FEDERAL SKILLED TRADES
The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) is an economic immigration program that allows foreign nationals who are qualified in a skilled trades to become permanent residents in Canada.
FSTP was developed to address the growing shortage of skilled workers in areas that were experiencing rapid growth due to the increasing strength of the economy.
This program is one of the three federal immigration programs managed by the Express Entry system. It uses the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) to rank interested candidates against one another, only inviting the most competitive candidates to apply for Canadian permanent residence.
Like the Federal Skilled Worker Program, an applicant for this program must first make an expression of interest and complete an online Express Entry profile.
Are you eligible for Federal Skilled Trades Program?
In order to qualify for the Federal Skilled Trades Program, candidate must:
- 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
- meet the required language levels for each language ability (writing, reading, listening and speaking)
- have an offer of full-time employment for a total of at least one year or have a certificate of qualification in your skilled trade issued by a province or territory
- meet the job requirements for that skilled trade as set out in the National Occupational Classification, except for needing a certificate of qualification
Here’s a list of eligible trades under the National Occupational Classification (NOC):
- 72 – industrial, electrical and construction trades,
- 73 – maintenance and equipment operation trades
- 82 – supervisors and technical jobs in natural resources, agriculture and related production
- 92 – processing, manufacturing and utilities supervisors and central control operators
- 632 – chefs and cooks
- 633 – butchers and bakers
There is no education requirement for the Federal Skilled Trades Program. But in order to earn points for education under Express Entry, an applicant either need:
- a certificate, diploma or academic credential from a Canadian educational institution; or
- an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) provided by a designated organization showing that your education is equal to a completed certificate, diploma or degree from a Canadian secondary or post-secondary institution
If candidates meet these requirements, they will be eligible to submit an Express Entry Profile for the Federal Skilled Trades Program.
Take note that submitting an Express Entry profile does not guarantee a candidate to receive Canadian permanent residence. Only after submitting an Express Entry profile will a candidate be considered in future Express Entry draws for Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence, depending on their CRS score.
Do you want to know more about Federal Skilled Trades Program? Feel free to contact us!