Express Entry invitations valid 90 days

Summary#

The federal Minister of Citizenship and Immigration issued an amendment to the rules that govern the Express Entry system. It says an invitation to apply for permanent residence starts the day after it is issued and expires on the 90th day, and any application in response must be filed within that time. The change took effect on August 31, 2020.

What it does#

• Replaces Section 6 of the Ministerial Instructions Respecting the Express Entry System to set a clear validity window for invitations.
• Specifies that an invitation is valid from the day after it is issued until the 90th day after that day.
• Requires that any application for a permanent resident visa submitted in response to an invitation must be made within that same period.
• Confirms the amendment (the Ministerial Instruction Amending the Ministerial Instructions Respecting the Express Entry System, 2020-1) took effect on August 31, 2020.

Who's affected#

• People with profiles in the Express Entry pool who receive an invitation to apply.
• Immigration representatives and lawyers who prepare permanent residence applications for clients.
• Employers or provinces that rely on invited candidates being able to submit full applications within the stated window (indirectly).
  If it’s unclear how this interacts with other timing rules in individual cases, affected people should check the official instructions or seek advice.

Why it matters#

• It creates a single, clear deadline: invited candidates have a fixed 90-day window (starting the day after the invitation) to submit their permanent residence application.
• That affects how quickly applicants must gather documents, medical exams, police checks and other paperwork.
• The change reduces uncertainty about how long an invitation remains valid and standardizes the timeline across cases.