📌 Quick answer: World Education Services (WES) charges C$264 for an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) for Canadian immigration, plus delivery fees and any applicable tax. For the US, a Document-by-Document evaluation starts at US$118 and a Course-by-Course evaluation at US$186. WES only starts once it has all your official documents, and your Nigerian university must send your transcript directly to WES, either electronically or in a sealed envelope. After that, WES says document verification typically takes about 2 weeks and an ECA about 1 more week. A WES ECA is valid for five years.
If you are planning to move to Canada through Express Entry or to study or work in the US, a WES evaluation is often one of the first steps. For Nigerian graduates, the hardest part is rarely the online application. It is getting the university to send the transcript the way WES requires.
This guide explains the fees, the report types, the document rules and the timelines, using WES’s own website.
Which WES Report Do You Need?
| Your goal | Report | What it shows |
|---|---|---|
| Immigration to Canada (Express Entry, provincial nominee programmes) | Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) | The Canadian equivalent of your degree, accepted by IRCC |
| Admission to a US college, or employment | Course-by-Course (CxC) | Every course, US credits, grades and a US GPA on a 4.0 scale |
| Employment or general recognition in the US | Document-by-Document (DxD) | The name and US equivalency of each credential, without a course list |
WES says it is designated by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to provide ECAs for degrees and diplomas earned outside Canada. If you are applying for Canadian permanent residence through Express Entry, the ECA is the report you need. See our guide to Canada Express Entry for Nigerians for how education affects your points.
WES Fees in 2026
| Report | Basic | ICAP package |
|---|---|---|
| ECA for Canadian immigration | C$264 | – |
| Course-by-Course | US$186 / C$242 | US$239 / C$284 |
| Document-by-Document | US$118 / C$133 | US$171 / C$175 |
The ICAP package (International Credential Advantage Package) adds permanent storage of your verified transcripts, so WES can send them to more institutions later, plus a WES digital badge.
Delivery and extra fees
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Standard delivery, no tracking | US$14 / C$14 |
| International priority courier with tracking | US$86 / C$97 |
| Add a new credential or degree to a completed report | US$92 / C$115 |
| Convert an ECA to a Document-by-Document report | C$58 |
| Convert an ECA to a Course-by-Course report | C$115 |
| Extra copy of a report after completion (Basic) | US$58 / C$58 |
| WES Verification+ (per credential) | US$50 / C$50 |
WES charges in US or Canadian dollars, so you will need a card that works for international payments. Your bank will convert the amount at its own rate. WES also says that if your institution charges a fee to verify your documents, you must pay the institution directly.
What a typical ECA costs a Nigerian applicant
A first-degree holder applying for Canadian immigration might pay:
- C$264 for the ECA
- C$14 for standard delivery of the paper report (the electronic report and IRCC access are included)
- Plus your university’s own transcript fee and courier charges to send your records to WES
That is C$278 to WES before tax, plus whatever your university charges. If you have a master’s degree as well, it is usually best to include both credentials at the start; adding a credential later costs C$115.
The Document Rules: Why Nigerians Get Delayed
WES’s general rules on required documents are strict:
- Official academic documents must be sent to WES by the institution that issued them. You cannot send your own transcript.
- Do not send original documents unless WES asks for them. They will not be returned.
- Do not email documents yourself. WES accepts electronic documents only through institutions it has digital partnerships with, using approved channels.
- You may upload photocopies of your degree certificate in your WES account.
- Everything must be in English, or translated. WES does not translate.
Sealed envelopes
If your university is not a WES digital partner, it must post your documents in a sealed envelope. According to WES:
- The front must show the name of your university (an official envelope with the school logo usually does this) and your WES reference number.
- The back must have a seal, stamp or official signature across the flap, to show it has not been opened.
If your university is slow to release documents, WES suggests giving it the Academic Records Request Form from your WES account.
Make sure your name matches
WES has advised Nigerian applicants to make sure the name on their WES application matches their academic records exactly, because even a small difference can cause delays. If your name has changed since graduation, for example after marriage, check with WES before you apply and keep your supporting documents ready.
How Long Does a WES Evaluation Take?
| Report | Document verification | Evaluation |
|---|---|---|
| ECA for IRCC | Typically 2 weeks | Typically 1 week (up to 2 weeks if complex) |
| Document-by-Document | Typically 2 weeks | Typically 1 week (up to 2 weeks if complex) |
| Course-by-Course | Typically 2 weeks | Typically 2 weeks (up to 4 weeks if complex) |
The clock only starts once WES has received all your required documents. For many Nigerian applicants, the longest wait is the time it takes the university to process the transcript request and post it. WES advises applying and requesting documents several months before any deadline.
Step-by-Step: How to Apply
- Check the WES Required Documents tool at applications.wes.org/required-documents for Nigeria and your type of institution.
- Create a WES account and choose your report (ECA for Canada, or Course-by-Course or Document-by-Document for the US).
- Pay the fee online.
- Note your WES reference number. Your university must put it on the envelope or electronic submission.
- Request your transcript from your university’s records or registry office, and ask it to send it directly to WES.
- Upload a copy of your degree certificate in your WES account if your required documents list allows it.
- Track your application in your WES account until the report is complete.
After You Get Your ECA
According to WES, your ECA is valid for five years from the date it is issued, and you can keep using it if you create a new Express Entry profile. An Express Entry profile itself is valid for one year, so if you have not been invited to apply within a year, you will need to submit a new profile.
WES does not evaluate trade or occupational qualifications, and it has a separate note for physicians and pharmacists, so read it before you apply if you are in either profession.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is WES evaluation for Canada from Nigeria?
C$264 for the ECA, plus delivery (from C$14) and any applicable tax, according to WES.
How long does WES take for Nigerian degrees?
After all documents arrive, WES says verification typically takes 2 weeks and an ECA about 1 week. The total time depends on how fast your university sends your transcript.
Can I send my own transcript to WES?
No. WES requires official academic documents to be sent directly by the issuing institution, electronically through an approved channel or in a sealed envelope.
How long is a WES ECA valid?
Five years from the date it is issued.
Which WES report do I need for a US university?
Usually a Course-by-Course evaluation, which includes your courses, US credits and a GPA. Check the requirements of the school you are applying to.
Does WES evaluate WAEC or NECO results?
For a Canadian ECA, WES assesses degrees and diplomas earned after secondary school. Requirements for other reports, such as US freshman admission, are different, so check the Required Documents tool for your report.
Sources
- World Education Services – “Credential Evaluations and Fees”, wes.org, checked 1 November 2026
- World Education Services – “ECA – Evaluations and Fees” (Canada), wes.org, checked 1 November 2026
- World Education Services – “Understanding Required Documents for Credential Evaluation”, wes.org
- World Education Services – “Current Processing Times for WES Credential Evaluations”, wes.org, checked 1 November 2026
Last updated: 1 November 2026 · NaijaSabi Travel Desk. WES fees and rules can change; check wes.org before you apply.
0 Comments
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!