation and could be barred for five years from applying for permanent
resident status to Canada.
1.

EDUCATIONAL CREDENTIAL ASSESSMENT (ECA)

Document required:
You (as the principal applicant) must provide a copy of your ECA report.
Your spouse/common-law partner (if applicable) may provide a copy of his/her ECA report in
order to obtain additional CRS points.
The educational credential assessment (ECA) reports indicate an equivalency to a completed Canadian
secondary or post-secondary educational credential for any education credentials obtained outside of
Canada. For an educational credential obtained in Canada, you do not have to provide an ECA report.
Your ECA reference number and an electronic copy of your ECA report(s) will be required if you receive
an ITA.
To obtain an ECA report, you must contact one of the assessment organizations currently designated by
CIC:

World Education Services (http://www.wes.org/ca/fswp/)

Comparative Education Service (http://learn.utoronto.ca/internationalprofessionals/comparative-education-service-ces/ces-services/assessments-for-immigrationpurposes)
International Credential Assessment Service of Canada
(http://www.icascanada.ca/fsw/home.aspx)
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Documentation Guide (Express Entry - Federal Skilled Worker Program)

For physicians and pharmacists only:

Medical Council of Canada (http://mcc.ca/repository/educational-credential-assessment). If you

are a specialist physician (NOC 3111) or general practitioner/family physician (NOC 3112), you
MUST have your ECA done by the Medical Council of Canada. Applicants under other NOCs must
choose from the first three assessment organizations.
Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (http://www.pebc.ca/index.php/ci_id/3374/la_id/1.htm).
If you are a pharmacist (NOC 3131), you MUST have your ECA done by the Pharmacy Examining
Board of Canada. Applicants under other NOCs must choose from the first three assessment
organizations.

CIC will only accept ECA reports issued after April 17, 2013. If you obtained an ECA report before April
17, 2013, you will need to apply for a new report.
***Please note that CIC may amend the list of designated assessment organizations at any time.***
2.

PROOF OF LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY/LANGUAGE TEST RESULTS

Document required:
You (as the principal applicant) must provide electronic copies of language test results.
Your spouse/common-law partner (if applicable) may provide electronic copies of language
test results in order to obtain additional eligibility and CRS points.
In order to submit your Express Entry profile and get points under the CRS, you and spouse/commonlaw partner (if applicable) were required to obtain English or French language test results issued by
testing agency recognized by CIC. Electronic copies of valid language test results will also be required if
you receive an ITA.
Language test results will only be recognized by CIC if you wrote the language test not more than two (2)
years ago. Valid test results will be required BOTH when your Express Entry profile is submitted AND, if
you receive an ITA, when your complete immigration application is submitted to CIC. If your language
test results will expire within the next nine to six months, we strongly encourage you to schedule
another test date to re-write the language test.
ENGLISH TESTS:
If you and your spouse/common law partner (if applicable) are claiming points for English proficiency,
you must submit one of the following official test results:

International English Language Testing System (IELTS): General IELTS Test Results (Only the
GENERAL TEST results will be accepted; ACADEMIC results will NOT be accepted)

Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP): CELPIP General Test Results
(Only GENERAL TESTING results will be accepted)
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Documentation Guide (Express Entry - Federal Skilled Worker Program)

If you require new language test results, we recommend that you register for your English language test
as soon as possible. Information about testing centers, test dates, and more can be found on the
following websites:
www.ielts.org
http://www.celpiptest.ca/about-celpip-g/
Please upload your IELTS/CELPIP examination results to your Canadavisa Client Portal as soon as they
become available to you.
FRENCH TEST:
If you or your spouse/common-law partner (if applicable) are claiming points for French language ability,
you must provide official test results for the Test dEvaluation de Franais (TEF).
We recommend that you register for your French language test as soon as possible. Information about
testing centers, test dates, and more can be found on the following websites:

http://www.francais.cci-paris-idf.fr/trouver-un-des-centres-agrees-tef/. To find a testing center

you need to pick your country of residence in French from the drop-down menu, e.g. Etats-Unis
for USA.

You need to register for both parts of the TEF, the mandatory and the optional one. Please upload
your TEF examination results on the Client Portal as soon as they become available to you.
IMPORTANT: MINIMUM LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS
Currently, CIC requires FSW applicants to demonstrate that they have a minimum language ability in
either English or French. This means that the Principal Applicant will have to obtain the following
results in ONE of the following language tests in order to be eligible to submit an application:
IELTS: At least 6.0 in each of reading, writing, listening and speaking.
CELPIP: At least 4L in each of reading, writing, listening and speaking (if your results were issued
before April 1, 2014) OR at least 7 in each of reading, writing, listening and speaking (if your
results were issued on or after April 1, 2014).
TEF: At least 207 in reading, 310 in writing, 249 in listening and 310 in speaking.

IMPORTANT:

Up to five (5) additional eligibility points may be awarded if the spouse/common law partner
submits language testing results demonstrating high-intermediate ability in either French or
English. This is equivalent to the following test results:
o

IELTS: At least 4.0 in speaking, 4.5 in listening, 4.0 in writing and 3.5 in reading.
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Documentation Guide (Express Entry - Federal Skilled Worker Program)

o

CELPIP: At least 2H in each of speaking, listening, reading and writing (if your results
were issued before April 1, 2014) OR at least 4 in each of reading, writing, listening and
speaking (if your results were issued on or after April 1, 2014).
TEF: At least 181 in speaking, 145 in listening, 121 in reading and 181 in writing.

Up to four (4) additional eligibility points may be awarded if the Principal Applicant submits
language testing results demonstrating low-intermediate ability in a second official language.
This is equivalent to the following test results:
o
o

IELTS: At least 5.0 in speaking, listening and writing and 4.0 in reading.
CELPIP: At least 3L in each of speaking, listening, reading and writing (if your results
were issued before April 1, 2014) OR at least 5 in each of reading, writing, listening and
speaking (if your results were issued on or after April 1, 2014).
TEF: At least 226 in speaking, 181 in listening, 151 in reading and 226 in writing.

3.
ELECTRONIC AND ORIGINAL SIGNED FORMS
Document required:
You must provide all the information required to complete the government immigration
forms electronically.
You must provide original signed versions of the IMM 5476 Use of a Representative form and
the IMM 5475 Authority to Release Personal Information to a Designated Individual form.
We are currently working together to gather your personal information on our Canadavisa Client Portal
My Forms module. It is your responsibility to ensure that the information provided in your forms is
accurate and complete. The information you provide will be used to compile a list of required
documents specific to your file. It is your responsibility to ensure that your documents support the
information provided in your forms.
When using the Canadavisa My Forms Module, please remember to:
Enter all of your personal information as required in the forms;
Please make sure that all names are entered as they appear on the passport;
Leave blank any field in the form that does not apply to you;
Save your information frequently by pressing the SAVE DATA button;
Submit the form for review by pressing the SUBMIT FOR REVIEW button;
Click on the "i" button to view helpful information about each field.
Once you have provided all of the required information, we will review your forms and provide
feedback.
For the forms which need to be signed, we will issue the official completed CIC forms to you
online. Once the forms have been issued to you, you will need to use the My Forms module to print
the forms, sign them, and mail them to our office. Your Documentation Specialist will provide you with
detailed instructions about the signing the forms.
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Documentation Guide (Express Entry - Federal Skilled Worker Program)

***Please note that the required forms are subject to change. CIC may release new or additional
forms at any time. Your Documentation Specialist will advise you of any changes to the forms. ***
By completing and signing your forms, you are certifying that all information provided therein is
complete and true in all respects.
4.

PASSPORTS/PERMITS

Document required:
You must provide clear, legible electronic copies of your passports, visas and travel
documents.
PASSPORTS: Please provide electronic copies of the bio-data page(s) of valid passports for you, your
spouse/common law partner and all dependent children. Only regular passports are accepted (no
diplomatic, official, service or public affairs passports). You only need to provide the page(s) that
indicate:
The passport number;
Date and issue of expiry;
Photo, name, date and place of birth;
Pages showing any amendments in name, date of birth, expiration, etc.
VISAS/PERMITS: If you are living in a country other than the one in which you hold citizenship, you must
submit copies of:
Current or expired entry-exit stamps in your national passport;
Current or expired status documents (visas, residence permits, etc) indicating date of admission
and validity.
5.

IDENTITY AND CIVIL STATUS DOCUMENTS

Document required:
You must provide electronic copies of your identity and civil status documents.
For you, your spouse/common law partner, and all dependent children (whether they are accompanying
you or not), you will need to submit:

Birth certificates (these must be long form listing the names of both parents)
Adoption certificates (if applicable)
Marriage certificates (for all marriages)
Divorce/annulment certificates (for all former marriages)
Death certificates of former spouses/common law partners (if applicable)
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Documentation Guide (Express Entry - Federal Skilled Worker Program)

Legal documents showing name changes (if applicable)

National IDs/Family registry books (if applicable)

If you are unable to obtain any of the above documents, contact your Documentation Specialist
immediately. You may be asked to provide additional documents or a written explanation about why a
document is unavailable. Please note that it is your responsibility to provide sufficient evidence of your
identity and family relationships.
If you are in a common-law relationship (this means you have cohabited with an opposite- or same-sex
partner in a conjugal relationship for a period of at least one year), you must:

6.

Complete the form IMM 5409 Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union (to be provided by
your Documentation Specialist). You must submit the original form with your application.
In order to prove cohabitation for a period of at least one year, you must provide the following
documents listing both your and your partners names:
o Joint bank account statements;
o Leases;
o Utility bills, etc.

WORK EXPERIENCE DOCUMENTS

Document required:
You must provide electronic copies of your work experience documents.
Your and your spouses (if applicable) entire work history has to be supported by reference letters and
other relevant documentation confirming the employment history indicated in the application for
permanent residence to Canada. Both of you will need to provide electronic copies of all documents
supporting your work history for the past 10 years. Both of you will need to collect a reference letter for
each position that you have held during this period.
To get points for your work experience, you need to prove that you performed the actions described in
the lead statement and performed a substantial number of the main duties, including all of the
essential duties, as set out in the occupational descriptions of the National Occupational Classification
(NOC). Please consult the NOC website at
http://www5.hrsdc.gc.ca/NOC/English/NOC/2011/Welcome.aspx to verify that your reference letter
corresponds with the NOC description. If you have any questions, please ask your Documentation
Specialist.
Your documents must demonstrate that you performed the duties set out in the lead statement of the
occupational description of your NOC, including all the essential duties and most of the main duties
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Documentation Guide (Express Entry - Federal Skilled Worker Program)

listed. If you cannot demonstrate that your experience meets the description in the NOC, the
government of Canada may refuse your application.
Required format of work reference letter: A work reference letter must be dated and written on
company letterhead (with full company contact information, including address, telephone number and
email address) and contain the name, title and signature of the immediate supervisor or personnel
office at the company, as well as the companys official seal or stamp (if applicable). The letters must
contain ALL of the following information for each position held in the company:
o Exact start date (and end date if applicable);
o Job title;
o Job status (if current job)
o Number of hours you work(ed) per week;
o A DETAILED list of your everyday duties or responsibilities;
NOTE: Your duties should not be copied verbatim from the NOC website
o Your annual salary plus benefits;
If you or your spouse/common-law partner has worked in Canada for at least one (1) year in the last 10
years, you must provide the following documents for each position held:
o
o
o
o

Reference letter(s) in the above format;

T4 tax information slips;
Notices of Assessment (NOA) and Option C printouts issued by Canada Revenue Agency;
Copy of your work permit/employment authorization.

If you are self-employed, please note that self-declared main duties or affidavits are not acceptable
proof of work experience. You must provide the following documents:
o Articles of incorporation or other evidence of business ownership;
o Evidence of self employment income;
o Documentation from third party individuals indicating the service provided along with
payment details.
The documents mentioned above are MANDATORY. Failure to provide these documents may result in
the rejection or refusal of your application. As such, it is highly recommended that you comply with
the above instructions.
If you or your spouse cannot get a letter of reference for a position you held, or if your letter of
reference does not contain all of the above information, your application will be at high risk of refusal. In
lieu of a work reference letter, you will need to submit as many of the following additional documents as
possible. Every effort to submit a complete work reference letter should be made before submitting any
of the following:

Employment verification letter (a letter containing only minimum information confirming that
you work(ed) for the company and in what position, ideally with mention of the salary);
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Documentation Guide (Express Entry - Federal Skilled Worker Program)

Employment contract or appointment letter;

Employment offer letter;
Deputation letter (if your company transferred you from one country or subsidiary to the other);
Performance reviews;
Pay slips covering at least the first three and last three months of employment;
Bank statements showing deposit of salary;
Proof of income tax payment;
Reference letters from (former) supervisors, managers, HR representatives, or co-workers;
Reference letters from customers, clients or patients, as the case may be.

In addition to any of the above, please complete and sign a declaration explaining why you or your
spouse (if applicable) cannot obtain a work reference letter in the format required by CIC, and
detailing all required information listed above.
Please note that the entire work history of both you, as the principal applicant and your spouse or
common law partner (if applicable) has to be supported by reference letters and other relevant
documentation confirming the employment history indicated in the application for permanent residence
to Canada.
IMPORTANT: Keep in mind that in the absence of a reference letter, in the format requested by CIC, the
final decision as to whether or not your additional documents are adequate evidence of your work
experience will be at the full discretion of the immigration officer who assesses your application.

7.

EDUCATION DOCUMENTS

Document required:
You must provide copies of certificates, diplomas or degrees for each completed program of
study.
You must provide copies of your transcripts for each completed secondary and post-secondary
program of study.
You and your spouse/common-law partner (if applicable) must provide an original Educational
Credential Assessment (ECA) report. See Section 1 for more information.
Please gather copies of the following documents:

Transcripts (mark sheets) for all secondary and post-secondary degrees;

Diplomas for all secondary and post-secondary degrees. These include any high school,
university, college, vocational, technical, and professional programs.

IMPORTANT: You may be eligible for up to five (5) additional points on your application if you and/or
your spouse/common law partner previously studied full-time in Canada, in a program of at least two
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Documentation Guide (Express Entry - Federal Skilled Worker Program)

year duration at a secondary or post-secondary institution. If this applies to you, please provide proof of
successful completion of the required credits for two years of study.

8.

PROOF OF RELATIVE

Document required:
You must provide electronic copies of your proof of relative documents listed below.
You may be eligible for up to five (5) additional points if you or your spouse/partner have a relative in
Canada.
In order to obtain these points, the relative must meet the following characteristics:

Be your (or your spouse/partners) Mother, Father, Daughter, Son, Sister, Brother, Niece,
Nephew, Grandmother, Grandfather, Granddaughter, Grandson, Aunt or Uncle;

Be over 18 years of age;

Be currently residing in Canada;

Be a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident.

The following documents must be provided by your relative:

Proof of Status: Record of Landing, Confirmation of Permanent Residence (CoPR), Permanent

Residence card (both sides), Canadian passport, or citizenship card (both sides); AND

Proof of residency: Lease agreements, Notice of Assessment from the Canada Revenue Agency,
an employers letter, credit card statements, utility bills, or bank statements. These documents
must have been issued within the six months prior to the submission of your immigration
application; AND

Proof of familial relation: Birth certificate(s) and/or marriage certificate(s) establishing a family
relation.
o

9.

Example: if you are claiming points for your aunt on your mothers side, you must
provide a copy of your mothers birth certificate and your aunts birth certificate
showing a parent in common.

PROOF OF FUNDS

Document required:
You must provide electronic copies of your proof of all proof of funds documents listed below.
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Documentation Guide (Express Entry - Federal Skilled Worker Program)

You must show that you have enough money to support yourself and your family members after you
arrive in Canada. The amount of money you need to support your family is determined by the size of
your family:
Number of
Family Members

Funds Required
(in Canadian dollars)

$11,931

$14,853

$18,260

$22,170

$25,145

$28,359

7 or more

$31,574

NOTE: these amounts are updated every year.

The funds should be in your name or your spouse/common-law partners name. You must provide proof
that your funds are liquid, transferable and unencumbered (i.e. free of debt). Please obtain the following
documents:

Official letter(s) from financial institutions listing all current bank and investment accounts, as
well as outstanding debts such as credit cards and loans. These letters must be printed on the
letterhead of the financial institution and must include the following:
o
o
o
o
o
o

your name (or your spouse/common-law partners name)

the contact information of the financial institution (address, telephone number and
email address)
the account numbers
the dates when each account was opened
the current balance of each account
the average balance for the six month period prior to the submission of your
application; AND

Bank statements showing a savings balance (we recommend that you provide at least 6 months
of bank statements); AND

Evidence of fixed or time deposit statements.

IMPORTANT: The source of any large deposits must be clearly explained and documented to show that
the funds are yours. You cannot borrow money to fulfill the requirement for proof of funds.
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Automobiles, land evaluations, jewelry and private stocks & bonds will not be accepted as proof of
funds.
If you have any difficulties in establishing your proof of funds, please contact your Documentation
Specialist immediately.
10.

MEDICAL EXAMINATION CONFIRMATION

Document required:
You must provide electronic copies the medical examination confirmation.
****IMPORTANT: Medical exam results are only valid for a period of one (1) year. For this reason, we
encourage you to only undergo medical exams AFTER you have received an Invitation to Apply.****
You, your spouse/common-law partner, and your dependent children must each undergo an
immigration medical examination. The examination must be conducted by a doctor authorized by CIC to
conduct immigration medical examinations. This authorized doctor is called a panel physician. Please
use the following website to find a panel physician in your area: http://www.cic.gc.ca/pp-md/pplist.aspx.
You must ask the panel physician to conduct an Upfront Medical and inform him/her that you do not
have an Immigration Medical Examination (IME) number yet. The panel physician will do a complete
medical exam, which may include a physical examination, a mental examination, a review of your past
medical history and records, a chest x-ray, as well as other laboratory and diagnostic tests.
Once your exam is completed, the physician will send the results to CIC. The physician will give you one
of the following documents as written confirmation that your medical exam was completed (your
confirmation should include your Immigration Medical Examination (IME) number):
o
o

an information printout sheet; OR

a copy of the IMM 1017B Upfront Medical Report form.

Note: It is important that you tell the panel physician about any previous or existing medical conditions.
Processing your medical exam could take longer if you do not inform the panel physician of prior
conditions.
11.

POLICE CLEARANCE CERTIFICATES

Document required:
You must provide police clearance certificates.
Police clearances must be submitted for all family members over 18 years of age, including you, your
spouse/common-law partner (if applicable), and any children aged 18 or older.
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Police clearances must be obtained from every country in which the person has resided for more than
six (6) months since the age of 18.
Police clearances may take several weeks to obtain. Please consult CICs website at
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/security/police-cert/index.asp for specific information on
how to obtain police certificates from different countries. Police clearances from Canada are not
needed unless specifically requested by the Visa Office.
If you have any difficulties in obtaining information about police clearance certificates, contact your
Documentation Specialist immediately.
**IMPORTANT: Police clearances are only valid for immigration purposes for a period of 3 months. **

12.

PHOTOS

Document required:
You must provide digital photos of each of you, your spouse/common law partner, and each
dependent child.
The digital photos must have been taken by a professional photographer within the six (6) months prior
to the date of submission of your application. Please upload your photos on the Canadavisa Client Portal
for review.
The photos must meet the following requirements:

show a full front view of the persons head and shoulders showing full face centered in the
middle of the photograph;
have a plain white background;
be taken with uniform lighting and should not show shadows or flash reflection on the face;
eyes must be clearly visible through prescription glasses.

The photos must:

measure between 25 mm and 30 mm (1and 1 3/8) from chin to crown;

have a 35 mm x 45 mm (1 3/8 x 1 3/4) finished size.

Please provide the following diagram to the photographer:

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13.

FEE PAYMENT

There are two (2) types of fees, which must be submitted with your application:
Government Processing Fees must be paid when your immigration application is submitted to
CIC:
Family member

Processing fee

Principal applicant

550 CAD

Spouse or common-law partner

550 CAD

Each dependent child under 19, unmarried and

not in a common-law relationship

150 CAD

Each dependent child who is 19 years of age or

older and who has a physical or mental
condition causing the child to be unable to
financially self-support and to depend
substantially on the financial support of the
parent since before the age of 19.

150 CAD

Right of Permanent Residence Fee may be paid when your immigration application is submitted
to CIC OR before your permanent residence visa is finalized:
Family member

Processing fee

Principal applicant

490 CAD

Spouse or common-law partner

490 CAD

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Documentation Guide (Express Entry - Federal Skilled Worker Program)

Family member

Processing fee

Dependent children

No fee.

OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION

***Please note that the above list is not exhaustive and may be subject to change by Citizenship and
Immigration Canada without prior notice. ***
Please begin collecting your documents but do not send any paper copies of your documentation to our
office. CIC will is now only accepting electronic immigration applications under the Federal Skilled
Worker category. For this reason, we ask that you upload scanned or electronic copies of your required
documents via the Documents Checklist module of the Canadavisa Client Portal. However, it is important
that you keep your paper documents, as these may be requested later in the process.
To upload your documents, please login to your Canadavisa Client Portal at
https://trackit.canadavisa.com and click on the Documents Checklist module.
More detailed instructions about uploading your documents can be found in the section below entitled
Your Guide to the Canadavisa Client Portal.
Please note: If you are unable to provide any of the requested documentation, kindly include with your
application a written explanation with full details. Failure to obtain any of the document(s) may result in
the refusal of your application. This decision remains at the sole discretion of the CIC officer who reviews
your application; therefore, we advise you to make every effort to comply with CIC requirements.
Any document that is not in English or French must be accompanied by an ORIGINAL Certified
Translation.

YOUR DEPENDENT CHILDREN CHANGE IN AGE OF ELIGIBLE DEPENDENTS

Please note that Citizenship and Immigration Canada recently changed its definition of dependent
child. Since August 1, 2014, only the following persons will be considered dependent children who can
be included in your application for permanent residence:
1. A child who is less than 19 years of age and who is not married or in a common-law relationship;
or
2. A child who is 19 years of age or older and who has a physical or mental condition which causes
the child to be unable to support himself financially and to depend substantially on the financial
support of the parent since before the age of 19.
The age of a child will only be assessed and locked-in on the date that a complete application for
permanent residence is received by CIC (if you receive an Invitation to Apply).
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Please note that only AGE is locked-in. The other elements (ie. not married/common-law OR
financially dependent on parents due to physical/mental condition) must be satisfied BOTH at the
beginning AND the end of processing.

YOUR GUIDE TO THE CANADAVISA CLIENT PORTAL

We have designed Canadavisa Client Portal to assist you with completing your application forms and
collecting the required supporting documents.
Please note that it is your responsibility to login to the Canadavisa Client Portal frequently to verify if any
you have received any updates or comments from your Documentation Specialist on the Portal. You will
not receive reminders to log into the Portal. Failure to login to your Portal to receive your updates may
result in delays in the preparation of your application.
Please find below instructions for the following modules in the portal:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

MY FORMS
MY LANGUAGE TESTS
NOC CONFIRMATION
DOCUMENTS CHECKLIST
MY JOBS LISTING

1. MY FORMS - USING THE FORM BUILDER MODULE

In the My Forms module, you will be presented with a list of forms to fill out. Please fill out EACH form
and be sure to complete ALL tabs of each form.. After filling out the form, you can submit them on the
portal for review. Your Documentation Specialist will then provide you with feedback. The feedback will
be provided under Messages and within the forms in the help fields denoted by question marks. See
examples below:

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Please remember to:

Enter all of your personal information as indicated in the forms;

Please leave blank any field in the form that does not apply to you;
Save your information frequently by pressing the SAVE DATA button;
Submit the form for review by pressing the SUBMIT FOR REVIEW button;
Click on the "i" button to view helpful information about each field.

Once you have provided all of the required information, we will review, finalize, and issue completed CIC
forms to you. Once the forms have been issued to you, you will need to use the My Forms module to
print out the forms and send your signed original application forms. Your Documentation Specialist will
provide you with detailed instructions about the signing the forms at that time.

2. MY LANGUAGE TESTS - INSTRUCTIONS FOR TRACKING YOUR LANGUAGE TEST RESULTS

The Canadavisa Client Portal keeps track of your language testing dates and results so that we can better
prepare for the submission of your application. Please complete the following steps:
Click on My Language Tests.
List the test(s) that you have registered for and provide your test date(s). If you have already
received your test results, please also provide your scores for review.
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If you have not yet written your language test(s), please enter your results once you receive
them.

Please do not delay this important part of the application process.

3. NOC CONFIRMATION - INSTRUCTIONS FOR VERIFYING YOUR NOC CODES

The Canadavisa Client Portal also provides an interactive module to verify whether you have chosen the
appropriate National Occupational Classification (NOC) code when completing Schedule 3 of your forms.
When your immigration application is assessed by a visa officer, you will earn points for work experience
if you can demonstrate (by submitting work reference letters for you and your spouse, if applicable) that
you performed the lead statement and a substantial number of the main duties listed in each NOC code
that you have chosen.
In order to verify that you have chosen the appropriate NOC codes, please click on NOC
Confirmation. Please follow the instructions in the portal to complete your NOC confirmation forms.

4. DOCUMENTS CHECKLIST - INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETING YOUR DOCUMENT CHECKLIST

The Documents Checklist module provides you with a list of documents to be submitted for review.
Please remember that this is an interactive checklist - the list of required documents may change if you
modify or update your forms. To begin:
Click on Documents Checklist. NOTE: Your checklist will only be created AFTER you complete
your forms.
Upload each document individually for each person included in your application. If your
documents are not in French or English, please provide the certified translation along with the
original document.
Once your documents have been uploaded, your Documentation Specialist will review them and provide
you with feedback directly in the Documents Checklist module. Please see an example below:

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Please DO NOT mail any documents to our office until you are instructed to do so.
5. MY JOBS LISTINGS - SETTING UP YOUR CANADIAN JOB-SEARCH TOOL
We will be providing you with up to 50 Canadian job openings in your field of activity each month. After
you register on our on-line portal you will also be able to access your job-search tool. In order to enable
your job-search tool please follow the instructions below:

After logging in to the Canadavisa Client Portal please click MY JOB LISTINGS icon;
Click MY PREFERRED JOB TITLE tab;
Step 1: Please enter a descriptive keyword for your preferred job in Canada and click on SEARCH
button;
Step 2: Chose your preferred job title from the list;
Step 3: Press SAVE button to save the preferred job title you have chosen.

After you have saved the job title that you have chosen you will receive a list of matching job openings.
This list will be refreshed every thirty (30) days. You may choose to change your job title preference
once every thirty (30) days. In order to do so, please follow the same steps indicated above.
In the event that you obtain a job offer from a Canadian employer please inform me immediately as this
may have a significant impact on your application.
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***********************************************************************************
If you have any questions, please contact your Documentation Specialist at Campbell Cohen.

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