Navigating Canada's Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP): Your Pathway to Skilled Trade Immigration

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Overview

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) introduced the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) in 2013, providing a dedicated immigration pathway for skilled trades workers.

The FSTP is among the trio of federal economic programs administered through the Government of Canada's Express Entry system. Express Entry serves as the primary avenue for Canada to welcome economic class skilled workers into the country. Canada's Immigration Levels Plan targets welcoming over 400,000 new immigrants annually, with about 110,000 spots allotted to Express Entry.

Applying through the FSTP is just one of several routes available for skilled trades professionals seeking immigration to Canada. Other pathways include leveraging other federal immigration programs, exploring opportunities via the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), and considering immigration to Quebec.

By offering diverse pathways tailored to various skill sets and circumstances, Canada endeavors to attract and retain talented individuals who can contribute to its economy and cultural diversity. The FSTP, operating within the broader framework of Express Entry and Canada's immigration initiatives, underscores the nation's commitment to welcoming skilled workers from across the globe.

What are the benefits of the FSTP?

The FSTP plays a pivotal role in the joint efforts of federal and provincial governments to address labor shortages in trades occupations by welcoming more skilled trades workers to Canada. This initiative is particularly crucial due to Canada's aging population and low birth rate, necessitating increased reliance on immigration to support its labor force and economic growth.

Immigrating to Canada through the FSTP offers numerous advantages. Under Express Entry, successful FSTP candidates typically secure permanent residence within six months, providing a swift pathway to settlement.

One benefit is that FSTP candidates may have lower CRS scores compared to other candidates in the Express Entry pool, partly because they aren't required to prove their level of education. Despite this, IRCC occasionally conducts program-specific Express Entry draws exclusively inviting FSTP candidates. Additionally, entering the Express Entry pool enhances the chances of obtaining permanent residence, especially with the possibility of receiving a provincial nomination. A provincial nomination adds 600 CRS points, significantly increasing the likelihood of receiving an invitation to apply for permanent residence.

FSTP candidates with Canadian work experience are strategically positioned for success in the Canadian labor market. IRCC awards more CRS points to candidates with Canadian work experience, as well as those who have studied in Canada.

Research conducted by both Canadian governments and academics underscores the significant advantage of having Canadian experience when obtaining permanent residence. The combination of knowledge, connections, experience, and skills acquired while working in Canada provides a distinct edge in the labor market upon obtaining permanent residence under the FSTP.

How the immigration process works with the FSTP:

IRCC utilizes the Express Entry system to manage skilled worker applications for three economic class skilled worker immigration programs, including the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP).

To pursue immigration to Canada through the FSTP, follow these steps:

Step 1: Check if you meet the FSTP's eligibility criteria. CanadaVisa offers a free eligibility tool to assist with this.

Step 2: If you meet the eligibility criteria of the FSTP or another Express Entry program, you'll need to undergo an English and/or French language test officially recognized by IRCC. Additionally, if you've studied abroad in an eligible program, you may claim additional CRS points by obtaining an Educational Credential Assessment.

Step 3: Complete and submit your Express Entry profile on IRCC's website at no cost.

Step 4: Monitor IRCC's Express Entry draws to see if you receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence. Draws typically occur every two weeks.

Step 5: Upon receiving an ITA, submit your completed permanent residence application to IRCC within the specified deadline. IRCC aims to process most permanent residence applications within six months or less.

Following these steps will guide you through the process of immigrating to Canada through the FSTP, utilizing the Express Entry system efficiently and effectively.


Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible, you must meet all the minimum requirements for your

  • skilled trades work experience
  • job offer or certificate of qualification
  • language ability

Skilled trades work experience

You 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 job requirements for that skilled trade as set out in the National Occupational Classification (NOC)
  • show that you performed the duties listed in the lead statement of the occupational description in the NOC, including
    • all the essential duties
    • most of the main duties

Skilled trades NOC groups

Your work experience must be in one of the following NOC groups:

  • 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

Find the job’s NOC code, title and related training, education, experience and responsibilities category.

We will refuse your application if

  • you don’t show that your experience meets the description in the NOC
  • you weren’t qualified to independently practise the trade occupation during this work

Your work experience must be for paid work (paid wages or earned commission). We don’t count volunteer work or unpaid internships.

Job offer or certificate of qualification

You must have a

Certificate of qualification

A certificate of qualification proves you’re qualified to work in a certain skilled trade in Canada. This means you

  • passed a certification exam
  • meet all the requirements to practise your trade in the province or territory that issued your certificate

This certificate is issued by

Depending on which body or authority issues it, this certificate may be called a “certificate of qualification” or a “qualification certificate.”

To get a certificate, the provincial, territorial or federal authority must assess your training, trade experience and skills to decide if you’re eligible to write a certification exam.

Get assessed by the province or territory

Each province and territory has its own

  • certificate of qualification requirements
  • certification process

You may

  • have to go to the province or territory to be assessed for your trade
  • need an employer in Canada to give you experience and training

To learn more about getting assessed, visit the website of the body that governs trades for the province or territory where you want to live and work:

If the province or territory where you plan to live and work doesn’t give certificates of qualification in your trade, you’ll need a valid job offer in your trade to be eligible for this program.

If your trade is federally regulated

If your trade is not regulated by a province or territory, it may be federally regulated (for example, airplane mechanics).

Find out who regulates your trade and how to get assessed through the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials.

Language ability

You must

Your language tests

  • are valid for 2 years after the date of the test result
  • must be valid on the day you apply for permanent residence.

Education

There is no education requirement for the Federal Skilled Trades Program.

If you want to improve your rank in the Express Entry pool, there are 2 ways you can do this.

  1. 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
  2. If you have foreign education, you can get points if you have both of these

Proof of funds

You must show that you have enough money for you and your family to settle in Canada, unless you

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