Federal Skilled Trades (FST) Program: Building a Rewarding Career in Canadian Trades

EXPRESS ENTRY- Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)

The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) is a Canadian immigration program that is designed to attract skilled tradespeople from around the world to come and work in Canada. The program is part of the Express Entry system, which manages the immigration applications for skilled workers who wish to come to Canada.

To be eligible for the FSTP, applicants must have a job offer from a Canadian employer, as well as the necessary skills and experience in a designated trade occupation. Examples of these occupations include electricians, plumbers, welders, and carpenters, among others. Applicants must also meet the language proficiency requirements in either English or French.

Once an applicant is deemed eligible for the FSTP, they can submit their application to the Express Entry system. Applications are then ranked according to a points-based system that takes into account factors such as age, education, language skills, and work experience. The highest-ranking applicants are then invited to apply for permanent residence in Canada.

Overall, the FSTP is a great opportunity for skilled tradespeople who are looking to immigrate to Canada and contribute to the country’s economy.

Determine eligibility

The first step is to determine if you are eligible for the FSTP. To be eligible, you must have at least two years of full-time work experience in a designated trade occupation, a valid job offer from a Canadian employer, and meet the language requirements.

Create an Express Entry profile

The FSTP is part of the Express Entry system, which means that you will need to create an Express Entry profile and provide information about your education, work experience, language proficiency, and other factors that affect your eligibility.

Obtain a LMIA

In order to obtain a job offer from a Canadian employer, you may need to obtain a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). This is a document that confirms that there are no Canadian citizens or permanent residents who are available to fill the job.

Apply for PR

Once you have received a job offer and have created an Express Entry profile, you can apply for permanent residency through the FSTP. Your application will be assessed based on a points-based system that takes into account factors such as your age, education, language skills, and work experience. If your application is successful, you will receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency. You will then have a limited amount of time to submit your application and supporting documents.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

To be eligible for the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), you must meet the following criteria:

You must have at least two years of full-time work experience (or an equivalent amount in part-time work) in a skilled trade occupation. Your work experience must be in an occupation that is classified under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) system as Skill Level B, which includes jobs such as electricians, plumbers, welders, and carpenters.
You must have a valid job offer from a Canadian employer for full-time work in your skilled trade occupation. The job offer must be for at least one year and must not be seasonal or temporary.
You must meet the minimum language proficiency requirements in either English or French. You must take an approved language test and score at least a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) of 5 in speaking and listening, and CLB 4 in reading and writing.
There are no specific education requirements for the FSTP, but having a Canadian secondary or post-secondary education credential, or a foreign educational credential assessed and recognized as equivalent by a Canadian educational credential assessment organization, may increase your eligibility score in the Express Entry system.
You must meet Canada's admissibility criteria, which includes not having a criminal record, not posing a security risk, and not having a serious health condition that would endanger public health or safety.
You must also meet any additional eligibility criteria that apply to the specific skilled trade occupation you are applying under, as well as any other requirements of the Express Entry system, such as meeting the minimum point threshold for the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).

DOCUMENT REQUIREMENT

Language test results
Educational credential assessment (ECA) report
Valid passport or travel document
Job offer
Proof of work experience
Proof of funds
Provincial nomination certificate (if applicable)
Police certificates
Medical exams

Federal Skilled Trades Program