Federal Skilled Trades Program
The Federal Skilled Trades Program is for skilled workers who want to become permanent residents based on being qualified in a skilled trade.
About CEC Programm
The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) is an essential immigration pathway offered by the Canadian government to welcome skilled tradespeople from across the globe. As part of Canada’s Express Entry system, the FSTP aims to address the country’s labor market demands by selecting individuals with specific trade skills and work experience, making valuable contributions to Canada’s thriving industries.
The program caters to skilled workers in various trade occupations, such as electricians, plumbers, welders, carpenters, and other specialized trades. Through a points-based assessment, the FSTP evaluates factors like work experience, language proficiency, and trade certification to determine eligibility for permanent residency.
To be eligible you must
What are the benefits of this (FSWP) visa?
- FSTP candidates are not required to prove their level of education.
- Candidates do not require a Canadian connection to give an application.
- An invitation from IRCC is possible with a low CRS score.
- An opportunity to settle permanently in Canada
Documents Required for the Federal Skilled Trades Program
- Your identification proof, like your passport
- If a family member is moving too, their identification proof
- The General Application Form for immigration
- Fee payment slip
- Education certificate that is ECA-verified
- Diploma, degrees, official transcripts
- Test results for the IELTS exam and the CELPIP
- A valid offer letter from an employer in Canada/ confirmation letter
- Reference letter from the previous employer
- Proof of skilled job performance.
- Pension fund/employment contract as work experience proof.
- Approved medical certificate from a verified practitioner
- Clean police certificate
- Fund verification for permanent settlement in Canada
- Marital proof when moving with a spouse
Eligibility to apply for the Federal Skilled Trades Program (Express Entry)
Minimum requirements
To be eligible, you must
- meet the required language levels for each language ability
- writing
- reading
- listening
- speaking
- have at least 2 years of full-time work experience (or an equal amount of part-time work experience) in a skilled trade within the 5 years before you apply
- your work experience must be for paid work (paid wages or earned commission—volunteer work or unpaid internships don’t count)
- meet the job requirements for that skilled trade as set out in the National Occupational Classification, except for needing a certificate of qualification
- have a
- valid job offer of full-time employment for a total period of at least 1 year or
- certificate of qualification in that skilled trade issued by a Canadian provincial, territorial or federal authority
Skilled work experience
Skilled trades for the Federal Skilled Trades Program are organized under these groups of the National Occupational Classification (NOC):
- Major Group 72, technical trades and transportation officers and controllers
- excluding Sub-Major Group 726, transportation officers and controllers
- Major Group 73, general trades
- Major Group 82, supervisors in natural resources, agriculture and related production
- Major Group 83, occupations in natural resources and related production
- Major Group 92, processing, manufacturing and utilities supervisors, and utilities operators and controllers
- Major Group 93, central control and process operators and aircraft assembly assemblers and inspectors, excluding Sub-Major Group 932, aircraft assemblers and aircraft assembly inspectors
- Minor Group 6320, cooks, butchers and bakers
- Unit Group 62200, chefs
You must show that you performed the duties set out in the lead statement of the occupational description in the NOC. This includes all the essential duties and most of the main duties listed.
If you don’t show that your experience meets the description in the NOC, we’ll refuse your application.
Find the NOC code, title and for your job.
The work experience only counts after you qualified to independently practice the occupation.
Education
There is no education requirement for the Federal Skilled Trades Program. But, if you want to improve your rank in the Express Entry pool, there are 2 ways you can do this.
- If you went to school in Canada, you can get points for a certificate, diploma or degree from a Canadian:
- secondary institution (high school) or
- post-secondary institution
- If you have foreign education, you can get points for a completed educational credential, if you have an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report for immigration purposes from a designated organization showing that your education is equal to a completed certificate, diploma or degree from a Canadian:
- secondary institution (high school) or
- post-secondary institution
Language ability
You must
- meet the minimum score of Canadian Language Benchmark 5 for speaking and listening, and Canadian Language Benchmark 4 for reading and writing
- take approved language tests for
- writing
- reading
- listening
- speaking
- enter the test results in your Express Entry profile
Your language tests are valid for 2 years after the date of the test result. They must be valid on the day you apply for permanent residence.
Proof of funds
You must show that you have enough money for you and your family to settle in Canada, unless you
- are currently able to legally work in Canada and
- have a valid job offer from an employer in Canada
Admissibility
You must be admissible to Canada.
Where you can live in Canada
You must plan to live outside the province of Quebec. The province of Quebec selects its own skilled workers. If you plan on living in Quebec, see Quebec-selected skilled workers for more information.
When you fill out your profile, we’ll ask you where you plan to live in Canada. You don’t have to settle in that province or territory.
