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IQAS Document Requirements: Notarized Copies and Certified Translations
What are the IQAS document requirements? In most cases, each foreign education document must be supported by a notarized certified true copy of the original, and if the document is not in English or French, it must also have a certified translation.
That is the short answer. The longer answer matters because IQAS can delay, refuse, or ask for replacement documents if copies are unclear, translations are incomplete, or names and dates do not match across the file.
For many people, IQAS is part of an immigration, licensing, employment, or education plan in Canada. A small document mistake can cost weeks. The safest approach is to prepare each document as if IQAS has never seen the original before: clear copy, proper certification, complete translation, and consistent names.
What IQAS is and who uses it
IQAS stands for the International Qualifications Assessment Service. It is operated by the Government of Alberta and assesses education completed outside Canada.
People use IQAS reports for several reasons.
For immigration, IQAS is one of the organizations designated to provide an Educational Credential Assessment, often called an ECA. An ECA may be used for Express Entry when a person needs to show how a foreign degree, diploma, or certificate compares to a Canadian credential.
IQAS is also relevant to Alberta immigration streams. Applicants may need proof of education when applying through Alberta pathways, including streams connected to work experience, job offers, or other provincial selection factors. The exact requirements can vary by program, so the immigration program checklist should always be reviewed.
Employers may also ask for an assessment when reviewing foreign education. A report can help an employer understand whether a credential is broadly comparable to a Canadian diploma, degree, or certificate.
Regulators use education assessments in some licensing contexts. A professional regulator may ask for an IQAS report, or it may require a different assessment process. For example, regulated professions can have their own document rules, exams, experience checks, and language requirements.
IQAS does not issue Canadian degrees. It assesses foreign credentials and provides an opinion on comparability. That makes the quality of the submitted documents very important.
Two requirements per foreign document
The core IQAS document requirements are simple to understand, but easy to get wrong.
For each foreign document, prepare:
A notarized certified true copy of the original document
A certified translation if the document is not in English or French
A certified true copy confirms that a notary or authorized official has compared the copy with the original document and certified that the copy is a true copy. This does not confirm whether the school is real or whether the credential will be accepted. It only confirms that the copy matches the original shown.
A certified translation confirms that a qualified translator translated the full document accurately. The translation should be attached to, or clearly connected with, the source-language document. IQAS needs to see what was translated.
If a degree certificate is in Ukrainian, for example, the file should include a notarized certified true copy of the Ukrainian original and a certified English or French translation. The same logic applies to transcripts, marksheets, academic records, licences, and name-change documents.
This is why a quick scan or informal translation is risky. IQAS staff must be able to review the document without guessing what seals, stamps, handwritten notes, abbreviations, or grade tables mean.
For help preparing translations, see certified translation services. For more detail on copies, see this guide on how to get a certified true copy.
Translation rules
A certified translation for IQAS should be complete, accurate, and easy to match to the original.
A good translation does three things:
It translates the entire visible document
It keeps the meaning literal and accurate
It includes stamps, seals, signatures, handwritten notes, dates, and institutional names where they appear
A translation is not a summary. The translator should not remove repeated text, skip seals, simplify grades, or “improve” the wording. If something appears on the source document, it should be translated or described.
For example, if a transcript includes a stamp that says “duplicate issued,” the translation should include that. If a seal is unclear, the translation may say something like “illegible seal” rather than ignore it. If a signature appears, the translation may indicate “signature” unless the name is readable.
Ukrainian and Russian documents
Ukrainian and Russian education documents commonly use Cyrillic script. Names, cities, institutions, and qualifications must be transliterated consistently.
If a passport spells the name one way, but a diploma translation spells it differently, that can cause questions. The translator should follow the spelling used in passports or Canadian identity documents when possible.
Stamps and seals are common on diplomas, supplements, and archives-issued records. These should not be skipped.
Hindi and Punjabi documents
Hindi and Punjabi documents may include handwritten entries, stamps from universities, and seals from boards or colleges. Marksheets can also contain abbreviations and grading notes.
The translation should include course names, marks, divisions, issue dates, roll numbers, registration numbers, and any visible stamp text. If the document includes both English and Hindi or Punjabi, the translator still needs to review the whole document and translate any non-English parts.
Korean documents
Korean academic records may include Hangul, Hanja, or both. Translations should clearly identify names, dates, degree titles, departments, grades, and institutional seals.
Korean documents can also include date formats that do not look familiar to Canadian readers. The translation should make the date clear without changing the original meaning.
Chinese documents
Chinese documents may be in simplified or traditional characters. Education records can include seals, notarial certificates, graduation certificates, degree certificates, and transcripts.
A complete translation should include school names, credential titles, major, dates, certificate numbers, seals, and any notarial wording. Chinese names should match the spelling used on passports or Canadian records where possible.
Arabic documents
Arabic documents are read right to left, and names may appear in several parts. The translator must be careful with full names, father’s names, family names, dates, and place names.
Some Arabic education records include Hijri dates, Gregorian dates, or both. The translation should clearly show what appears on the document. Seals and stamps from ministries, universities, or embassies should be translated or described.
Spanish documents
Spanish education documents often include accents, compound surnames, and formal credential names. Translations should keep names accurate and avoid casual equivalents.
For example, a translator should not guess that a foreign credential is the same as a Canadian one. The translation should translate the title as written. IQAS decides the Canadian comparison.
Notarized copies from originals
A notarized certified true copy must be made from the original document.
That means the notary compares the original credential with the copy. If only a scan, photo, or photocopy is available, the notary may not be able to certify it as a true copy of the original. Rules can vary by notary and by document type, but the basic principle is the same: the original must be available for comparison.
How many notarized copies are needed?
In general, prepare one notarized certified true copy for each document that IQAS requires. If IQAS asks for a degree certificate and a full academic transcript, that usually means one certified true copy of the degree and one certified true copy of the transcript.
If there are multiple pages, the copy should show all pages. The notarization should make it clear that the pages belong together. For multi-page documents, ask the notary how they bind, stamp, or reference the pages.
It can also be smart to prepare an extra copy for personal records, future licensing, or another assessment service. But for the IQAS submission itself, follow the IQAS checklist and do not send extra documents just because they are available.
Do not send original documents unless IQAS specifically asks for them. Originals can be hard to replace, and most assessment processes are designed around copies, official records, or institution-issued documents.
Documents usually required
The exact IQAS checklist depends on the country, credential, and purpose of assessment. Still, many applicants need some combination of the following:
Degree certificate, diploma, or graduation certificate
All-year transcripts, marksheets, or academic records
Diploma supplement, if available
Professional licence or registration document, if relevant
Internship, practicum, or training record, if required for the credential
Secondary school documents, if IQAS asks for them
Name-change document, such as marriage certificate, divorce certificate, legal name-change certificate, or affidavit
Passport identity page or other identity document, if requested
Previous assessment or related academic documents, if relevant
All-year transcripts are especially important. A final diploma alone may not show enough detail. IQAS may need to see courses, years of study, grades, credits, and completion pattern.
Name changes also deserve extra care. If the diploma shows one surname and the passport shows another, include a proper name-linking document. If the name-change document is not in English or French, it also needs a certified translation.
IQAS vs WES vs ICAS in brief
IQAS, WES, and ICAS are all known for foreign credential assessments, but they are not identical. Each organization has its own process, timelines, document rules, and report format.
Service | Common use | What to check before applying |
IQAS | ECAs for immigration, Alberta-related needs, employment, and some educational purposes | Country-specific document checklist, copy and translation rules, current processing times |
WES | ECAs for immigration, education, and employer review | Whether documents must be sent directly by the institution, digital document options, accepted credentials |
ICAS | ECAs for immigration, education, and employment | Required documents by country, whether the report type fits the intended use |
None of these services guarantees the result an applicant hopes for. The same foreign credential may be reviewed under different methods, and each service may request records in a specific way.
The best choice depends on the purpose of the report, the country of education, document availability, and whether a regulator or immigration program names a preferred provider.
If a regulator tells you to use one specific service, follow the regulator’s instruction. If the report is for Express Entry, use an organization designated for ECAs and make sure the report type is accepted for immigration.
Common mistakes
Sending a scan instead of a notarized certified true copy A regular photocopy or phone scan may not meet the requirement.
Using an incomplete translation Stamps, seals, handwritten notes, and back pages must be translated or described.
Translating names inconsistently Name spelling should match passports and Canadian records where possible.
Forgetting name-change documents A different surname on a diploma and passport can cause delays if no linking document is included.
Sending documents without checking the current IQAS checklist Requirements can vary by country and credential, so the checklist matters.
FAQ
Does IQAS accept any translator?
No. IQAS generally expects a proper certified translation, not an informal translation by a friend, relative, or applicant. The translator should be qualified to certify the translation and should provide the required certification details. The translation must be complete and attached to or clearly connected with the source document.
Do I send originals to IQAS?
Usually, you should not send originals unless IQAS specifically asks for them. Originals can be difficult to replace. Most document preparation involves certified true copies, certified translations, and, in some cases, official records sent according to IQAS instructions.
Can I use a translation from my home country?
Possibly, but only if it meets IQAS requirements. A translation from another country may be rejected if the translator’s credentials are unclear, the certification is missing, the translation is incomplete, or the document is not properly connected to the original. If in doubt, get a Canadian certified translation that follows the IQAS format.
How long does assessment take?
Processing times can change. IQAS timing depends on the type of application, document completeness, volume of applications, and whether IQAS needs more information. Check the current IQAS processing page before planning deadlines for immigration, employment, or licensing.
How Can Document Genie Help You?
Document Genie has helped clients with document preparation since 2017. The team has served thousands of clients and has a 4.9-star rating from about 3,000 Google reviews.
WE DO: notarized true copies and IQAS-compliant certified translations in one visit.
That means original documents can be reviewed, copied, notarized, and translated through one practical process. This is useful when a file includes degrees, all-year transcripts, licences, name-change records, or documents in languages such as Ukrainian, Russian, Hindi, Punjabi, Korean, Chinese, Arabic, and Spanish.
LIMITS: Document Genie does not submit applications to IQAS and does not predict the assessment outcome. IQAS makes its own decision based on its rules, review process, and the documents submitted.
To prepare your IQAS documents, call 587-501-2088 or book online. Visit Document Genie at Unit 18, 9186 34A Ave NW, Edmonton AB T6E 5P4.
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