The Federal Skilled Trades Class (FSTC) is a class of people who:
The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) is one of three federal programs managed through Express Entry. It is for skilled workers who plan to become permanent residents based on their qualifications in a skilled trade. This program allows foreign workers with a valid job offer or a certificate of qualification to obtain permanent residence in any Canadian province or territory, apart from Quebec.
FSTP candidates must meet the job requirements for their skilled trade as described in the NOC, and have a valid job offer of full-time employment for a total period of at least one year.
To be considered valid, job offers for Express Entry candidates must be:
Candidates can be employed by up to two employers who can commit to providing the candidate with at least one year of continuous full-time work.
Additionally, candidates who are working in a regulated trade must have a certificate of qualification in that skilled trade issued by a Canadian provincial, territorial or federal authority.
A certificate of qualification proves that an individual is qualified to work in a certain skilled trade in Canada. In order to get a certificate, the provincial, territorial or federal authority must assess a candidate’s training, trade experience and skills. If eligible, candidates will have to write and pass a certification exam.
Eligible candidates must have at least two years of full-time work experience (or an equal amount of part-time work experience) in a skilled trade within the five years prior to applying. This means candidates should work at least 30 hours per week for two years in their skilled trade within the five years prior to applying.
This may look like either of the following:
The following NOC groups are eligible categories for skilled trades:
The main NOC groups are subdivided into different occupations, and they are all categorized under skill type B. Candidates must prove that, while working in their primary occupation, they performed the duties described in the description of their NOC level occupation. Candidates who cannot demonstrate that their experience matches the description in the NOC will be denied.
For official definitions of the occupations mentioned above, click here.
There is no education requirement for the FSTP. However, applicants can earn points and improve their rank in the Express Entry pool by including their education history.
Candidates who attended a Canadian secondary or post-secondary school can earn points for a certificate, diploma or degree. Candidates with foreign education can also earn points for their credentials, provided they can obtain an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report from an approved agency. To earn points, the applicant’s ECA must demonstrate that their education is equal to a completed certificate, diploma or degree from a Canadian secondary or post-secondary school.
FSTP applicants are required to take an approved language proficiency test. 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 chances of approval. The results will reflect whether they have acquired adequate language abilities for them to properly establish themselves in Canada upon immigration.
Candidates are required to take a language test for each of the following categories:
Candidates must obtain a minimum score of:
Candidates must then update their Express Entry profile with the test results. Language tests are valid for two years after the date of the test result and must be valid on the date that the application for permanent residence is submitted.
Proceed to any of the links below for more detail about the following:
For more information on getting assessed, candidates can visit the website of the body that governs trades for their preferred province/territory, as the process differs for each one. Candidates will likely be required to visit the province or territory to be assessed for their trade, and may also need a Canadian employer to provide experience and training.
Some trades are not regulated by a province or territory. The Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials provides information about who regulates these trades.
Candidates must plan to live outside the province of Quebec. Quebec selects its own skilled workers and has a separate selection process. Skilled workers who want to live in Quebec can learn more about becoming a Quebec-selected skilled worker.
Candidates must demonstrate the ability to financially support themselves and their family while settling in Canada. Exceptions to this requirement are:
To be eligible for the FSTP, candidates must be admissible to Canada.
You may be denied entry into Canada for:
Please note that it is possible for applicants to incorporate their partner (either spouse or common-law) along with their application. The partner who meets the requirements (as seen above) is recommended to fill out the application as the primary applicant.
If you are an employer interested in hiring through the Federal Skilled Trades Program, please contact us for more information.
If you are a candidate who would like to confirm whether you qualify for immigration to Canada through the Federal Skilled Trades Program, please complete our free online evaluation form.
300 Supertest Rd. Toronto, ON, Canada M3J 2M2
Phone:416-593-9590
E-mail: info@canadaimmigrationinc.com
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