The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) is one of three federal programs managed through Express Entry. Foreigners that are qualified in a skilled trade may be eligible to apply for Canadian permanent residence on this basis.

Applicants must meet a series of requirements in order to be considered for the FSTP. The initial eligibility assessment requires that the applicant:

• Be prepared to settle down outside of Quebec
• Be admissible to Canada

The applicant must have completed a minimum of two years working in a specific trade. Additionally, these two years of employment must have taken place within the past five years. The applicant will satisfy this requirement if they have:

• Worked in a skilled trade for 30+ hours/week over the span of 2 years
• Worked in a skilled trade 15+ hours/week over the span of 4 years
• Currently holds an offer of employment that is permanent, full-time and non-seasonal and will commence within one year; OR a certificate confirming qualification in a skilled trade which was issued by a Canadian provincial/territorial authority

Eligible Skills

FSTP applicants are required to provide evidence of their trade work experience. The trade in which they intend to work must fall within one of the categories listed in the 2016 National Occupation Classification (NOC). The skilled trades that are currently eligible include:

• Industrial, Electrical and Construction Trades (Group 72)
• Maintenance and Equipment Operation Trades (Group 73)
• Supervisors and Technical Jobs in Natural Resources, Agriculture and Related Production (Group 82)
• Processing, Manufacturing and Utilities Supervisors and Central Control Operators (Group 92)
• Chefs and Cooks (Group 632)
• Butchers and Bakers (Group 633)

For official definitions of the occupations mentioned above, click here.

Although the FSTP does not require an educational background, having one is considered an advantage. Specifically, applicants have a greater chance of approval if they have obtained:

• A Canadian high school/post-secondary diploma
• A foreign high school/post-secondary diploma, along with an approved document from Citizenship and Immigration Canada confirming the diploma is of the same value as a high school/post-secondary Canadian diploma

FSTP applicants are required to take a language proficiency test. The results will reflect whether they have acquired adequate language abilities for them to properly establish themselves in Canada upon immigration.

Language Testing:

English and French are the official languages in Canada. The applicant can choose to complete either an English or French proficiency test. They may also opt to both tests in order to increase their chance of approval. The language tests will evaluate the applicant’s abilities in:

• Writing
• Reading
• Speaking
• Listening

Language Qualification:

Test results must be included in the applicant’s Express Entry profile and must have been obtained within the first two years of taking the test. The applicant may qualify for the FSTP if they acquire at least:

• A level 5 for speaking and listening in the Canadian Language Benchmark
• A level 4 for reading and writing in the Canadian Language Benchmark