Federal Skilled Trades Class

The Federal Skilled Trades (FST) program is one of the three federal immigration programs managed by the Express Entry system. As with all Express Entry programs, FST uses the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) to rank interested candidates against one another, only inviting the most competitive candidates to apply for Canadian permanent residence.

The Federal Skilled Trades Program is for skilled workers who want to become permanent residents based on being qualified in a skilled trade.

Federal Skilled Trades Class Requirements

To be eligible, a person must

  • meet the required language levels for each language ability
  • have at least 2 years of full-time paid work (paid wages or earned commission—volunteer work or unpaid internships don’t count) experience (or an equal amount of part-time work experience) in a skilled trade within the 5 years before you apply
  • meet the job requirements for that skilled trade as set out in the National Occupational Classification, except for needing a certificate of qualification
  • have a

Skilled work experience

Skilled trades for the Federal Skilled Trades Program are organized under these groups of the National Occupational Classification (NOC):

  • Major Group 72, industrial, electrical and construction trades
  • Major Group 73, maintenance and equipment operation trades
  • Major Group 82, supervisors and technical jobs in natural resources, agriculture and related production
  • Major Group 92, processing, manufacturing and utilities supervisors and central control operators
  • Minor Group 632, chefs and cooks
  • Minor Group 633, butchers and bakers

The major NOC groups are subdivided into different occupations, and they are all skill type B.

A person must show that he/she has performed the duties set out in the lead statement of the occupational description in the NOC. This includes all the essential duties and most of the main duties listed or the application will be refused.

Education

There is no education requirement for the Federal Skilled Trades Program. But, one can improve the rank in the Express Entry pool, By submitting

  • If having Canadian education, A certificate, diploma or degree from a Canadian:
    • secondary institution (high school) or
    • post-secondary institution

    or

  • If having foreign education, A completed educational credential, if you have an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report for immigration purposes from a designated organization showing that your education is equal to a completed certificate, diploma or degree from a Canadian:
    • secondary institution (high school) or
    • post-secondary institution

Language ability

An applicant must

  • meet the minimum score of Canadian Language Benchmark 5 for speaking and listening, and Canadian Language Benchmark 4 for reading and writing
  • take approved language tests for
    • writing
    • reading
    • listening
    • speaking
  • enter the test results in Express Entry profile

Language tests are valid for 2 years after the date of the test result. They must be valid on the day the person apply for permanent residence.

Proof of funds

The applicant must show that he have enough money for himself and his family to settle in Canada, unless 

  • the applicant is currently able to legally work in Canada and
  • have a valid job offer from an employer in Canada

Admissibility

The person must be admissible to Canada.

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