What is ICES Canada?
The International Credential Evaluation Service (ICES) evaluates educational credentials earned outside of Canada and compares them to Canadian and British Columbia educational standards.
For example, if you studied a two-year technical diploma in India, ICES could compare it to a Canadian college diploma.
ICES is officially designated by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to issue Educational Credential Assessments (ECAs). An ECA is a mandatory requirement for many Canadian immigration programs, including Express Entry and several Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs). Without it, your education may not be recognised during the immigration process.
Depending on your situation, the Canada ICES assessments serve different goals:
The Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) is particularly relevant for immigration applications, especially those under the Express Entry program.
General credential evaluation, used by employers or professional bodies to verify your qualifications for jobs or licensing.
Comprehensive evaluation for academic admissions, where detailed comparisons of coursework and credits may be needed.
Who needs an ICES credential evaluation in Canada?
If you got your educational qualifications outside Canada or British Columbia, you'll need an ICES evaluation. Here are some scenarios requiring ICES in Canada.
Immigration
You will need an ICES evaluation if you are applying for Express Entry or Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) in Canada. This evaluation is a requirement of the IRCC when applying for most skilled worker programs using international education credentials. The results from ECA will affect your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. Typically, the higher your education equivalency, the more CRS points you earn. Higher points also improve your chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply for permanent residency in Canada.
Education
If you want to study in Canada, the ICES evaluation helps post-secondary institutions to understand the level of your previous educational credentials. Applying for ICES in Canada helps.
Demonstrate that your credentials meet the standards of a Canadian high school or post-secondary institution.
Universities and colleges place you in the right program
Ensure a smooth admission process by giving officers confidence in the accuracy of your academic history
Note: ICES doesn't assess some academic accreditation if you are applying
As a Physician/Specialist Physician (NOC 3111 or 3112).
As a Pharmacist (NOC 3131).
As an Architect (NOC 21200)
If you are applying for any of these, you will require an assessment from the relevant external regulatory body.
Employment
Professionals seeking employment in Canada will typically require a foreign credential evaluation for tertiary education qualifications, including a Bachelor's degree, a Master's degree, or a PhD. However, for regulated industries such as nursing, engineering, and medicine, you may need to request an evaluation from the regulating body in Canada.
General cases
Sometimes, foreigners travelling to Canada apply for an ICES evaluation for personal reasons. It can be used to measure their educational qualifications against Canadian standards for future applications. In some cases, it's so they have a Canadian equivalent of their foreign credentials at hand for when requested.
When you can't use the ICES evaluation in Canada
ICES in Canada doesn't evaluate
Trade qualifications
Military training
Second language training
Professional licenses or titles, such as a Chartered Accountant
Exam-based qualifications
Apprenticeships
Work or life experience
Continuing education courses taken at non-recognised institutions
Non-credit professional development courses
Incomplete or provisional academic credentials
If you have any of these qualifications, you should check with the immigration, education or employment officers for guidance.
How to apply for ICES credential assessment: A step-by-step guide
You can apply for the ICES credential assessment through the British Columbia Institute of Technology’s (BCIT) website. The process typically involves confirming the type of credential that requires evaluation, creating an account, gathering the necessary documents, and paying the applicable fees. Here's a breakdown of the steps:
Step 1: Decide which credentials you want assessed
You should confirm with the institution or organisation whether you require an ICES evaluation. There are also country-specific requirements that you should consider before starting your process. When you've checked the various requirements, you should know which credentials qualify and what type of report you should get. This first step is crucial as it ensures you don't submit the wrong credentials or report.
Step 2: Document preparation
When applying for an ICES evaluation, the document plays a vital role in the process. That's why you must gather the credentials according to the requirements. Here are the documents to submit
Colour copy of your current government-issued photo identification document: A valid passport, a national identification card or a driver’s license. The document should show your current legal name and date of birth.
Colour copy of the front and back of each final award: A degree, diploma or academic certificate. You can use a PDF version as a placeholder until the official document is delivered from your educational institution or issuing authority.
Colour copy of the front and back of each academic record: An academic transcript, marks card, or diploma supplement. The PDF version can serve as a placeholder during the application until your educational institution delivers the official documents.
Copies of the literal (not interpretive) certified English translations of any foreign educational documents not in English or French.
Step 3: Create an ICES account
Create an account on the BCIT website to start your application process. If you have a previous student number or account, you can sign in without creating a new one. Creating multiple accounts can lead to errors during the application process.
Note: Online applications require a credit card for payment. If you don't have access to one, you can apply by mail.
Step 4: Submit your application
After successfully creating the account, you can proceed with filling out the form and submitting the required documents. Always cross-check the document and ensure you paid the correct fees. If you are applying via mail, double-check all the information in the form to avoid mistakes.
Step 5: Pay ICES evaluation fees
ICES evaluation fees vary based on the credential evaluation you applied for and other factors. Always check the official fees page to get an accurate cost before paying. Payment for online application is made by credit card only (Visa, Mastercard or American Express). However, if you use the mail-in option, you can pay ICES evaluation fees with a credit card, bank draft, money order, or certified cheque.
Step 6: Receive the ICES assessment report
If everything is in order, you will receive the ICES assessment report after the processing time has elapsed. The estimated processing time is 20-50 business days. However, the duration can be longer, depending on the application volume.
Note: The processing time starts counting when ICES receives your official credentials from your educational institution or authority.
Step 7: Link your ECA report number to your IRCC profile (For Express Entry applicants)
If you are applying through Express Entry, you must link your Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report to your IRCC profile. This is done by entering your unique ICES ECA reference number in the designated field of your Express Entry application. When you provide your ECA reference number, ICES also electronically transmits your assessment results directly to IRCC. This means IRCC can verify your academic credentials seamlessly, without requiring you to upload the full report yourself.
ICES vs. other credential evaluation services
Feature / Service | ICES (BCIT) | World Education Services (WES ) | IQAS (Alberta Government) | CES (Univ. Of Toronto) |
Accepted by IRCC | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Processing time | 20 – 50 business days (approx.) | 7 - 35 business days (fastest for most) | 25 to 40 business days(can be longer) | 7 - 60 business days (approx.) |
Type of service | Public, BCIT-run | Private, non-profit | Government-run (Alberta) | University-based (public) |
Best for | Immigration & employment | Immigration (most popular) | Immigration (esp. for trades) | Immigration & academic use |
Known for | Balanced option, widely accepted | Fast processing, widely recognised | Slower but thorough assessments | Strong academic credibility |
Electronic transcript option | Available | Available | Not always | Available |
IRCC Express Entry compatible | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Physical copy delivery | Yes (by mail) | Yes (courier/mail) | Yes (mail only) | Yes (mail) |
Report validity | 5 years | 5 years | 5 years | 5 years |
ICES processing time: What to expect in 2025
ICES processing time depends on the volume of applications and when your official documents are delivered. Here's a breakdown of estimated time:
General application processing time
For immigration (ECA) processing time
Update from a General Evaluation to an ECA
For ECA renewal
For duplicate evaluation reports
Note: Processing timelines commence only after all requirements are met. This means you have paid the ICES evaluation fees, submitted an online application, and your institution has sent official documents via mail.
ICES evaluation cost in 2025: A full breakdown of fees
The cost of ICES evaluation in Canada ranges from $20 CAD to $230 CAD, depending on the purpose, type and other factors. Here's a breakdown of the fees for different cases.
For immigration (ECA)
Standard service: $200 CAD
Updating from a General Application to an ECA: $150 CAD per credential
Additional copies of an ECA report: $20 CAD per extra evaluation report
QR code – electronic copy: $50 CAD
ECA renewal: $50 CAD
Courier delivery:
Non-sufficient funds: An additional fee of $50 CAD is charged if ICES receives a cheque that is not cashed due to non-sufficient funds
Note: There are no refunds for ECA applications. Always confirm all requirements and information before submitting your application.
General application fees
Basic report: $128 CAD per educational credential
Comprehensive report: $230 CAD
Upgrade from Basic to Comprehensive: $153 CAD per credential upgrade
Supplemental report with Comprehensive report: $128 CAD per supplemental report
Additional report copies: $20 CAD per additional copy
Cancelled application administration fee: $75 CAD
Revision of a completed application: $51 CAD per credential
Courier delivery fees:
Non-sufficient funds: An additional fee of $50 is charged if ICES receives a cheque that is not cashed due to non-sufficient funds
Translation requirements for ICES applications
According to ICES translation requirements, all documents that are not in English must be accompanied by a complete word-for-word (literal, not interpretive) English translation. A Canadian-certified translator is required to complete this document translation if you are in Canada. If you aren't, you can submit a translation from an official translator in your home country. Here's what to note:
If you use a certified translator from your home country, the translation must meet all ICES requirements. If it doesn't, the ICES will request a new translation from Canadian certified translators.
French documents do not require translation.
You must translate items such as marks sheets, transcripts, diplomas, certificates, and grade books in their entirety. This means the translation must include information appearing on the reverse side of any document.
For calendars, course outlines, and syllabuses, you only have to translate those pages describing courses and other information specific to your credential.
ICES will not accept a translation that doesn’t follow the requirements below.
Be translated from original documents or copies of those documents
The translator must attach to each translation a signed copy of the educational document on which the translation is based.
All document copies submitted for evaluation must carry the translator’s official stamp.
The ICES will verify the document copy accompanying the translation against the original document submitted to ICES.
You can find a list of certified translators in Canada using a professional translation company like Translayte.
How does Translayte help?
Translayte provides certified translation for immigration and credentials evaluation that meets the ICES and Canadian authority requirements. Here's how we help
Certified translation in over 150 languages accepted by the Canadian government, ICES, WES, IQAS, and other global authorities
Online ordering system with transparent translation rates starting at $31.75 per page
Expedited translation option with a 12 to 24-hour timeline
Additional services like notarisation, apostille stamp and physical copy delivery via mail
24/7 multilingual customer support via WhatsApp, Phone, and Email, ensuring you get responses on time.
Don't allow poor document translation to delay your ICES evaluation application process. Request a free quote for your ICES document translations from Translayte.
