Can I Apply for Canada Express Entry from the UK Without an ECA?
Thinking of making your move to Canada from UK using Express Entry? Heard about the ECA(educational credential assessment) and wondered whether you even need one? It is a common question which we at GIEC Global UK team hear all the time- why spend money on an ECA, wait weeks for it to be processed and then add one more thing in an already lengthy process to submit a Canada PR application. The short answer is – sometimes yes, sometimes no and it depends on the express entry you are applying through.
What Is an ECA and Why Does Express Entry Ask for It?
Your Educational Credential Assessment will come from an organisation that’s been approved by IRCC. The report it gives to IRCC explains what your UK qualification, such as a degree or diploma, is equivalent to in the Canadian education system. You’ll need it, because IRCC has no way to rate non-Canadian qualifications, no matter how good they are.
This is true even if you went to a reputable UK university. IRCC’s blanket rule has nothing to do with quality of institution, and everything to do with having a body approved by Canada verify the professional equivalency in writing. A first class UK university degree and a diploma from any other country are treated identically.
This report is not provided directly by IRCC. You request it from one of a few specific organisations, and it remains valid for five years – it must still be valid at the time you submit your profile for Express Entry and also at the time you submit your application for a full Canada permanent resident visa.
| Organisation | Assesses | Typical Route for UK Applicants |
|---|---|---|
| WES (World Education Services) | General degrees, diplomas | Most common choice for UK bachelor's/master's |
| IQAS | General degrees, diplomas | Alternative general assessor |
| ICAS | General degrees, diplomas | Lower cost, longer processing |
| CES (Comparative Education Service) | General degrees, diplomas | Run by the University of Toronto |
| ICES | General degrees, diplomas | BC-based assessor |
| Medical Council of Canada (MCC) | Medical degrees | Mandatory for doctors |
| Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) | Pharmacy degrees | Mandatory for pharmacists |
Can You Actually Apply for Express Entry Without an ECA?
Because Enter is not a single program – it encompasses the three federal streams, each of which is different with regard to whether or not an ECA is relevant.
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC) – No ECA requirement
- The CEC visa program is entirely based on Canadian work experience, not education.
- Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) – No requirement
- In order to get through the FSTP to submit your profile, you need a valid job offer for skilled work or a certificate of qualification from the applicable trade certification body.
- Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSW) – ECA required
- The ECA is one of the factors you are assessed on before even having your profile accepted into the program.
- Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
- Depending on the stream and province, the PNP may or may not require an ECA.
How Skipping the ECA Changes Your CRS Score
This is the number that will determine if you receive an Invitation to Apply, with education being one of the major factors you need to hit the thresholds. Without an ECA submitted, IRCC will not score any points for a UK qualification, whether your degree is higher or lower than a bachelor’s, as shown in the official IRCC points grid:
| Education Level | Points — Single Applicant | Points — With Spouse/Partner |
|---|---|---|
| No ECA on file | 0 | 0 |
| Secondary school | 30 | 28 |
| One-year post-secondary | 90 | 84 |
| Two-year post-secondary | 98 | 91 |
| Bachelor's degree (3+ years) | 120 | 112 |
| Two or more credentials (one 3+ years) | 128 | 119 |
| Master's / professional degree | 135 | 126 |
| Doctoral degree (PhD) | 150 | 140 |
Steps to Get Your ECA as a UK Applicant
If you want to move forward, the steps from here in the UK are quite simple:
1. Select a Designated Organization
Select a designated organization: WES, IQAS, ICAS, CES, ICES (for most degrees); MCC, PEBC (for medicine and pharmacy).
2. Order Official Transcripts and Degree Certificates
Order official transcripts and degree certificates directly from your UK university or exam board – most assessors require them to be sent from the institution.
3. Complete Your Application
Complete your application and pay the assessment fee on the organisation’s website.
4. Processing Wait
Processing wait – everything from the organisation may take a few weeks to a few months depending on demand and how quickly your university responds.
5. Add the ECA Report Number
Bring the ECA report number to your Express Entry profile as soon as you get it. Store the report somewhere safe, as it’s good for five years.
GIEC Global UK Support
Priority at the beginning, middle, end GIEC Global UK manages this so there is nothing in the queue that shouldn’t be. You decide which identity document your UK university needs to see, when, and which body is best to send it via in relation to your Express Entry profile.
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FAQs
You require one if you want IRCC to grant CRS points for that qualification or, if you are applying through the Federal Skilled Worker Program, you need it. Studying in the UK does not get around this requirement – IRCC considers all non-Canadian study to be the same.
Neither of these are required to be eligible for the Canadian Experience Class, and the Federal Skilled Trades Program considers it optional. They both are based on work experience/trades qualification, not education.
It’s up to the evaluating body and how fast your university will send transcripts. It can be done within a few weeks by some companies, but it can also take a few months during busy times – so it’s best to order it well in advance of the time you want to submit an Express Entry profile.
Yes if you qualify for CEC or FSTP you can join the pool without one and add it to your profile when you receive the report. Just keep in mind that you will not have your education points counted until you add the ECA.
Not necessarily. A UK three-year bachelor’s is normally considered equivalent to a Canadian bachelor’s degree, but must be verified by a designated ECA organization before IRCC will recognize it.
We guide UK applicants through which is the best suited for them. We assist them in selecting the most suitable Canadian ECA authority to evaluate their degree. We assist them in filling their university’s required documents.
