Express Entry

Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) — Complete Guide

The Federal Skilled Trades Program is for qualified skilled trades professionals who desire to immigrate to the Canada permanently. It is an initiative by the federal and provincial governments to attract more skilled trades people to Canada in order to overcome the labour shortage in those professions.

More on FSTP

Benefits of FSTP

There are numerous advantages with applying for immigration to Canada through the FSTP.

• Successful FSTP applicants can typically get their permanent residency under Express Entry in less than six months.
• Because they are not required to provide documentation of their educational background, FSTP applicants may have lower CRS scores than other applicants in the Express Entry pool. Additionally, from time to time, IRCC conducts Express Entry drawings for particular programmes that exclusively accept FSTP applicants.

How does it work

Check to see if you are eligible for the FSTP in step one.

You must pass an English and/or French language test that has been approved by IRCC if you meet the requirements of the FSTP or another Express Entry programme. If you participated in an appropriate study abroad programme, you might also want to request an Educational Credential Assessment to claim the extra CRS points you are entitled to. On the Express Entry page of CanadaVisa, more details are provided.

IRCC’s website is where you may submit your Express Entry profile for free.

Follow the Express Entry drawings held by IRCC in step 4 to see if you were selected to get an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence. Every two weeks, there are often draws.

If you get an ITA, send your finished application for permanent residency to IRCC by the due date. For the majority of applicants, the IRCC’s processing criteria for applications for permanent residence is six months or fewer.

Eligibility Criteria

• Two years of full-time work experience (or an equivalent amount of part-time work) in the skilled trade during the five years before the application; and
• Demonstrate their knowledge, abilities, and proof that they have carried out the fundamental responsibilities of the position.
• Possess up to two legitimate job offers of ongoing, paid work in Canada for a minimum of one year OR a certificate of qualification* from a provincial or territorial organisation.
• Produce evidence that the applicant satisfies the minimum requirements stipulated by the IRCC — CLB 5 for speaking and hearing, and CLB 4 for reading and writing — in the form of a certificate of basic language competency from a recognised language testing institution.
• An international worker’s eligibility to work in a skilled trade in Canada can be established by showing their certificate of qualification. With a certificate of qualification, candidates can attest that they have fulfilled all requirements for a particular province or area to practise their trade, passed a certification exam, or both.

Quebec & NOC Categories

Candidates for the FSTP must intend to live somewhere other than Quebec. Through a special immigration procedure, the province of Quebec chooses its own talented workers. Please visit the Quebec Skilled Worker Program page for further details if you intend to immigrate to Quebec.

FTSP eligible candidate fall under following NOC categories:

• Industrial, electrical, and construction trades — Major Group 72
• Maintenance and equipment operation trades — Major Group 73
• Supervisory and technical positions in natural resources, agriculture, and related activities — Major Group 82
• Supervisors of processing, manufacturing, and utilities, as well as central control operators — Major Group 92
• Minor Group 633 includes butchers and bakers, whereas Minor Group 632 includes chefs and cooks.