Getting a Moroccan diploma recognized in Canada: admission, Quebec's comparative evaluation and the ECA
“Having your diploma assessed” covers three different steps in Canada, which serve different purposes and do not replace one another: the institution's assessment for your admission, the Government of Quebec's comparative evaluation of studies, and IRCC's educational credential assessment (ECA) for economic immigration. This guide tells them apart, gives the fees, timelines and documents published on official pages, and states what those pages do not say, to avoid paying for an unneeded assessment.
By the numbers
Three steps not to confuse
First, admission: the institution decides whether your Moroccan diploma gives access to the target program, under its own rules. Second, the comparative evaluation of studies completed outside Quebec: an opinion from Quebec's Ministry of Immigration, Francization and Integration (MIFI) that places your studies relative to the Quebec system. Third, IRCC's educational credential assessment, called the ECA, carried out by a designated organization, which counts for federal economic immigration (Express Entry).
For a student, the first step is the only one essential at the start. The other two come later, or in specific cases.
For admission: the institution assesses
Quebec universities assess foreign diplomas under their own rules. The Guide to levels of training published by Quebec universities (BCI, March 2022 edition) is a reference for several of them. For Morocco, it lists, for first-cycle access, the baccalauréat plus one year of higher studies (13 years); for second cycle, a master's or one additional year after the licence d'études fondamentales or professional licence; for third cycle, a master's (or a DESS from the old system). The guide notes the rule may vary by institution and program: confirm with the registrar or admissions office.
Our Canada orientation tool relies on this guide and on institutions' pages to show you, based on your profile, the entry route.
Is an evaluation needed for the study permit or CAQ?
The IRCC page listing the documents for a study permit application (page of October 6, 2026) mentions the letter of acceptance, proof of identity, proof of funds and, depending on the case, a letter of explanation, a medical exam or a police certificate. It mentions neither a language test nor a diploma evaluation. Quebec's page presenting the comparative evaluation does not say whether it is required for the CAQ. In practice, the diploma is checked by the institution admitting you. If doubt remains for your file, ask the admissions office and consult the official CAQ application page before paying anything.
Quebec's comparative evaluation: what the official pages say
It is a comparative evaluation of studies completed outside Quebec, which helps understand diplomas obtained abroad. The fee is $141 since January 1, 2026, adjusted each January 1, payable in Canadian dollars by credit card, postal money order, certified cheque or bank draft (no cash, personal cheque or traveller's cheque).
The application uses form A-0361-FO in its most recent version (2026-03), completed in block letters, dated and signed: an outdated version is returned unprocessed. You must declare all studies since elementary school and attach a photocopy of an identity document. For post-secondary studies, you need the diplomas and detailed transcripts for each year, including mandatory internships.
Documents must be in French or English; otherwise, an original hard-copy translation by a recognized translator is required, including seals and certification marks. Do not send original documents unless asked: official academic documents must arrive through a participating digital platform or in a sealed envelope sent directly by the institution.
Timelines and submitting the comparative evaluation application
The submission page (updated December 2, 2025) states that the application is sent by mail, in a single envelope, to the Direction du regroupement familial et de l'enregistrement in Montréal, with the form, documents and fees. You can send it from Canada or abroad. The clock starts the working day after receipt.
Processing targets, which apply to 80% of applications, are 60 working days if you attach a priority letter from an employer, a regulatory body or Services Québec stating that a comparative evaluation is required, and a maximum of six months for other applications. Priority processing is granted only if all requirements are met and may be suspended if in-depth research is needed. The pages do not state how long the evaluation remains valid.
IRCC's ECA for Express Entry
If you studied outside Canada, an educational credential assessment (ECA) is needed to be eligible as principal applicant for the Federal Skilled Worker Program under Express Entry, or to earn points for education obtained abroad. No ECA is needed for a Canadian diploma. The organizations designated for most applicants are: the Comparative Education Service of the University of Toronto, the International Credential Assessment Service of Canada, World Education Services, the International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS) and the International Credential Evaluation Service of the British Columbia Institute of Technology. Professional bodies are designated for certain professions (architects, physicians, pharmacists).
The ECA must be less than 5 years old when you create your Express Entry profile and when you apply; an expired ECA leads to refusal. Timelines and costs vary by organization and are not given on IRCC's page. That page was updated on October 16, 2026.
What this changes for a student aiming for permanent residence
A Canadian diploma does not require an ECA for Express Entry. For a Moroccan student completing a Canadian diploma, an ECA is therefore unnecessary for those studies, except for other foreign diplomas they might want to claim. For Quebec, check on the ministry's pages whether a comparative evaluation is requested for the target program: the pages we consulted do not answer that question. Our guide on moving from student to permanent resident details these paths.
Mistakes to avoid
Paying for an evaluation before knowing whether it is requested for your step. Using an outdated version of form A-0361-FO, which is returned unprocessed. Paying by an unaccepted method. Sending originals rather than copies or documents transmitted by the institution. Confusing Quebec's evaluation with IRCC's ECA: they do not replace each other. Entrusting the file to an intermediary who promises a result: see our guide on immigration fraud.
Official sources consulted
Government of Quebec: “Preparing your comparative evaluation application” (updated March 17, 2026), “Submitting your comparative evaluation application” (updated December 2, 2025) and the page presenting the comparative evaluation (updated June 26, 2023); IRCC: “Get your education assessed — Express Entry” (page of October 16, 2026) and “Documents required for a study permit” (page of October 6, 2026); Guide to levels of training of Quebec universities (BCI, March 2022). Consulted on October 26, 2026. Rules may change: check them on the official pages before acting.