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What happens after you submit your Express Entry profile
A plain-language walk-through · Reading time about 5 minutes
My profile is submitted. What happens now?
Your profile enters a shared pool with everyone else who's eligible. Nothing happens immediately — you wait for periodic invitation rounds, where the highest-ranked profiles above that round's cut-off score receive an invitation to apply.
Waiting in the pool
Your profile stays active in the pool and can be updated as your circumstances change — a new language test, a completed ECA, or added experience can all raise your ranking while you wait.
Getting an invitation
If you're invited, you're typically given a limited window — commonly around 60 days — to submit a complete application with supporting documents. Missing that window generally means returning to the pool rather than losing eligibility entirely, but requirements can change, so confirm current timelines officially.
After you apply
A submitted application usually involves biometrics, a medical exam, and background and security checks. Processing time varies by case and by year, and official processing-time tools are the most reliable source — general online estimates are often outdated.
What can slow things down
Incomplete documents, unclear proof of work duties, or missing translations are common, avoidable delays. Confirming your NOC and gathering proof of your actual duties early tends to prevent the most common holdups.
This article is general information, not legal advice, and processing details change. Confirm specifics with the Government of Canada and IRCC, and consult a licensed professional about your situation.