Maple News reports that once an Express Entry candidate receives an invitation to apply, they must submit a complete permanent residence application within 60 days, with all required documents. A common bottleneck is police certificates for every country you have lived in for six months or more since turning 18, with the exception of Canada.
The processing time for police certificates varies by country—some authorities issue them in days, others in months. Because of this wide disparity, the best strategy is to start the police-clearance process as soon as you enter the Express Entry pool.
IRCC requires police certificates to help determine whether an applicant has a criminal record that could render them inadmissible to Canada. Given potential delays, starting these requests early and planning for longer processing times is essential.
If you are unable to obtain a police certificate within the 60-day window, there is support available. IRCC acknowledges this is a common hurdle and has measures to assist. In such cases, candidates must provide two items: evidence of your attempts to obtain the police certificates and a clear plan for how you will secure them, along with any interim documentation you can provide.
To reduce risk, gather other essential documents in parallel while the police checks are in process, set reminders for each country’s authorities, and consider seeking guidance from an immigration professional if needed. Being proactive can help you stay on track even when the police-clearance timeline is uncertain.
Maple News will continue to monitor policy updates and share practical tips for Express Entry applicants to navigate the ITA deadline more smoothly.