Case: How to confuse WES Canada and WES USA — and lose a month because of one apostille

Client: Andriy, a journalism graduate from a university in Kyiv. Location: Toronto, Canada. Problem: His documents for diploma evaluation were rejected because they included an apostille—which is required by the U.S. but not by Canada.

Point A: The Right Move in the Wrong Country

Andriy moved to Toronto and was preparing to find a job in the Canadian media. The employer required confirmation of his education through WES—World Education Services, an accredited organization for evaluating foreign diplomas.

To speed up the process, Andriy asked his relatives in Kyiv in advance to have the Ministry of Education and Science affix an apostille to his diploma. The logic was simple: “You always need an apostille for going abroad.” But this was where a critical mistake lay.

WES is available in two versions—one for the U.S. and one for Canada—and their requirements differ significantly:

Canada is not a party to the Hague Convention regarding the recognition of apostilles for educational evaluation purposes—therefore, WES Canada accepts documents exclusively in the form of a verified package from the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, without any third-party stamps on the originals.

The apostille, affixed for “formality’s sake,” effectively blocked the standard submission process: the MES package could no longer be prepared in accordance with WES Canada’s requirements.

The task for Enwolt

When Andriy’s relatives tried to prepare the documents through the Ministry of Education and Science, they were refused the formation of the package. The situation reached a dead end: the original diploma had an apostille, and WES Canada does not accept such a document under the standard procedure.

The family turned to Enwolt. Our lawyers identified the only realistic plan:

1. Cancel the diploma with the apostille as it does not meet the intended purpose.
2. Obtain a duplicate—a “clean” original without any third-party marks.
3. Properly prepare the WES Canada package through the Ministry of Education and Science.

Solution: step by step

1. Legal Basis — Remote Representation

Since Andriy was in Toronto, we entered into a Legal Services Agreement. This allowed our lawyers to act on his behalf before all authorities—without him having to return to Ukraine.

2. Obtaining a duplicate diploma — 25–30 days

Obtaining a duplicate is not simply a matter of “printing a new copy.” It is a full-fledged administrative procedure:

• Submitting an official application for replacement due to the document’s unsuitability for its intended use.
• Paying state fees and the university’s administrative charges.
• Entering the new diploma’s details into the Unified State Electronic Database on Education (USEDE) — without this, the document will not pass the Ministry of Education and Science’s verification.
• Verifying the correctness of the document’s details: serial number, signature, date, and consistency with the registry.

A month later, we had a “clean” duplicate in hand with no third-party marks.

3. Preparing the WES Canada Package

With a valid duplicate in hand, we organized the preparation of the package through the Ministry of Education and Science:

• Verification of enrollment and the issuance of the document by the university.
• Compilation of the package in accordance with WES Canada’s requirements: certified copies of the diploma and transcript, and translations of the documents into English.
• Electronic submission of the package to WES Canada via the MES’s secure protocol.

Result

Within 32 days of submitting his application, Andriy received an email confirming that his credentials had been successfully evaluated. His journalism degree was recognized as equivalent to a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism under Canadian standards. Andriy signed a contract and began working in Toronto.

Key takeaways from this case

WES USA and WES Canada have different procedures with opposing requirements regarding the apostille

If you are traveling to the U.S., an apostille on your diploma is required; it is part of the standard WES package prepared by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine.

If you are traveling to Canada, an apostille on your diploma is not required and can be harmful: WES Canada accepts documents exclusively in the format of a verified MES package without an apostille.

Do not get an apostille “just in case”

An apostille is not an “additional guarantee.” It is a document intended for a specific country and a specific procedure. If obtained for the wrong place or at the wrong time, it becomes an obstacle.

Dichiarazione di Valore (Italy) — another exception

A similar situation exists in Italy: the Dichiarazione di Valore procedure for diploma recognition also has its own logic regarding the apostille, which does not align with the general rule that “apostille = good.”

A duplicate is a real and legal tool

If a document has received unnecessary stamps or turns out to be unsuitable for the intended procedure—don’t despair. Ukrainian law provides for obtaining a duplicate. The procedure takes 25–35 days and requires proper legal support, but it is entirely feasible—even remotely.

Need a diploma evaluation or help preparing a WES package?

Enwolt understands the specific requirements for the U.S., Canada, EU countries, and other destinations. We’ll review your documents before submission—and honestly tell you whether an apostille is required in your case, and if so, for which ministry. Contact us for a free consultation.