WES fees increased 3% effective January 1, 2026. The Educational Credential Assessment for Canadian immigration is now $264 CAD before tax and delivery. See current fees →
Credential Evaluation · WES
World Education Services — Make Your Degree Count in Canada
From choosing the right evaluation type to avoiding the document mistakes that cost months — Yenmek guides applicants through the WES Educational Credential Assessment for immigration, employment, and education.
CAD fee for the Educational Credential Assessment (2026 rate)
7 Days
Business days for evaluation once documents are verified
100+
CRS points at risk on Express Entry without a valid ECA
Yenmek WES Application Service
Expert Guidance — Every Step
Service selection, document checklist, application setup & tracking support
What Is WES
Overview: The WES Educational Credential Assessment
World Education Services (WES) is a non-profit credential evaluation organization, founded in 1974, that bridges the gap between education systems by determining the Canadian or U.S. equivalency of international academic credentials. WES is one of five organizations designated by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to issue Educational Credential Assessments (ECAs).
An ECA matters for several distinct groups: Express Entry applicants who need it to claim education points under the Comprehensive Ranking System, provincial nominee applicants (especially Ontario's OINP), employers and regulatory bodies verifying that a foreign credential meets Canadian standards, and universities assessing applicants or transfer credit. The package you order must match your purpose — an evaluation meant for university admission will not satisfy IRCC's requirements.
Designation
IRCC-designated organization for ECAs
Report Validity
5 years from date of issue
Who Needs It
Express Entry, PNPs, employment, licensure
WES vs. ECA — they aren't the same thing. An ECA is the type of report IRCC requires; WES is one of five organizations IRCC accepts to issue it. The confusion matters in practice — applicants who order the wrong WES product (a general academic evaluation instead of the immigration-specific ECA) often have to restart the process and pay again.
Quebec operates its own credential comparison process for provincial immigration purposes and generally does not rely on the WES ECA. If your pathway runs through Quebec, confirm the correct requirement with the relevant ministry before ordering anything from WES.
Not sure which WES package you need?
Yenmek reviews your immigration goal and institution background and tells you exactly what to order — before you pay.
WES evaluates academic credentials earned outside Canada and the United States. Before you apply, four practical conditions determine whether your evaluation will go smoothly — or run into delays.
1. Credential From a Recognized Institution
Mandatory
Your credential must come from an institution recognized by the relevant educational authority in the country where it was earned. Not every program qualifies — some vocational or unaccredited certificates fall outside what WES can evaluate at the level you may need.
2. Highest Credential Requirement
Express Entry
For the immigration ECA, applicants generally only need to submit their highest completed credential — not every diploma or certificate ever earned. There are some country- and institution-specific exceptions where WES may require additional documentation, so confirm your exact requirement before submitting.
3. Document Availability
Mandatory
You must be able to obtain official transcripts and degree or diploma certificates. WES does not accept unofficial copies for the credential itself — see the Documents section below for exactly what's required.
4. Country-Specific Verification Rules
Varies by Country
WES applies different verification procedures depending on where your credential was issued. Some countries require transcripts to be sent directly and sealed by the issuing institution rather than by the applicant. Document collection and verification time can range from two weeks to several months depending entirely on your country and institution.
Order the right package the first time. Many applicants mistakenly order a general document-by-document or course-by-course academic evaluation when they actually need the ECA package built specifically for Canadian immigration. The wrong package usually means starting over — and paying again.
What You'll Need
Documents Required for a WES Evaluation
The exact document list depends on your country of education and the package you order, but most applicants need to prepare the following before starting their application.
Official academic transcripts: Sent directly and sealed by the issuing institution where WES requires it for your country — applicant-submitted copies are not accepted in those cases.
Degree or diploma certificate: Proof that the credential was actually conferred, not just attended.
Proof of identity: A copy of your passport matching the name on your academic records.
Name-change documents (if applicable): Marriage certificates or legal name-change records if your current name differs from your academic records.
Certified translations: Required for any document not already in English or French.
Course descriptions or syllabi: Only needed for Course-by-Course evaluations — not required for the standard immigration ECA.
Don't pre-submit extra documents. Only send what your specific application requires. Submitting additional documents WES did not request often slows down processing rather than speeding it up — WES will reach out directly if anything more is needed.
Step by Step
The Full WES Evaluation Process
The WES process runs through your online account from start to finish. Here is exactly what happens from creating your account to receiving your final report.
01
Create a WES Account & Choose Your Service
Register at WES and select the evaluation type that matches your purpose. If your goal is Express Entry or a provincial nominee program, you must choose the package labeled for Canadian immigration — not a general academic evaluation.
02
Submit Your Application & Pay the Fee
Complete the online application listing the institutions and credential to be evaluated, and pay the applicable fee. Most immigration applicants only need to list their highest completed credential.
03
Send Required Documents
Arrange for your transcripts and degree certificate to reach WES — either submitted by you or sent directly and sealed by your institution, depending on the country-specific rule that applies to your credential.
04
Document Verification
WES verifies the authenticity of your documents, often by contacting your issuing institution directly. This step confirms the credential and its details are genuine before evaluation begins.
05
Evaluation Review
Credential evaluators assess your verified documents and determine the Canadian equivalency of your education, including GPA equivalency where applicable.
06
Report Generation
WES issues your official evaluation report, detailing your credential's level and Canadian equivalency — this is the document IRCC, employers, and institutions require.
07
Report Delivery
Your completed report is delivered electronically through your WES account, and can be sent to designated recipients such as IRCC, an employer, or an educational institution.
Yenmek's role in your application: We confirm you're ordering the right package, review your documents before submission, and track your file so document-collection delays or institution non-responses get caught early instead of stalling your Express Entry timeline.
What It Costs
WES Evaluation Fees
WES increased its fees by 3% effective January 1, 2026. The table below reflects current published pricing for the immigration-specific Educational Credential Assessment.
Service
Fee (CAD)
Notes
Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) — for Canadian immigration
$264
Required for Express Entry CRS education points
ICAP upgrade (while evaluation is in progress)
+$42
Stores verified transcripts; future re-sends without re-evaluation
Report delivery to an additional recipient
~$32
Sent electronically; price varies by delivery method
HST (Ontario, 13%)
Where applicable
Charged on fees as required by Canadian tax law
Typical total — single ECA, before extra delivery
≈ $298
WES fees are set independently by WES and are subject to change without notice. Always confirm current pricing directly on wes.org before paying. WES does not offer refunds once your evaluation has entered processing.
Is ICAP worth it? If you may need to send your report to more than one recipient over time — for example, both IRCC and a provincial nominee program, or a future employer — ICAP's stored, verified transcripts can save you from paying for a full re-evaluation later.
How Long It Takes
WES Processing Times
The single most misunderstood part of the WES timeline is the difference between the evaluation itself and the total time from start to finish.
Document Review
Begins once WES receives your documents
Evaluation Itself
~7 business days after verification
Total Time
Several weeks to a few months
The evaluation step is fast once your documents are accepted and verified. What varies enormously is everything before that point — how quickly your institution responds to a transcript request, and the specific verification procedure WES applies to your country of education.
Start early. A WES ECA reference number must be on file before you submit an Express Entry profile to claim education points — and an Invitation to Apply can arrive with a tight deadline. Begin your WES application well before you expect to need the report, not after.
Why It Matters
Where a WES Evaluation Is Used
A single WES report can serve several purposes — understanding which applies to your situation determines which package and delivery options you actually need.
Express Entry & CRS Points
An ECA is required for the Federal Skilled Worker Program to enter the pool. The Canadian Experience Class and Federal Skilled Trades Program don't require one to enter, but you still need one to claim education points.
Provincial Nominee Programs
Many PNPs — particularly Ontario's OINP — require or strongly recommend a WES ECA as part of a nomination application.
Employment & Licensure
Employers and professional regulatory or licensing bodies use a WES report to confirm a foreign credential meets the equivalent Canadian standard.
University & College Admission
A Course-by-Course evaluation helps Canadian admissions offices assess transfer credit and academic equivalency for further study.
Multiple-Use Reports (ICAP)
With an ICAP upgrade, the same verified report can be sent to additional recipients later, without paying for a full re-evaluation.
Appeals & Re-Evaluation
If a credential is evaluated lower than expected, WES allows a review or appeal within a specified timeframe — confirm the current procedure directly with WES.
Expert Answers
WES Questions, Answered Honestly
Real answers from a licensed RCIC — not the official website version. If your situation isn't covered, call us.
As of January 1, 2026, WES increased its fees by 3% in line with inflation. The standard Educational Credential Assessment for Canadian immigration costs $264 CAD before delivery fees and applicable HST. You can add an ICAP upgrade for $42 CAD while your evaluation is still in progress. WES fees are set independently by WES and subject to change, so confirm current pricing on wes.org before paying.
A WES ECA for immigration is valid for 5 years from the date it's issued. You can use the same report across multiple Express Entry profiles or provincial nominee applications within that window, as long as your underlying credential information hasn't changed. If your report is older than 5 years, contact WES or Yenmek to confirm the current process for getting an updated one.
Order the evaluation specifically labeled for Canadian immigration or "for IRCC" purposes — this is the Educational Credential Assessment (ECA). Ordering a general document-by-document or course-by-course academic evaluation instead is a common and costly mistake, since IRCC requires the ECA report format specifically to award CRS education points.
No. The Federal Skilled Worker Program requires a valid ECA just to enter the Express Entry pool. The Canadian Experience Class and Federal Skilled Trades Program don't require one to create a profile, but applicants in those streams still need an ECA if they want to claim CRS points for education completed outside Canada.
Once WES has received and verified all required documents, the evaluation itself is typically completed within about 7 business days. The total time from starting your application to receiving your report, however, can range from several weeks to a few months — it depends heavily on how quickly your institution responds to transcript requests and the verification procedure specific to your country of education.
WES allows applicants to request a review or appeal within a specified timeframe after receiving the report. The exact procedure and deadlines should be confirmed directly with WES, since they can change. Some applicants also consider requesting an evaluation from a different IRCC-designated organization where circumstances allow.
Generally, no. Quebec runs its own credential comparison process for provincial immigration purposes and does not rely on the federal ECA system WES provides. If your pathway runs through Quebec, confirm the correct credential evaluation requirement with the relevant ministry rather than assuming a WES ECA will be accepted.
Your Credentials, Recognized
Don't let the wrong package cost you months.
From choosing the right WES service to tracking your file through verification — Yenmek's licensed RCIC makes sure it's done correctly, the first time.
.jpg)