Federal Skilled Trades Program Eligibility & Requirements
The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) is one of the federal immigration programs managed through Express Entry for skilled workers who are qualified in an eligible trade and want to become permanent residents of Canada. Applicants generally need at least 2 years of qualifying skilled-trade work experience within the 5 years before applying, the required English or French language level, and either a valid Canadian job offer or a certificate of qualification in their trade. There is no minimum education requirement. Candidates who meet the program requirements can enter the Express Entry system, where they are ranked under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).
Federal Skilled Trades Program Eligibility
The Federal Skilled Trades Program has minimum requirements for skilled-trade work experience, language ability and trade qualification. Applicants must also have either a qualifying job offer or a Canadian certificate of qualification in their skilled trade. The Federal Skilled Worker Program and the Canadian Experience Class have different eligibility requirements, while the Federal Skilled Trades Program focuses specifically on skilled-trade experience and trade qualification.
To qualify, an applicant must generally:
- have at least 2 years, or 3,120 hours, of qualifying skilled-trade work experience within the 5 years before applying;
- have all qualifying work experience in the same NOC and within an eligible FSTP skilled-trade group;
- meet the job requirements for the skilled trade and have been qualified to practise the trade where the experience was gained;
- meet the minimum English or French language requirements;
- have either a valid full-time job offer for at least 1 year or a certificate of qualification issued by a Canadian provincial, territorial or federal authority;
- meet the applicable proof-of-funds requirement;
- be admissible to Canada; and
- plan to live outside Quebec.
There is no minimum education requirement for the Federal Skilled Trades Program.
Applicants under the Federal Skilled Trades Program generally need to show that they have enough settlement funds to support themselves and their family after arriving in Canada. The required amount depends on family size and is updated periodically by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The funds must be readily available to the applicant and cannot be borrowed. Equity in real property cannot be counted as settlement funds. Applicants generally provide official letters from banks or other financial institutions as proof. The proof-of-funds requirement does not apply if the applicant is authorized to work in Canada and has a valid job offer that meets Express Entry requirements.
Work experience gained while living in Quebec may count toward FSTP eligibility, but the applicant must intend to settle outside Quebec.
Skilled Trades Work Experience Requirements
Qualifying skilled-trade work experience is a core requirement of the Federal Skilled Trades Program. Applicants need at least 2 years of full-time work experience, equal to 3,120 hours, gained within the 5 years before applying.
The work experience used to meet the minimum requirement must:
- all be in the same NOC;
- fall within an eligible FSTP skilled-trade group;
- include the actions described in the NOC lead statement and most of the occupation’s main duties;
- meet the job requirements for the skilled trade;
- be paid through wages or commission; and
- have been gained in a country where the applicant was qualified to practise the trade.
Eligible occupations include certain maintenance and equipment operation trades, as well as occupations related to natural resources and agriculture. They fall within Major Groups 72, 73, 82, 83, 92 and 93. Major Group 72 excludes Sub-Major Group 726, and Major Group 93 excludes Sub-Major Group 932. Minor Group 6320 and Unit Group 62200 are also included.
The 3,120-hour requirement can be met through full-time work, an equivalent amount of part-time work, or qualifying work in more than one job, provided all of the experience remains in the same NOC. IRCC counts no more than 30 hours per week toward the requirement.
Work experience gained while studying does not count toward the minimum FSTP work-experience requirement.
Qualifying experience may have been gained in Canada or abroad. If the applicant worked in more than one country, experience from a country counts only if the applicant met that country’s requirements to practise the trade independently.
Job Offer or Certificate of Qualification
Federal Skilled Trades applicants must have either a valid Canadian job offer or a certificate of qualification in their skilled trade.
A valid FSTP job offer must generally:
- be made by up to two employers;
- be for continuous, paid, full-time work totaling at least 30 hours per week;
- be for at least 1 year; and
- be in an occupation within an eligible FSTP skilled-trade group.
The offer must also meet IRCC’s requirements for a valid Express Entry job offer. Depending on the applicant’s situation, this may require a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or may qualify under specific LMIA-exempt rules. A work permit by itself is not considered a valid job offer. Applicants who later submit a permanent residence application may, in some circumstances, become eligible for a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP), but the permit itself does not replace the FSTP job-offer requirement.
Instead of a job offer, an applicant may qualify with a certificate of qualification issued by the Canadian provincial, territorial or federal authority responsible for the trade.
A certificate of qualification confirms that the applicant has met the certification requirements of the relevant provincial, territorial or federal authority, including passing a required certification examination where applicable. For applicants in Ontario, certificates of qualification are issued through Skilled Trades Ontario for trades that have a certifying examination. Applicants considering a provincial immigration pathway in Ontario may also explore the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP). Experienced workers may need to complete the applicable assessment and pass the required certification exam before a certificate is issued.
Certification requirements vary by trade and jurisdiction. If the province or territory where the applicant plans to live and work does not issue certificates of qualification for that trade, the applicant must rely on a valid job offer to meet this FSTP requirement.
Language and Education Requirements
Federal Skilled Trades applicants must take an IRCC-approved English or French language test and meet the minimum level in all four language abilities.
The minimum requirements are:
- Speaking and listening — CLB 5 in English or NCLC 5 in French
- Reading and writing — CLB 4 in English or NCLC 4 in French
IRCC accepts CELPIP-General, IELTS General Training and PTE Core for English, and TEF Canada and TCF Canada for French. Language test results must be less than 2 years old when the Express Entry profile is completed and when the permanent residence application is submitted. Applicants who receive an Invitation to Apply then move through the Express Entry application process, which includes submitting a complete permanent residence application within the applicable deadline. Before submitting the application, candidates should make sure their required Express Entry documents are complete and current.
There is no minimum education requirement for the Federal Skilled Trades Program.
Education can, however, contribute to a candidate’s CRS score. Eligible Canadian education may receive CRS points, while candidates who want to claim education points for foreign studies generally need a completed foreign credential and a valid Educational Credential Assessment for immigration purposes.
Meeting the FSTP requirements does not guarantee an Invitation to Apply. Eligible candidates enter the Express Entry pool, where their CRS score can affect whether they receive an Invitation to Apply in Express Entry draws. Selection also depends on the requirements of the applicable round of invitations, including any applicable Express Entry category-based selection criteria.
