Mistake in your Express Entry profile after your ITA? Recalculate first, decline if needed

IRCC’s rule: recalculate your score first

IRCC’s apply for permanent residence page says: “If your situation (or that of your spouse or common-law partner) changes, you should re-calculate your score before applying online for permanent residence. If your recalculated score is less than the lowest score in your round of invitations, you should decline the invitation.”

The lowest score in your round is the minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score shown for that draw.

Changes that could lower your score

IRCC gives these examples of changes that could lower your score:

• You no longer have a valid job offer.
• You no longer have a provincial nomination.
• Your language test scores “have expired”.
• Your language test scores “are lower after you were retested”.

Example: your work permit expired

IRCC gives one detailed case. Your work permit expired before you apply, and your score drops below the cut-off because you had points for a job offer that depended on that permit. IRCC says: “You should decline the invitation. If you submit your application anyway, we’ll refuse it.”

After you decline, IRCC says: “Update your Express Entry profile to show the change in your work status.”

What happens if you decline

IRCC says: “If you decline an invitation, you’ll be put back into the Express Entry pool.” It also says that if you choose to re-enter the pool, declining an invitation “won’t affect whether or not you’re invited to apply later”.

This is not a promise of a new invitation. IRCC says you may need to improve your score or update your profile.

If you do nothing

IRCC says that if you do not decline and do not apply within 60 days, the invitation expires and your profile is removed from the pool.

What IRCC has not published on the pages we checked

These topics are not covered on the IRCC page used for this article, so we do not state a rule for them:

• Duplicate profiles.
• A wrong country of residence.
• The “Eligibility: Review Required” wording that some forums mention.

Some forum posts and consultant sites say the profile is “locked” once you get an ITA, and that you can only change it after declining. We could not confirm this on an IRCC page, so we do not treat it as IRCC guidance. If you have a question about your own file, use the IRCC web form. If a mistake made your score higher than it should have been, read our article on correcting a wrong answer to IRCC.

What this means for you

• Your job offer, nomination, language results or work permit changed after the ITA: recalculate your score before you apply.
• The new score is below the lowest score in your round: IRCC says you should decline.
• The new score is still at or above that score: IRCC’s page does not say you must decline in this case.
• You declined: you return to the pool and can update your profile.

What to do next

1. Find the lowest score for your round. See the latest Express Entry draw for an example.
2. Recalculate your score with your current facts. Our CRS calculator can help you check.
3. If your score is below the lowest score in your round, decline in your IRCC account. See where your ITA shows up.
4. Update your profile to show the change. Read the Express Entry guide for the next steps.

Frequently asked questions

Should I recalculate my score after an ITA?

Yes, if your situation or your spouse’s or common-law partner’s changes. IRCC says to recalculate before you apply.

When should I decline an ITA?

IRCC says to decline if your recalculated score is less than the lowest score in your round of invitations.

Does declining hurt my chance of a future invitation?

IRCC says declining “won’t affect whether or not you’re invited to apply later” if you re-enter the pool. A new invitation is not guaranteed.

What if I apply anyway with a lower score?

For the expired work permit case, IRCC says “we’ll refuse it”.

How long do I have to decide?

60 days. After that the invitation expires and your profile is removed.

Sources

• IRCC: Apply for permanent residence (Express Entry)

Facts as provided in our research brief dated October 17, 2026.