Post-ITA Document Checklist for Pakistan: From Invitation to COPR

Receiving your Invitation to Apply (ITA) is the moment everything accelerates. You have exactly 60 days from the date of the ITA to submit a complete PR application online through your IRCC portal. Submitting an incomplete application — missing documents, incorrect formats, or expired certificates — can result in refusal. For Pakistani applicants, several documents require lead time that can eat into that 60-day window.

Here is the complete document checklist, organized by category, with Pakistan-specific notes on each item.

Identity Documents

Principal applicant:

• Current passport (valid for at least 6 months beyond your expected COPR date — plan for it to be valid through the end of next year)
• All previous passports issued in the last 10 years
• CNIC (Computerized National Identity Card)
• Family Registration Certificate (FRC) — "By Marriage" type, issued by NADRA via the Pak-ID app or any NADRA center

Spouse/partner (if applicable):

• Passport (current and all previous from last 10 years)
• CNIC or NICOP
• Marriage certificate (Nikahnama) — attested by NADRA and, if issued at a Union Council, may require additional verification
• FRC "By Marriage" showing both spouses

Dependent children:

• Passport or B-Form (for those under 18 with no CNIC)
• Birth certificates
• FRC "By Birth" from NADRA

Pakistan naming note: If your legal name appears differently across documents (e.g., "Ahmad s/o Bashir" on your degree but "Ahmad Bashir" on your passport), prepare a "One and the Same Person" affidavit on stamp paper, notarized by a Notary Public, before submitting. Include a Letter of Explanation (LOE) in your application to preempt any IRCC query.

Language Test Results

Your IELTS or PTE Core results must be valid (IELTS expires 2 years from test date). Upload the official score letter — the result you received from the testing organization. If your results are expiring soon and you have already submitted your Express Entry profile, this is the window to retake if needed.

Educational Credential Assessment (ECA)

Your WES Report Number (the ECA reference number, format CA-XXXXXXXX) must have been entered into your Express Entry profile. At the application stage, upload the WES Report itself — the PDF document WES emails you after completing the assessment.

The WES ECA is valid for 5 years. If you received your WES report more than 5 years ago, it is no longer valid and you will need a new assessment — a complete restart of the HEC attestation and WES process.

Work Experience Documents

For each position you are claiming in your NOC category, you need:

Reference letter (preferred): On official company letterhead, signed by a supervisor or HR officer, including your job title, start and end dates, full-time or part-time status, hours per week, annual salary, and a description of main duties. The duties must align with the NOC code you have claimed.

If a formal reference letter is unavailable: A Statutory Declaration from a supervisor or colleague, executed on stamp paper and notarized, listing the same information. This must be combined with corroborating evidence — salary certificates, pay slips, bank statements showing regular salary deposits, and FBR tax returns showing income from the employment period.

For self-employed applicants: Business registration documents, NTN certificate, FBR returns showing income, and a statutory declaration from a client or business associate.

Additional work evidence:

• Employment contracts (start and any renewals)
• Pay slips (at least 3 months from each position)
• Bank statements showing salary deposits during employment

Police Character Certificates (PCC)

Required for every country where you have lived for 6 months or more since age 18. For Pakistan:

• Pakistan PCC from Police Khidmat Markaz (Punjab/ICT) or DPO (Sindh/KPK)
• Valid for 180 days from issue date
• All family members over 18 need individual PCCs

If you have lived in other countries (e.g., UAE, Saudi Arabia, UK, USA) for more than 6 months since age 18, you need PCCs from those countries as well. For UAE, the procedure involves the Abu Dhabi Police or Dubai Police depending on emirate; for Saudi Arabia, through the Ministry of Interior.

Timing critical: Request your Pakistan PCCs shortly after receiving your ITA. Do not request them months in advance — the 180-day validity may expire before your application is fully processed.

Proof of Funds

• Bank maintenance letter from each account you are using as proof of funds (see detailed requirements in the proof of funds article)
• Bank statements for the past 6 months for each account
• If using gifted funds: Gift Deed (executed on stamp paper, notarized) + donor's affidavit + bank transfer records

Medical Examination

Book your Immigration Medical Examination (IME) with an IRCC-approved IOM health center in Islamabad, Karachi, or Lahore immediately after receiving your ITA. IOM results transmit electronically to IRCC — you do not upload a document, but you do upload the medical instruction form from your IRCC portal.

Current fee: approximately 30,500 to 31,000 PKR per adult. Children under 15 have a different fee. Exam includes chest X-ray, blood tests (HIV and syphilis), urine analysis, and physical examination. Results typically take 1 to 2 weeks to reach IRCC.

Photos

Digital photographs meeting IRCC's specifications for each family member. These are uploaded directly into the online application — IRCC has specific pixel dimensions, background color (white), and facial coverage requirements. Use a professional photographer familiar with Canadian visa photo specifications.

Additional Documents

Application forms: Completed online through the IRCC portal. The main form is IMM 0008 (Generic Application Form for Canada). Additional forms depending on your situation:

• IMM 5669: Schedule A — Background/Declaration
• IMM 5406: Additional Family Information
• IMM 5562: Supplementary Information — Your Travels
• IMM 5476: Use of a Representative (if using a consultant)

Travel history: A complete record of all travel outside your country of residence in the past 10 years — destination, entry and exit dates, purpose.

Letters of Explanation (LOE): For any unusual circumstances — name discrepancies, gaps in employment or study, criminal history, previous visa refusals, or family members not included in the application.

What Is a COPR? (Confirmation of Permanent Residence)

The Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) is the document IRCC issues at the end of a successful PR application. It is not a PR card — it is the document that proves you have been granted permanent resident status.

When you receive your COPR, you will land in Canada as a permanent resident by presenting:

1. Your COPR document
2. Your valid passport
3. A valid PR visa (which is stamped into your passport separately, unless you are already in Canada)

What the COPR contains:

• Your full name and date of birth
• A unique Document Number (D.O. Number)
• The date of issue and expiry date of the COPR
• Your landing conditions (if any)
• Family members included in the same application

COPR validity: Your COPR has an expiry date. You must arrive in Canada before the COPR expires — typically the expiry date matches your medical exam's validity period. The medical exam is generally valid for 12 months from the exam date. If your COPR is about to expire and you have not yet landed, you can request an extension, but this is not guaranteed.

For Pakistani applicants: From the date of COPR issuance to your landing date, you have the validity window on your COPR. Security screening from Pakistan often adds months to the process, so your COPR expiry date may give you only a few months after receipt to arrange your landing. Once you receive the COPR, treat it as urgent and begin planning your arrival in Canada.

The 60-Day Window: Managing the Timeline

The most common post-ITA mistake is spending the first two weeks celebrating and then scrambling at day 50. Here is a realistic timeline for the 60-day window:

• Days 1–5: Book IME medical appointment. Request Pakistan PCCs from PKM or DPO. Begin collecting work experience documents.
• Days 5–15: Complete medical exam. Gather all identity documents and check passport validity. Request bank maintenance letters.
• Days 15–30: Confirm WES report is accessible and ECA number is correct in profile. Begin filling in application forms in IRCC portal.
• Days 30–45: Complete all document uploads. Review each form for completeness. Upload digital photos.
• Days 45–55: Final review of complete application package. Check for missing signatures, expired documents, or missing LOEs.
• Days 55–60: Submit. Keep a copy of the submission confirmation.

The Pakistan to Canada Express Entry Guide includes a printable post-ITA checklist organized by deadline, with specific notes for each document type, Pakistan-specific procurement steps, and what to do if a document is unavailable or delayed.

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