FEDERAL SKILLED TRADES PROGRAM.

Federal Skilled Trades Program Requirements

To be eligible for the Federal Skilled Trades Program, candidates must meet the following requirements:

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Skilled Work Experience

• Applicants for the FSTP must demonstrate a minimum of two years of full-time work experience (or an equivalent amount of part-time work experience) in a skilled trade. 

• The work experience must have been gained within the five years immediately prior to the application date.

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Education

The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) does not have a formal education requirement. However, if applicants wish to improve their rank in the Express Entry pool, education can play a significant role. There are two ways to do this:

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• Canadian Education: If you have obtained a certificate, diploma, or degree from a Canadian secondary institution (high school), or post-secondary institution, you can receive additional points in the Express Entry ranking system. 

• Foreign Education: If you have received an education outside of Canada, you can still receive points. In this case, you must meet two key requirements: you must have a completed educational credential, and you must obtain an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report for immigration purposes.
   

Job Offer / Certificate of Qualification

• Applicants must either have a valid job offer of full-time employment for a total period of at least one year or possess a certificate of qualification in their skilled trade.  

• The certificate of qualification must be issued by a Canadian provincial, territorial, or federal authority.
   

Language Ability

• Candidates are required to demonstrate a certain level of proficiency in either of Canada's two official languages: English and French.

• Language test results are valid for two years and must be valid at the time of the permanent residency application.
   

English

• Speaking and Listening - Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) 5

• Reading and Writing - Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) 4
   

French 

• Speaking and Listening - Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadien (NCLC) 5

• Reading and Writing - Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadien (NCLC) 4

Eligible Skilled Trades Occupations under the Federal Skilled Trades Program

The Federal Skilled Trades Program requires the applicant's work experience to be within specific National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. These groups are:

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• Major Group 72: This includes technical trades and transportation officers and controllers, excluding Sub-Major Group 726, transportation officers and controllers.

• Major Group 73: This encompasses general trades.

• Major Group 82: This group includes supervisors in natural resources, agriculture, and related production.

• Major Group 83: This group consists of occupations in natural resources and related production.

• Major Group 92: This group is for processing, manufacturing, and utilities supervisors, and utilities operators and controllers.

• Major Group 93: This group covers 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: This group includes occupations such as cooks, butchers, and bakers.

• Unit Group 62200: This group is specifically for chefs.

Federal Skilled Trades Program Financial Requirements

Applicants must be able to demonstrate that they have sufficient funds to support themselves and their accompanying family members after they arrive in Canada.
 

• 1 Family Member:  $13,757 CAD

• 2 Family Members: $17,127 CAD

• 3 Family Members: $21,055 CAD

• 4 Family Members: $25,564 CAD

• 5 Family Members: $28,994 CAD

• 6 Family Members: $32,700 CAD

• 7 Family Member: $36,407 CAD

• If more than 7 people (for each member): $3,706 CAD

Does My Work Experience/Internship Gained During Studying In Canada Count As Work Experience for the Federal Skilled Trades Program?

Applicants' work experience must be constituted of paid work.

This means that they must have earned wages or commissions from your skilled trade work.

Volunteer work or unpaid internships will not be recognized as valid work experience for this program

Can I Work in Canada While My Federal Skilled Trades Program Application Is Still Processing?

Foreign nationals residing in Canada who have received a positive determination of eligibility under the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) may be eligible to obtain a work permit while they await the processing of their permanent residency application. This provision is known as a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP).