World Education Services
WES
The most widely used credential evaluation organization for Canadian immigration and education purposes.
What is WES?
World Education Services (WES) is a non-profit organization that evaluates international educational credentials for immigration, employment, and educational purposes in Canada and the United States. WES is one of several organizations designated by IRCC to perform Educational Credential Assessments (ECAs) for immigration applications.
Why It Matters for Newcomers
WES is the most popular choice for ECAs among Express Entry applicants. Their evaluation determines the Canadian equivalency of your foreign degree, which directly impacts your CRS score. A higher education equivalency means more points toward your immigration application.
How It Works
You create an account on the WES website, submit your application, and arrange for your educational institution to send official transcripts and documents directly to WES. Processing typically takes 20 business days after all documents are received. The standard fee for an ECA is approximately $200-250 CAD.
Quick Tip
Request your academic transcripts from your university before you start the WES application. Institutions in some countries can take months to send documents. For some countries, WES accepts verified digital documents, which speeds up the process considerably.