When using education obtained outside of Canada for a permanent residence application, except for certain Provincial Nominee Programs, only credentials that have been assessed through an ECA (Educational Credential Assessment) are accepted. For example, in the Express Entry program, Canadian education credentials assessed through an ECA can add up to 150 additional points to your profile.

What is an ECA Required for Permanent Residence Application? 

When applying for permanent residence, your educational credentials, along with your work experience, age, and language proficiency, are evaluated as a key factor in determining your eligibility. If you are using education obtained from an institution outside of Canada, such as from Japan, you will need to submit the results of your ECA (Educational Credential Assessment) along with your graduation certificates and other documents. The ECA accurately evaluates how your foreign education compares to Canadian credentials. The ECA required for permanent residence applications must be obtained from a designated organization by the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

For more details, please refer to the page linked.

There are seven agencies designated by IRCC for ECA services. Among them, the agency most commonly used by our clients is World Education Services (WES). I found an article titled “How to Apply for an ECA from WES: A Step-by-Step Guide”, which details the application process for their educational credential assessment service. I will now provide a summary of the article.

WES Highlights 

WES is known for its quick processing compared to other agencies. Once all documents are submitted and the necessary fees are paid, you can receive your ECA report within 30 business days. WES also offers services in both English and French. They have a bilingual team that can assist with French-language applications, and French applicants are also supported.

STEP 1: Create an Account 

The first step is to create an account with WES. Select the application type as “ECA for IRCC (Educational Credential Assessment for IRCC)”. Before continuing with the application, you will be asked to input and verify your email address. After the email address is confirmed, you will need to provide the requested personal information.

STEP 2: Input Your Highest Level of Education  

IRCC requires that only your highest level of education be assessed and submitted for the ECA. For example, if you have a master’s degree, you do not need to submit your bachelor’s degree for assessment unless specifically required. You will need to input information such as the name of the educational institution, qualifications obtained, and years of attendance.

STEP 3: Input Mailing Address 

The default setting is for your ECA documents to be sent directly to IRCC. However, we recommend that you enter your own mailing address so that you can receive a copy of the ECA documents.

STEP 4: Verify Required Documents 

The documents listed are required for your ECA application. You will need to contact your graduated institution to request an official transcript to be sent to WES.

STEP 5: Review Application 

Before submitting your application, carefully review all the information you’ve entered. If the information is incorrect, it may delay the completion of your ECA.

STEP 6: Payment 

You can choose from credit card, debit card, or Western Union online transfer for payment. After selecting your payment method, click submit to proceed to the payment processing page.

STEP 7: Save Your WES Reference Number 

Once payment is submitted, a confirmation page will appear, showing your WES reference number. It is highly recommended to save this number in a safe place, as you will need it for further correspondence with WES.

STEP 8: Check Your WES Account 

By logging into your WES account on their website, you can check the latest updates and the progress of your application at any time.

For any questions regarding educational credential assessment using WES services, please contact WES directly through their website.