The Express Entry Timeline, Explained: ITA to Final Decision

Express Entry processing can feel like a black box because the milestones aren't always explained in order, or in plain language. Here's the sequence most applicants go through, stage by stage.

1. ITA: Invitation to Apply

You're invited to apply for permanent residence based on your CRS score in a specific draw. You typically have 60 days to submit a complete application after receiving it.

2. AOR: Acknowledgment of Receipt

IRCC confirms your application was received and is considered submitted. This is the date most official processing-time clocks start counting from.

3. Biometrics and medical exam

You'll get a Biometrics Instruction Letter (BIL) and complete a medical exam with an approved panel physician. These can happen in parallel and don't need to wait on each other.

4. Background and eligibility review

IRCC verifies your eligibility and runs background/security checks. This stage has the least visible progress. It's normal for there to be a long quiet period here with no status updates.

5. ADR (if applicable)

Not everyone gets one. If IRCC needs a document you didn't include or that's since expired, they'll request it here; see our dedicated explainer on ADRs.

6. FD: Final Decision

Your application is approved. From here, inland applicants move toward eCOPR; outland applicants typically also go through landing. See our eCOPR-to-PR-card explainer for what comes next.

Every one of these stages varies in length by stream, category, and individual case complexity, which is exactly what a personalized, confidence-ranged prediction is for rather than a single generic average.