Canada
Express Entry Document Checklist
The required and optional documents for a Express Entry application to Canada, organized to build your case file with confidence.
- 8
- documents
- 7
- required
- 1
- optional
Required documents7
Valid Passport
A valid passport with at least 6 months validity
Birth Certificate
Official birth certificate with translation if not in English/French
Police Clearance Certificate
Police clearance from all countries lived in for 6+ months since age 18
Language Test Results
IELTS, CELPIP, or TEF test results (must be less than 2 years old)
Educational Diplomas/Degrees
All diplomas, degrees, and certificates with official transcripts
Educational Credential Assessment (ECA)
ECA report from designated organization (WES, IQAS, ICAS, etc.)
Employment Reference Letters
Reference letters from all employers with job duties, dates, and salary
Optional or situational1
Pay Stubs/Salary Slips
Recent pay stubs or salary slips from current/previous employers
Note: This is general document guidance for organizing your case file, not legal advice. Document requirements change; always verify the current list against the official government source before you submit.
Save this checklist to your case file
Create a free account to track each document's status: pending, uploaded, or verified.
Save my checklistFrequently asked questions
- What documents do I need for Express Entry (Canada)?
- This checklist lists 8 document types for the Express Entry case file — 7 required and 1 optional or situational. The full list, with what each item means, is below.
- How many documents are required vs optional for Express Entry?
- 7 of the 8 listed document types are required; 1 is optional or apply only in certain cases.
- Can I track my Express Entry documents in one place?
- Yes — save this checklist to your Hijraah case file to mark each document pending, uploaded, or verified as you gather it.