How to Get WES Reference Number: Everything You Need to Know

by Shipra Choudhary | Mar 7, 2025 | Educational Systems, Most Viewed

Do you need a WES credential evaluation? If you’re using your evaluation for university admission in the United States or Canada, or for immigration/professional licensing, there’s one key piece of information required within the WES credential evaluation process to satisfy your needs. This informative blog details everything you need to know about the WES Reference Number, including what it is, why you need it, and how to obtain it. So keep reading to learn how to obtain your very own WES Reference Number associated with your evaluation and why it is required during the WES evaluation process.

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What is a WES Reference Number?

The World Education Services (WES) Reference Number is assigned to you when you apply for WES credential evaluation. This number helps WES locate your application, documents, and degrees in the review process. Your credential evaluation will go through WES as long as this number remains in WES’s database.

Basically, the WES Reference Number is your assigned application number. This is how WES keeps track of your application and processes all related information to it and any submitted supporting documents, transcripts, and the official application. Similarly, if you email or call WES to check on your evaluation status or request changes to your account, they will require your WES Reference Number to recognize you.

Read more: Essential Tips for a Successful WES Application

Why Do You Need a WES Reference Number?

The WES Reference Number will be needed in various places throughout the evaluation. The significance of this number is as follows:

1. Tracking Your Application: After you receive your WES Reference Number for evaluation, you can check the status of your application on the WES site.
2. Document Submission: If you ever submitted your University transcript for WES evaluation or any correspondence to WES, this number acknowledges that it was received by WES and associated with the correct account.
3. Immigration and Visa Applications: If you need a WES Reference Number for immigration, acquire a visa. This number is necessary for WES to process verification of your evaluation. This number serves as the liaison between WES and immigration for any professionally licensed endeavors you’re seeking by applying for a visa.
4. Communication: If you ever need to correspond with WES about your evaluation, your reference number will help them access your file easily.

How to Get Your WES Reference Number

Now that we know where to find a WES Reference Number and what it means, let’s recap how to acquire one.

Step 1: Create a WES Account

Getting your WES Reference Number starts with getting a WES account. This is easily done by:

1. Visiting the WES website. 
2. Selecting “Sign Up” or “Create Account”
3. Completing your personal information such as name and email address in the required fields 
4. Selecting the type of evaluation you are applying for educational/professional/immigration degree and the degree’s country.

At the time of registration, you are issued your WES Reference Number online instantly. You will get this number at registration, along with a subsequent mailed confirmation email acknowledging this ID number.

Step 2: Submit Your Educational Documents

Once you receive your WES Reference Number, it’s time to submit your educational credentials. The most common  requirement for a WES assessment is the WES evaluation university transcript.

How do you do this?

1. Request Your Transcripts: Contact your university and make sure you obtain your transcripts. Typically, your university will need to send them directly to WES in an institution-sealed envelope.
2. Provide Supplementary Documents If Necessary: Should your assessing needs require it, you might have to provide supplementary documents like diplomas, degree certificates, and translations (if applicable).
3. Ensure All Communication Includes Your WES Number: Always include your WES Reference Number as part of all communication and WES required forms in your envelope and on any forms sent with any communication for required documentation. This attaches all your records and submissions to your profile.

Step 3: Track the Status of Your Evaluation

After submitting your information, you can track your WES evaluation status through your WES account with your WES Reference Number. You can also use your WES Reference Number to message WES regarding your application status and where it currently stands in the evaluation process, whether it be document review, receipt, or creation of the report.

In addition, you’ll be notified once the evaluation is finished, and the evaluation report will be located in your customer profile.

Step 4: Pay the Fees

WES needs to get paid, too. After account creation and submission of details, payment will be requested after the evaluation processing needs to occur. There are different fees for different evaluations, whether it be for academics versus immigration versus employment, and if it’s Canadian studies or foreign. Payment is made via credit card online or through other acceptable means as assessed by WES.

Step 5: Wait for Your Report

Everything you discovered is within the WES evaluation report that you receive upon the conclusion of the assessment. You are assessed in a comprehensive way as you are matched up with equivalent degrees obtained over here, whether in the US, Canada, or other countries. This will be used on your application by colleges, employers, and immigration services to see if you have the equivalent credentials.

How to Use the WES Reference Number for Immigration

You need a WES Reference Number when you intend to immigrate to Canada, the U.S., Australia, etc. Typically, those immigration offices need an official credential evaluation report sent to them by WES on the agency’s behalf to assess eligibility. The process is as follows:

1. Complete the WES Evaluation: You need to obtain a WES Evaluation and have it sent to your immigration office of your country. When applying to WES, make sure to note that this is for immigration purposes.
2. Submit Your Report to Immigration Authorities: After assessment and your WES report, you need to send it into an immigration report. Basically, the WES Reference Number for immigration legitimizes the assessment.
3. Use the WES Report for Visa Applications: Just like Canada, many places use WES assessments to determine if you’re eligible or not for a visa or permanent residency. The WES Reference Number makes your application connected to the assessment officially and processes the visa application.

Common Issues and Solutions for WES Reference Number

While obtaining your WES Reference Number shouldn’t be too complicated, there are some snags along the way for a handful of applicants. Below are the most common concerns and their solutions:

1. Not Receiving a WES Reference Number

If you didn’t receive a WES Reference Number after attempting to obtain one online, or you lost it in the process, no need to worry—if you have an active application, you can still find it in your WES account or in your email from the original confirmation you received. If you’re still unable to locate it, be sure to contact WES customer service anyway.

2. Document Submission Issues

If you’re misfiled or documents are received late; if your transcripts and other supporting documents are not processed on your behalf, they could delay your review. Ensure that ordering institutions process your transcripts and supporting documents on your behalf and include your WES Reference Number.

3. Incorrect Information in Your Application

If there’s an error on your application. If your name is spelled wrong or your degree isn’t acknowledged, contact WES immediately to correct your application. They need correct information to process your WES credential evaluation service.

Read more: What is the process to Apply for WES Canada Evaluation from India?

Conclusion

The WES Reference Number is a number associated with your WES credential evaluation that WES assigns to your application to ensure your documents are organized in conjunction with the assessment. A WES Reference Number through credential evaluation is essential for international acknowledgment when planning to further your education, when you change immigration status, or require a professional license for employment.

Therefore, as long as you submit the required paperwork, get the required forms (like your University transcript for WES evaluation), and use your WES Reference Number to check online, such access to the WES evaluation process is literally at your fingertips. In addition, remember that with immigration services, the proper reference number will have you on the government’s good side.

Good luck with your WES credential evaluation service and remember the WES Reference Number is your ticket of entry for functioning across the globe!

Download the World Document Services App

You may enjoy a hassle-free experience by downloading our mobile app from either the App Store or the Play Store. It works with both iOS and Android devices.

• Download on Google Play Store
• Download on Apple Store

FAQs

Q: What is a WES Reference Number and why is it important?
A: You get a WES Reference Number during your application process. This number is essential for the evaluation process because it links everything under one file to your identity and your request. Once the process is over, the number assures your requests and submitted material as legitimate for verification purposes. Moreover, it’s used to track your status during the evaluation process and crucially for future use for immigration or university applications.

Q: How can I get my WES Reference Number?
A: Your WES Reference Number is for immigration purposes. Generally, this is used to verify your procedure and link your evaluation to your immigration records, but speak to your relevant immigration body for any other needed information.

Q: Can I use my WES Reference Number for immigration purposes?
A: WES Reference Number does suffice for immigration. The evaluating report from WES is needed to obtain a visa/permanent visa into the US and Canada as part of their review process. Thus, your WES Reference Number verifies your degree and links your immigration application to the evaluation report.

Q: Do I need to provide my WES Reference Number when submitting transcripts?
A: Yes, when submitting your university transcript to WES for evaluation and any additional materials, you must include your WES Reference Number.

Q: How can I track the status of my WES evaluation with my reference number?
A: Once you get your WES Reference Number, you can check the status of your WES evaluation report via the WES website as long as it’s associated with your individual WES account. There’s also an option to check the status through the WES portal for confirmation of receipt, in-process status and the ability to view and download your evaluation for credentialing review.