Examine the physical or digital features of the documents

Appraise the basic elements of documents submitted in physical or digital form. This step often takes place concurrently with step 3.2 and may involve a quick check for consistency or a detailed forensic analysis if warranted.


  • Appraise the basic elements of the documents. Depending on whether the documents have been submitted in physical or digital form, appraise aspects such as:
    • size and layout;
    • font and typography;
    • official logos, stamps, dry seals, and signatures;
    • texture and finish of paper;
    • print method, such as laser, inkjet, lithography, or engraving;
    • type of digital format, such as JPG or PDF;
    • digital image quality;
    • level of data maturity, such as scanned image or structured data;
    • security features, such as:
      • microprint;
      • watermark;
      • ultroviolet ink;
      • digital signature, certification, or encryption;
      • secure verification link or QR code.
  • Identify any noticeable inconsistencies in appearance or content, such as:
    • multiple fonts, variations in colour, awkward or forced lettering, misalignment;
    • missing key elements (e.g., stamp, signature, certificate number);
    • an anachronism (e.g., wrong name of the issuing institution or their officials for the period of study, inconsistent dates or program duration, misused terminology, spelling and grammatical errors);
    • signs of physical alteration (e.g., white-out, erasure) or digital manipulation (e.g., inconsistent image quality or texture due to a copied and pasted logo or signature);
    • lack of expected physical or digital security features.
  • Update the status of the application, if necessary, when inconsistencies are identified, to:
    • inform the applicant of possible delays due to enhanced verification efforts;
    • allow the applicant the opportunity to explain the identified inconsistencies (if applicable).

Comply with the Pan-Canadian Quality Assurance Framework for the Assessment of International Academic Credentials (QAF)

This step complies with guiding principles 24, 25, 26, and 27 of the QAF.

Consult the QAF to get more information.



Consult additional resources

You may find useful information in other resources, such as:
  1. EAR Consortium (EP-Nuffic, UK NARIC, ENIC-NARIC France, and ENIC-NARIC Poland). (2012). European Area of Recognition (EAR) Manual, chapter 4;
  2. EAR-HEI Consortium (EP-Nuffic, ENIC-NARIC France, ENIC-NARIC Latvia, ENIC-NARIC Ireland, European University Association (EUA), ENIC-NARIC Lithuania, ENIC-NARIC Denmark, ENIC-NARIC Poland and Tuning Educational Structures in Europe). (2016). European Recognition Manual for Higher Education Institutions (EAR-HEI), part II, item 5;
  3. World Education Services – Canada. (2012). Best Practices: Strategies and Processes to Obtain Authentic International Educational Credentials, chapters 2, 3, 4, and 5.