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WES ECA for Canada PR from India

An educational credential assessment (ECA) shows IRCC what your Indian degree is worth in Canada. You need one to qualify as a Federal Skilled Worker, and to get CRS points for education completed outside Canada. WES is one of the organisations IRCC designates. You apply online, upload your degree certificate, and your university sends your mark sheets or transcript to WES in a sealed envelope. The report stays valid for 5 years.

Last updated: 25 October 2026 · Written by the PrepEve team

What it is

Educational credential assessment for IRCC

Who needs it

FSW applicants, and anyone claiming CRS points for foreign education

WES fee

C$264, plus delivery and tax

Validity

5 years from the issue date

WES timing

About 2 weeks to verify and 1 to 2 weeks to evaluate, once documents arrive

Do you need an ECA for Canada PR?

• Federal Skilled Worker: yes, if you studied outside Canada. It is needed for the program’s education requirement and for points on the 67-point grid.
• Canadian Experience Class and Federal Skilled Trades: not needed to qualify, but you need it to get CRS points for education completed outside Canada.
• Your spouse or partner: optional. Their ECA can add up to 10 CRS points for their education.

Which organisations can do an ECA?

IRCC accepts ECAs only from organisations it has designated. They include World Education Services (WES), the International Credential Assessment Service of Canada (ICAS), the International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS), the International Credential Evaluation Service (ICES) and the University of Toronto’s Comparative Education Service. If your main occupation is doctor or pharmacist, IRCC requires the Medical Council of Canada or the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada. Many applicants from India choose WES, but any designated organisation is accepted.

How to get a WES ECA from India: step by step

1. Create a WES account and choose the ECA application for IRCC, not an evaluation for study or work in the US.
2. Add the credentials you want assessed. Include more than one degree if you want points for two or more credentials.
3. Pay the fee and note your WES reference number.
4. Upload your degree certificate (or provisional certificate), as WES asks.
5. Ask your university to send your mark sheets for all years, or a consolidated transcript, to WES in a sealed envelope with your WES reference number.
6. Track your application. WES verifies your documents, then evaluates them and issues the report.
7. Enter your ECA details in your Express Entry profile.

WES ECA fee and processing time

WES lists its ECA at C$264, which does not include delivery fees, additional services or tax. WES said its prices would rise by 3% from 1 January 2026, so check the current amount on its fee page. Once all your documents arrive, WES currently estimates about two weeks to verify them and one to two weeks to complete the evaluation. Getting your university to send the documents is often the slowest part, so start early.

How long is an ECA valid?

Five years from the date it was issued. It must be valid when you create your Express Entry profile and when you submit your PR application, so check it will not expire while you wait in the pool.

How does your ECA affect your CRS score?

The ECA decides which level of education IRCC counts. Education also combines with your language score: with CLB 9 in all four skills, it can add up to 50 skill transferability points.

Mistakes that delay a WES ECA from India

• Mark sheets missing for one or more years.
• The university sends documents without your WES reference number.
• A name on your documents that differs from your passport, for example after marriage, with no proof of the change.
• Choosing a US evaluation instead of the ECA for IRCC.
• Leaving the ECA to the last minute, so it holds up your profile.

This guide is general information, not immigration advice. IRCC decides every application, and its rules can change.

Official sources

• Educational credential assessment (IRCC)
• Evaluations for immigration (ECA) (WES)
• WES evaluation and document requirements for India (WES)
• Current processing times (WES)
• Credential evaluations and fees (WES)

Rules and scores change. Check the official pages above before you book a test or apply.

Frequently asked questions

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