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Claiming Canadian education points before receiving your actual diploma

Canada • Express Entry • study 0 views
By VisaBuddies Communityvia community — compiled from public visa forums

Documents Needed

  • Degree completion letter

    Official letter from the university confirming you have met all requirements to graduate.

  • Official transcripts

    Full academic record showing completed coursework.

  • Letter of Explanation (LOE)

    Explains why the physical diploma hasn't been issued yet (e.g., a cancelled graduation ceremony).

  • School's communication about the delay

    Any official notice from the university about ceremony cancellations or diploma issuance delays — historical context: this was common during COVID-19.

Step-by-Step

If you're claiming Canadian education points under Express Entry but haven't physically received your diploma yet — for instance because a graduation ceremony was cancelled — group members confirmed this is a manageable, well-precedented situation.

What group members advised:
  1. A degree completion letter plus official transcripts are generally sufficient as proof of Canadian education, even without the physical diploma in hand.

  2. Add a Letter of Explanation (LOE) describing the situation clearly — why the diploma hasn't arrived and when you expect it, if known.

  3. Include any official school communication about the delay (for example, a notice about the cancelled ceremony) as additional supporting evidence, so the reviewing officer has independent confirmation of the reason for the gap.


Note: this scenario was specifically tied to COVID-19-era ceremony cancellations, so if your diploma is delayed for a different, non-pandemic reason, make sure your LOE clearly explains your specific circumstance rather than assuming the same reasoning applies.

Dos, Don'ts & Tips

  • Do: Submit your completion letter and official transcripts even if the physical diploma hasn't arrived.
  • Do: Write a Letter of Explanation and attach any official school notice about the delay.
  • Tip: If your delay isn't COVID-related, be extra clear in your LOE about the actual reason, since that context won't be obvious to the reviewing officer.

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