Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) requires applicants who are pursuing Canadian immigration pathways, especially Express Entry, to submit an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA). 

You will be asked to submit your ECA report as part of your Express Entry profile. Per IRCC policy, your report must not be more than five years old when you submit your profile.  

Why is my ECA report only valid for five years?

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) established the five-year expiry policy for a few reasons, including that ECA providers may periodically update policies, equivalencies, and evaluation decisions within five years of the report’s original issuing date.

How do I renew my ECA from WES? 

If your ECA has expired or is nearing the expiry date, you can extend the validity of the report by ordering an extra copy. Log in to My Account and from your dashboard, select “Order Duplicate IRCC.” Ordering an extra copy of your ECA will extend the expiry date by another five years.

 

Can I upgrade my ECA to a standard credential evaluation report? 

Yes. An ECA report clearly states that it is to be used for immigration purposes only.  

A standard credential evaluation report from WES is designed for other purposes besides immigration. Upgrading to a Document-by-Document or Course-by-Course evaluation report can help you obtain recognition for your credentials among a wider variety of recipients, which is a necessary step in applying for employment, higher education admissions, or professional licenses. 

Standard credential evaluation reports from WES have no expiration date. That means your report is a tool that you will be able to use more than once as you pursue academic and career pathways in Canada.  

Related Reading 

Why You Should Upgrade Your ECA in Canada
What Is a Course-By-Course Evaluation and When Do I Need One?