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Federal Skilled Trades Program
Program Status:
This program is active and accepting applications on an on-going basis.
Program Description:
The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FST) is for skilled workers who want to become permanent residents based on skilled trade. Under this program, they can apply to become permanent residents. The FST is one of the three federal immigration programs administered via the Express Entry online application system for skilled trade workers.
Key Program Highlights
The FST is a pathway to permanent residence for people with skilled trade work experience. The program requirements include language skills, work experience, job offer, or certificate of qualification. Some of the skilled trades work experience considered under this program include technical jobs in natural resources, agriculture, manufacturing, processing, construction, industrial, electrical, and equipment operation and maintenance. In 2019, 1000 invitations were issued to FST Candidates under the express entry program. Canada plans to increase immigration to boost the economy, and one of the programs under which they plan to admit new immigrants is the FST program.
Program Eligibility Requirements
The applicant must meet specific eligibility requirements to apply to the FST program.
- Language requirement:
Candidates for the FST program must prove their language abilities by taking any of the approved language tests. Write your language test for either English or French or both. Get minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5 for speaking and listening and CLB 4 for reading and writing. Language Test results are valid for 2 years.
Acceptable English language test:
- Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP).
Note: Register for the CELPIP-General test.
- International English Language Testing System ( IELTS). Book your test at British Council IELTS Online Application.
Note: Register for the IELTS English General Training Test.
Acceptable French Language Test:
- Test d’evaluation de français (TEF).
- Test de connaissance du français (TCF).
Link to Language requirement.
- Skilled Work Experience:
Candidates for the FST program must have a minimum of 2 years of full-time work experience in a skilled trade within the five years before applying under the program. This work experience can also be an equivalent part-time work experience. The work experience will only count after the candidate became qualified to practice the occupation independently.
The job experience must meet the job requirements for that skilled trade as set out in the National Occupational Classification. The National Occupational Classification (NOC) for the Federal Skilled Trades Program is organized under the following listed major groups, these major NOC groups are subdivided into different occupations, and they are all skill type B:
- 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 utility supervisors and central control operators.
- Minor Group 632, chefs and cooks.
- Minor Group 633, butchers and bakers.
Candidates must indicate that they performed the essential duties and most of the primary responsibilities set out in the lead statement of the occupational description in the NOC for their application to be successful. Use the following links to determine your NOC. National Occupational Classification – Canada.ca, Find your NOC – Canada.ca.
- Have a valid job offer or a certificate of qualification.
Candidates for the FST program must have a valid full-time job offer for a period of at least one year. A candidate must obtain a certificate of qualification issued by a Canadian provincial, territorial or federal government in the alternative.
A qualification certificate proves that a person is qualified to work in particular skilled trade in Canada. To obtain the certificate, they must have passed a certification exam and meet all the requirements to practice their trade in that province or territory.
To obtain a certificate of qualification, candidates have to go to the province or territory to have their trade qualification assessed. They may also need an employer in Canada to give them experience and training.
Provinces and territories have different processes of assessment. Candidates would have to visit the website of the province or territory that they plan to live or work in to learn more about certificates of qualification to work in that province or territory in a specific skilled trade and what you have to do to get one.
To learn more about getting assessed in the different provinces, see the links below:
Province |
Note: Some trades such as airplane mechanics are regulated federally. You can visit this link to find out who regulates your trade if you are not sure.
- Education:
There is no education requirement for the Federal Skilled Trade. However, you can increase your rank in the Express Entry Pool if you have Educational experience in Canada or outside of Canada. If your Educational credentials are outside of Canada, you must evaluate your credentials.
List of designated organizations for ECA:
- World Education Services.
- International Credential Assessment Service of Canada.
- International Credential Assessment Service of Canada.
- Comparative Education Service: University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies.
- International Credential Services.
Follow this link to view all designated credential service providers Educational Credential Assessment – Service Providers – Canada.ca
- Admissibility Requirement:
Candidates for this program must also meet the admissibility requirements. You may be disallowed from coming or staying in Canada if you are inadmissible under the Canadian immigration laws. The following are some of the reasons you could be found inadmissible:
- Security reasons.
- Human rights violation.
- Crime and organized crime.
- Medical reasons.
- Financial reasons.
- Misrepresentation.
- Failure to comply with the provision of the Canadian immigration laws.
- Inadmissible family member.
A Canadian immigration officer will decide if you are admissible to Canada. If you are found inadmissible your visa application will be denied entry to or removed altogether from Canada.
- Where you can live in Canada:
If you want to apply under the FST program, you must plan to live outside Quebec’s province. The Province of Quebec selects its skilled workers.
Program Specific Data Analysis
The chart below shows the number of invitations issued under the FST program for the last three years.

Invitation Issued to Federal Skilled Trade Worker Program 2017 - 2019
Data Source: Express Entry Year-End Reports for 2017, 2018 & 2019.
The chart below shows the Processing time for the Federal Skilled Trade Worker Program based on the final decision in 2016 and 2017.
Number of Final Decision Made on FST Program within 6 Months
Data Source: Express Entry Year-end Report 2017.
Key Candidates for the Program
The Federal Skilled Trades Program’s key candidates are skilled workers qualified in a skilled trade who want to become permanent residents. The National Occupational Classification (NOC) for the Federal Skilled Trades Program is organized under skill type B which is subdivided into different occupations. Find below the occupations under the FST program.
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 |
Major Group 92 | processing, manufacturing, and utilities supervisors and central control operators |
Minor Group 632 | chefs and cooks |
Minor Group 633 | butchers and bakers |
Step by Step Process
Get your Documents.
Get all the necessary documents ready such as your language test, job offer letter or certificate of qualification, passport or travel document, proof of funds, etc.
Submit your Express Entry Profile
To create your profile, you need to answer some eligibility questions, which takes about 15 minutes to complete through this link. Create and submit your profile.
Apply For Permanent Residence
Apply for a Permanent Resident Visa after receiving an invitation to apply through the express entry online system. Fill out the form and upload your documents.
Pay your Application Fees
Pay your application fees and submit your application.
Apply Now!
How to Apply
There are two steps to apply for the FST program, and they are creating your profile and submitting your PR application. Both steps are done online.
Step 1: Submit your Express Entry profile:
Submitting an express entry profile is done by filling an online form. To create your profile, you need to answer some eligibility questions, which takes about 15 minutes to complete through this link. After you completed the eligibility questions, you will be issued a number as your personal reference code. You will need this number to move your information from the eligibility tool to your Express Entry profile.
If you are eligible, you will receive instruction to create an online account to fill out an Express Entry profile. Enter your reference number (if you have one) and enter your personal information, language test details, and National Occupation Classification (NOC Code).
After you submit your Express Entry profile, you will know your score to determine your place in the Express Entry Pool using the Comprehensive Ranking System. Visit this link to see how you are ranked in the express entry pool.
You have 60 days to complete and submit your express entry profile. Your profile is valid for one year, but you can submit another profile if you did not receive an ITA within one year.
Note: Submitting an online Express Entry profile does not guarantee that you will be invited to apply for permanent residence.
Step 2: Apply for Permanent Residence
Applying for a Permanent Resident Visa after receiving an invitation to apply is done through the express entry online system. You will need to fill out the online forms through the account you created while submitting your express entry profile. Scan and upload all your supporting documents as listed above. Pay your application fees and submit your completed application.
- Pay your application fees:
Estimated cost per Adult $1,325 and per child $225. See the breakdown of the fees below. How to make payment & Fees table
Fees | Canadian dollar |
Application Processing fee ($825) and right of permanent residence fee ($500) | $1,325 |
Application without right of permanent residence fee | $825 |
Spouse or partner Processing fee ($825) and right of permanent residence fee ($500) | $1,325 |
Spouse or partner without right of permanent residence fee | $825 |
Include a dependant child | $225 (per child) |
Biometrics
Applicants may be required to give their biometrics for permanent residence applications. Fingerprints and photos will be taken. Visit this link to learn more about how to give your Biometrics. Estimated Cost – $85 CAD Individual, $170 CAD Family.
Processing time
The processing time for a complete PR application is six months. You have 90 days to submit your application.
If your application is successful, you will be required to submit your passport and Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) and a Visa will be issued.
Latest Program Updates
On August 6, 2020, IRCC had a program-specific draw for the FST program. A total of 250 FST candidates were issued invitations to apply for permanent residence.
Express Entry Draw Number for FST | Date | Number of invitations | Lowest CRS score |
#159
| Aug. 6, 2020
| 250 | 415 |
Historical Program Data
FST program was developed in 2013 to address labor shortages of skilled workers and grow the Canadian economy. See the chart below for the number of admissions made between 2013 when the program started and 2016. Data Source: Express Entry Result – Round of Invitations.
Canada - Admission of Federal Skilled Trade Program 2013 - 2016
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