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WES (World Education Services) is a credential evaluation, not a nostrification: it benchmarks your Ukrainian diploma against the Canadian level for immigration or study. You file the request yourself on the WES site, while your Ukrainian education is verified by the State Enterprise Information and Image Centre (ENIC Ukraine) under the Ministry of Education. Etalon handles the Ministry of Education apostille, the word-for-word translation and liaison with ENIC; we do not influence the WES decision itself.
WES is an evaluation, not a nostrification
A WES evaluation (for Canada also ICAS, IQAS, MES) states which Canadian level your education matches — for Express Entry, licensing or admission. It is NOT a nostrification: WES does not give your Ukrainian diploma legal force or recognise you within Ukraine; it only issues an equivalence report.
Two report types exist. Document-by-Document lists the credentials you hold and is usually enough for immigration. Course-by-Course is more detailed — courses, hours and a conversion of grades into a Canadian GPA; universities and regulators ask for it for study or licensing. Choose the report type required by the institution you apply to.
How WES receives your documents: the role of ENIC Ukraine
WES does not accept scans or paper copies from the applicant directly — the documents must be sent by the issuing institution or a designated authority. In Ukraine that body is the State Enterprise Information and Image Centre (ENIC Ukraine) under the Ministry of Education: it verifies your education and sends the certified package straight to WES.
The order of steps: you create a profile on the WES site, choose the report type and receive your reference number, after which ENIC Ukraine sends the verified documents under that number. Without official verification from ENIC, WES will not process the request, so this step cannot be skipped.
Ministry of Education apostille and word-for-word translation: what Etalon prepares
WES requires a Ministry of Education apostille on the diploma and its supplement plus a word-for-word translation. The Ministry of Education apostilles education documents — UAH 670 for individuals, UAH 1,160 for legal entities per document; the diploma and the supplement are two documents, so the fee applies twice. The standard turnaround is 5 working days (up to 20). State fees are paid separately from the agency's services.
Etalon handles the Ministry of Education apostille, the word-for-word translation of the diploma and supplement, and liaison with ENIC Ukraine. We work remotely: documents travel by Nova Poshta and submission in Kyiv runs by power of attorney. Prices are quoted "from"; we cannot guarantee the WES decision, as it is an independent body.
Preparing a diploma for Canada — we arrange the Ministry of Education apostille, the word-for-word translation and liaison with ENIC: order diploma evaluation and nostrification at the Etalon agency.
Frequently asked questions
Is WES a nostrification of a Ukrainian diploma?
No. WES is a credential evaluation: a report on which Canadian level your diploma matches, for immigration, study or licensing. Nostrification means recognising a foreign diploma within a country; WES does not do that and does not give the diploma Ukrainian legal force.
Which WES report should I choose — Document-by-Document or Course-by-Course?
Document-by-Document lists the credentials you hold and is usually enough for immigration (Express Entry). Course-by-Course is more detailed: courses, hours and a Canadian GPA conversion — universities and regulators request it for study or licensing. Check the requirement of the institution you apply to.
Can I send documents to WES myself?
No. WES accepts documents only from the issuing institution or a designated authority. In Ukraine this is the State Enterprise Information and Image Centre (ENIC Ukraine) under the Ministry of Education: it verifies the education and sends the package to WES under your reference number.
Do I need an apostille on the diploma for WES?
Yes. WES requires a Ministry of Education apostille on the diploma and supplement plus a word-for-word translation. The Ministry of Education apostilles education — UAH 670 for individuals / UAH 1,160 for legal entities per document; the diploma and supplement count as two documents. Turnaround is 5 working days (up to 20), the state fee is separate.
A WES evaluation for Canada in 2026 is achievable once you grasp that it is a credential evaluation, not a nostrification, that only ENIC Ukraine forwards documents to WES, and that the diploma needs a Ministry of Education apostille and a word-for-word translation. Etalon prepares the package in Ukraine remotely.
