Maple News reports that immigration applicants to Canada no longer need to submit all their foreign academic credentials for evaluation. According to recent updates from World Education Services (WES), a designated Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) provider for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), applicants should now only submit their highest completed degree when applying for immigration purposes.
The ECA is a necessary document for many individuals looking to immigrate to Canada, especially through economic pathways like Express Entry. It verifies that foreign academic qualifications are equivalent to Canadian standards. However, WES has advised that submitting additional lower-level academic credentials may delay processing times and is generally not recommended.
As of November 2020, applicants holding a PhD are exempt from providing assessments for earlier degrees such as bachelor’s or master’s. Similarly, individuals with a master’s degree do not need to assess their bachelor’s, and those with a bachelor’s degree don’t need to include associate-level qualifications.
Francophone applicants may have slightly different requirements. For instance, those whose highest education level is a DEUG, DUT, or Licence are not required to include their Diplôme du Bac or BEP. Meanwhile, candidates who hold advanced credentials such as a Maîtrise, Master, Diplôme d’Ingénieur, DEA, or Diplômes d’État in Medicine or Pharmacy can skip sending in the underlying DEUG or DUT.
Applicants from France with a Diplôme de Docteur are not required to submit any credentials that fall below that level, such as a Maîtrise, DEA, or Diplôme de Grandes Écoles. Additionally, documents in French do not require translation, though those in other languages usually do unless explicitly exempted by WES.
Certain variations apply to Indian applicants. Individuals submitting a master’s degree or postgraduate diploma typically must also submit their bachelor’s degree. Exceptions include holders of a Master of Education, Master of Engineering, Master of Philosophy, or Master of Technology. For PhD holders in India, previous degrees are not required.
For most applicants going through Express Entry, an ECA is an essential part of proving educational qualifications unless they completed their studies in Canada. These streamlined requirements aim to simplify the ECA process, reduce wait times, and help applicants focus only on their highest credential when preparing documentation.
Maple News will continue to monitor updates from IRCC and certified ECA providers to keep you informed on key changes affecting your immigration pathway to Canada.