October 29, 2026
Your degree may qualify you for Canadian immigration, but how it is assessed can affect your education points and eligibility for permanent residence. A WES evaluation from Pakistan involves more than a degree certificate, as HEC attestation, complete records and the correct report type all matter.
Since HEC moved to online e-attestation in May 2026, WES no longer accepts old stamp attestations alone. This guide explains how to prepare your documents, avoid delays, understand the fees and obtain your ECA.
WES Evaluation Overview for Pakistani Applicants
- Purpose: Shows IRCC the Canadian equivalent of your Pakistani degree
- Required for: Federal Skilled Worker principal applicants, and Express Entry candidates claiming points for their own or their spouse’s foreign degree
- Documents: Highest completed degree and full transcripts, with the HEC e-Attestation Certificate
- Submission: Online PDF upload to your WES account, with no sealed envelope or courier needed
- Fee: CAD 264, rising to about CAD 314 with standard delivery and 13% HST
- Processing time: Up to 35 business days after WES accepts your documents
- Validity: 5 years from the date of issue, and it must remain valid when you create your Express Entry profile and submit your PR application
What Is a WES Educational Credential Assessment?
An Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) from World Education Services (WES) verifies your Pakistani degree and identifies its Canadian equivalent, such as a bachelor’s or master’s degree. WES is one of five organisations IRCC designates to issue ECAs.
An ECA is for immigration only and does not license you to work in a regulated profession, such as engineering or medicine, in Canada.
How an ECA Is Used in Express Entry
- Federal Skilled Worker Program: Mandatory for principal applicants using foreign education to meet its education requirement. See our Federal Skilled Worker Program guide.
- Express Entry points: Required to claim points for a foreign degree, diploma or certificate.
- Spouse’s education: An accompanying spouse’s or common-law partner’s assessed credential can add up to 10 CRS points.
- Canadian Experience Class: Not required for eligibility, but needed to claim points for foreign education.
Which ECA Organisation Should You Choose for Canada Immigration?
IRCC designates five organisations to issue ECAs, and a report from any of them carries the same weight. Applicants whose primary occupation is one of the regulated professions below must use the professional body shown instead.
Primary occupation
| Designated ECA organisation |
Medical specialists (NOC 31100), surgeons (NOC 31101) and general practitioners or family physicians (NOC 31102) | Medical Council of Canada (MCC) |
Pharmacists requiring a licence to practise (NOC 31120) | Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) |
Architects requiring a licence to practise (NOC 21200) | Canadian Architectural Certification Board (CACB) |
All other occupations | World Education Services (WES), International Credential Assessment Service of Canada (ICAS), International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS), Comparative Education Service (CES) at the University of Toronto or International Credential Evaluation Service (ICES) at BCIT |
Source: IRCC Educational Credential Assessment requirements, verified 29 October 2026.
Pakistani doctors and pharmacists can find the licensing steps that follow the ECA in our guide to Canada immigration for healthcare professionals.
WES Document Requirements for Pakistani Applicants
WES requires only your highest completed degree. MS or MPhil holders do not submit their bachelor’s degree, and matric or intermediate records are not needed. WES may still request earlier records in some cases.
Documents to Prepare
- Degree certificate: Final or provisional certificate, attested by HEC
- Transcripts: Complete transcripts or DMCs for every year or semester, attested by HEC
- HEC e-Attestation Certificates: One for each attested document
- Name change proof: A NADRA record or similar proof if your name differs across records
- Additional forms: Any form listed for Pakistan in your WES account
How to Submit Your Documents
Upload each attested document and its e-Attestation Certificate as one PDF in your WES account. WES checks the attestation against HEC’s online records, so names, dates and degree details must match exactly. Because HEC has stopped attesting photocopies, new applicants no longer need a sealed envelope or courier.
How to Get HEC Attestation for WES Evaluation
Since 11 May 2026, HEC attestation is completed entirely online through the HEC e-Services portal. HEC issues a downloadable e-Attestation Certificate instead of an ink stamp, so no office visit or couriered originals are needed
HEC Online Attestation Process
- Submit your application: Sign in to the portal, select Degree Attestation and enter your details exactly as they appear on your CNIC and academic records.
- Upload documents: Add clear PDFs of your CNIC (front and back), a passport-size photo with a plain blue or white background, and the degree and transcripts WES requires.
- Pay the fee: The fee is Rs. 3,000 per document, paid through 1-Link (1-Bill). Select “Verify Payment” to submit.
- Complete verification: HEC reviews the file and forwards it to your university. Correct any deficiency marked “Revision Requested” and resubmit.
- Download the certificate: HEC notifies you by SMS and email once the e-Attestation Certificate is approved.
Check your selection before paying, as HEC does not refund, adjust or transfer fees for incorrectly selected documents. Medical and nursing graduates must also upload their PMDC or PNMC registration card, and MS or MPhil programs launched after 7 November 2013 require an HEC NOC.
What If Your Degree Was Attested Before the New System?
WES’s Pakistan requirements list two routes. E-attested documents are uploaded with their e-Attestation Certificate in one PDF, while older stamp attestations follow a separate route that includes the WES Pakistan CNIC Information Form.
In 2026, WES rejected an older-route file for a missing e-Attestation Certificate, so e-attestation is the more reliable choice. Re-attestation costs Rs. 3,000 per document, and recent applicants report that it takes 3 days to a week. If the portal shows an “already attested” error, add a note requesting the e-Attestation Certificate or contact them.
How to Apply for a WES Evaluation from Pakistan
A complete file usually takes 1 to 2 months from HEC attestation to the final report. Finish HEC attestation before opening your WES application, since WES processing begins only once your documents are accepted.
- Complete HEC e-attestation: Obtain e-Attestation Certificates for your degree and transcripts, following the steps above.
- Create a WES account: Register on the WES Canada website and select the ECA application for IRCC.
- Pay the fee: Pay by credit or debit card. WES then issues the reference number used to track your file.
- Upload your documents: Upload each attested document with its e-Attestation Certificate as one PDF in your WES account.
- Track your application: Monitor your WES account until the status confirms that your documents are accepted and the evaluation has started.
- Receive your report: WES issues your ECA report and makes the result available to IRCC. Enter the reference number and issue date in the education section of your Express Entry profile.
WES Evaluation Fees and Processing Time
A WES evaluation from Pakistan costs about CAD 314 with standard delivery and 13% HST, rising to about CAD 408 with international courier. HEC e-attestation adds Rs. 6,000 for a degree and its transcripts.
Cost item | Amount |
WES ECA package | CAD 264 |
Standard delivery (untracked) | CAD 14 |
International courier | CAD 97 per address |
HST on WES charges | 13% |
HEC attestation | Rs. 3,000 per document |
Source: WES ECA fees and HEC, October 2026. Fees can change, so check before you pay.
WES currently estimates about 2 weeks for document verification and 1 week for the evaluation, which matches what recent Pakistani applicants report. Files that need extra verification from the university take longer.
How Your ECA Affects CRS Education Points
Your Express Entry education points depend on the Canadian equivalent stated in your ECA, not on your degree title.
ECA result | CRS points (without spouse) | CRS points (with spouse) |
Two-year program | 98 | 91 |
Bachelor’s degree or 3+ year program | 120 | 112 |
Two or more credentials, one of 3+ years | 128 | 119 |
Master’s or licensed professional degree | 135 | 126 |
Doctoral degree (PhD) | 150 | 140 |
Source: IRCC Comprehensive Ranking System criteria.
To claim points for two or more credentials, both must be assessed, so submit each credential to WES. Your ECA must be less than 5 years old when you create your Express Entry profile and when you submit your PR application. IRCC refuses applications with an expired ECA, as stated in its ECA guidance.
Common Mistakes That Delay a WES Evaluation
- Outdated attestation: WES has rejected uploads that lack the HEC e-Attestation Certificate in one reported case after a month of review.
- Incomplete transcripts: WES marks a record incomplete if any year or semester is missing.
- Inconsistent personal details: HEC will not process an application if your name, father’s name or date of birth differs from your CNIC.
- Name differences: WES requires proof of a name change if your name varies across records.
- Unclear scans: HEC and WES return documents that are blurred or partly unreadable.
- Incorrect assessment type: Only the ECA application for IRCC is accepted for immigration, and choosing another WES report requires a new application.
- Late preparation: University verification can take several weeks, so begin HEC attestation well before you plan to create your Express Entry profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a WES evaluation take from Pakistan?
WES currently estimates about 3 weeks after receiving your documents, with 2 weeks for verification and 1 week for the evaluation. Including HEC attestation, a complete file usually takes 1 to 2 months.
What is the WES ECA fee in 2026?
The WES ECA costs about CAD 314 with standard delivery and 13% HST. HEC e-attestation adds Rs. 3,000 per document, or Rs. 6,000 for a degree and its transcripts.
Is HEC attestation required for WES?
Yes. WES requires HEC attestation of Pakistani degrees and transcripts, and HEC now issues it online as an e-Attestation Certificate.
Do I still need a sealed envelope for WES from Pakistan?
Not for e-attested documents. You upload each document with its e-Attestation Certificate to your WES account, so no envelope or courier is needed.
Does WES accept old HEC stamp attestations?
WES still lists a route for older stamp attestations, but it rejected an older-route file in 2026 for a missing e-Attestation Certificate. Re-attesting online for Rs. 3,000 per document is the more reliable option.
Professional Support for Your WES Evaluation
AIRCS Group reviews your degree, transcripts, HEC attestation and WES application before submission, then builds your Canada PR file around the result. Send your documents on WhatsApp or book a consultation at our Islamabad, Rawalpindi or Faisalabad office.
