Canada PR Documents Checklist 2026 — Express Entry & PNP Complete List

You have your ITA. Now you have 60 days to submit a complete PR application or you lose your invitation. This is the exact document checklist for Express Entry 2026 — every certificate, scan, and form you need, in the right format, so nothing gets flagged as incomplete.

After you receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) through Express Entry, the clock starts. You have exactly 60 days to submit a complete permanent residency application. IRCC does not grant extensions for missing documents except in very limited circumstances. An incomplete application is returned — and you lose the ITA.

This checklist covers every document required for a Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) or Canadian Experience Class (CEC) Express Entry application from Pakistan. PNP (Provincial Nominee Program) additions are noted separately.

Before You Start — The Format Rules

IRCC has specific requirements for every document. Ignoring these is the fastest way to get your application returned or flagged.

Digital document requirements:
All documents must be scanned clearly — every page visible, no cut-off edges. Minimum resolution: 300 DPI. Accepted formats: JPEG, PNG, PDF, TIFF. Maximum file size: 4MB per file. Multiple-page documents must be combined into a single PDF.

Translation requirements:
Any document not in English or French must be accompanied by: a certified translation into English or French AND a copy of the original document. The translator must provide a signed statement that the translation is accurate and a copy of their translator certification. Machine translations (Google Translate) are not accepted.

Certified true copies: For documents you cannot provide originals of (educational credentials, birth certificates), a notary or commissioner of oaths must certify each copy.

Naming your files: IRCC recommends naming files descriptively — "Passport_Main_Applicant.pdf", "ECA_WES_Education.pdf" — rather than file numbers. This speeds up processing and reduces confusion if you need to respond to a request for more information.

Section 1 — Identity Documents

Passport

Required: All pages of your current passport — every page including blank pages, cover, back cover. If your passport was issued within the last 10 years and has expired, include all pages of that passport too. Any previous passports used for international travel in the past 10 years must also be included in full.

National Identity Documents

Pakistani National Identity Card (CNIC) — front and back. This is required as a supplementary identity document.

Photographs

Two identical passport-sized photos (35mm x 45mm). White background. Face clearly visible. Taken within the past 6 months. Your name and date of birth must be written on the back of physical photos (for in-person submission). For online submission, a digital scan of a printed photograph is uploaded.

Section 2 — Civil Status Documents

Birth Certificate

Your original birth certificate issued by NADRA or the relevant Pakistani civil registration authority. If issued in Urdu, include a certified English translation.

Marriage Certificate (if applicable)

Original marriage certificate (Nikah Nama). If the certificate is in Urdu or Sindhi, include a certified English translation. For court-registered marriages: the court registration certificate. For marriages performed abroad: the marriage certificate issued by the relevant authority in that country.

Divorce Certificate or Death Certificate of Former Spouse (if applicable)

If either you or your spouse were previously married: original divorce decree (certified by the relevant court) or death certificate of the deceased spouse, with certified English translation.

Children's Birth Certificates (for all dependent children included in the application)

Birth certificate for each child under 22 being included. If any child was adopted: the court order or adoption decree.

Section 3 — Police Clearance Certificates

This is the most time-consuming section to prepare. Start gathering police clearances the moment you receive your ITA — do not wait.

Pakistan — National Police Character Certificate

Issued by the Pakistan Police or National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA). Required for yourself and your spouse (if included). Processing time: 2–6 weeks from application. Apply at your local police station or through NADRA's e-Sahulat centres.

Important: The police clearance must be recent — issued within 3 months of your PR application submission. If your clearance expires before you submit, you must get a new one.

Police Clearance for Every Country Where You Lived for 6+ Months After Age 18

This includes any country other than Pakistan. If you worked in the UAE for 2 years, you need a UAE police clearance. If you studied in the UK for 1 year, you need a UK police clearance.

UAE police clearance from abroad: Apply through the UAE embassy in your current country or through the UAE Ministry of Interior's online service if you are still registered there. Processing: 2–4 weeks.

UK police clearance (ACRO): Apply online at acro.police.uk. Processing: 10–15 business days. Fee: £55.

Saudi Arabia: Apply through the Ministry of Interior's Absher platform if you have access, or through the Saudi Embassy. Processing varies.

For CEC Applicants (with Canadian Work Experience)

You do not need a Canadian police clearance if you have never been convicted of a crime in Canada. IRCC checks Canadian criminal records directly.

Section 4 — Educational Credentials

Educational Credential Assessment (ECA)

If you claimed points for a foreign degree (Pakistani degree), you must include your ECA from a Designated Credential Assessment body. The most commonly used for Pakistani applicants is WES (World Education Services).

WES documents required in advance: Official transcripts sent directly from your Pakistani university to WES (not through you). Degree certificate. IBCC equivalency certificate for your HSC and SSC (WES requires this for Pakistani secondary credentials).

Processing time: 7 business days for WES Premium (recommended — costs approximately $325 CAD). Standard service is 65 business days. Start your WES application as soon as you enter the Express Entry pool — do not wait for an ITA.

Degree Certificates

Original degree certificates for every post-secondary credential you claimed in your Express Entry profile. With certified English translation if in Urdu.

Academic Transcripts

Official transcripts for each university attended. Must show all courses, grades, and grading scale.

Section 5 — Language Test Results

IELTS (or equivalent)

Your original IELTS Test Report Form. IRCC requires the original — not a photocopy or screenshot. If you lost your original, request a replacement from British Council or IDP.

IELTS results are valid for 2 years from the test date. If your results are more than 2 years old at the time of PR application submission, they cannot be used and you must retest.

For French proficiency (if claimed): TEF Canada or TCF Canada results.

For Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) mapping: Include the CLB equivalency printout from language-benchmark.ca — IRCC officers use this to verify your claimed CLB levels.

Section 6 — Work Experience Documents

This section is the most commonly flagged for incompleteness.

For Each Job Claimed in Your Express Entry Profile (10 years back)

Employment reference letters — one letter per employer. Each letter must be on official company letterhead and include: company name and address, your full name, your job title(s), dates of employment (start and end), number of hours worked per week, your main duties and responsibilities, your salary (annual and/or hourly), and the signature of your supervisor or HR manager with their name, title, and contact details.

Payslips or salary certificates — at least 3–6 recent payslips per employer showing your name, employer name, salary amount, and deduction breakdown. Alternatively, a salary certificate from your HR department.

Employment contracts — original signed employment contracts for each employer.

Tax documents — if you paid Pakistani income tax: your tax filing records (FBR income tax returns) for the claimed work period. Not mandatory but strongly supports the employment evidence.

For self-employment or business ownership: Business registration documents, audited financial statements for at least 2 years, bank statements showing business revenue, and a statutory declaration describing your role and duties.

For Canadian Work Experience (CEC Applicants)

T4 slips (Canadian tax documents) for each year of Canadian employment. ROE (Record of Employment) from each Canadian employer. The same reference letter requirements apply.

Section 7 — Proof of Funds (FSWP Only)

CEC applicants do not need to show settlement funds. FSWP applicants do.

Required amount (2026):

Evidence required: Official bank statements (last 4 months) from all bank accounts — personal, savings, fixed deposits. The statements must be official printouts on bank letterhead or stamped by the branch, not online screenshots. The total across all accounts must meet the minimum requirement consistently throughout the period.

Unacceptable: Funds borrowed from family transferred shortly before the statement period. Property valuations, car values, or pension projections.

Section 8 — Medical Examination

Timing: IRCC will send you an instruction letter listing approved Panel Physicians in Pakistan after you submit your PR application. Do not get your medical done before receiving these instructions — IRCC will not accept medical examinations done outside this specific process.

Approved Panel Physicians in Pakistan (as of 2026):
Karachi: Dr. Khurram Naqvi (CIBTvisas partner clinic). Lahore: CIBTvisas designated clinic. Islamabad: IRCC-designated clinic — check the IRCC website for current approved physicians.

Medical examination includes: Physical examination, chest X-ray, blood test (HIV, syphilis). Results are submitted directly to IRCC by the physician — you do not handle medical documents yourself.

Cost: Approximately PKR 25,000–40,000 per adult, less for children.

PNP (Provincial Nomination) Additional Documents

If your Express Entry profile includes a provincial nomination, also include:

Provincial nomination certificate — issued by the province. Provincial application documents as required by the specific province (some provinces require submission of original paper documents for their nominees — confirm with your PNP case manager).

Common Reasons Applications Are Returned or Delayed

Incomplete police clearance — missing a clearance for a country where you lived for 6+ months after age 18.
Expired language test — IELTS results older than 2 years at time of submission.
Missing employment reference letter — one employer not providing a letter meeting IRCC's format requirements.
WES not yet completed — education assessment still processing when ITA is received.
Settlement funds insufficient or inconsistent — funds appeared suddenly without consistent history.
Unsigned forms — IRCC forms require wet signatures (or digital signatures if using the portal correctly).

Internal links: Canada Express Entry 2026 — Complete Guide · Canada Express Entry CRS Score 2026 · Canada PNP 2026 · IELTS vs PTE vs Duolingo 2026 · HEC Attestation & MOFA Process 2026 · How to Send Money from Pakistan 2026 · Cost of Living Canada 2026

IRCC document requirements and settlement fund thresholds are updated regularly. Always verify the current checklist on your IRCC online account portal after receiving your ITA. This article reflects February 2026 data.