One of the three federal immigration programs controlled by the Express Entry system is the Federal
Skilled Trades (FST) program. Like all Express Entry programs, FST compares applicants to one another
using the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) and only invites the most competitive applicants to
submit applications for Canadian permanent residency.
Through economic initiatives like the Federal Skilled Trades program, almost half of all immigrants to
Canada are skilled workers. The FST program may be a quick way for skilled tradesmen to earn
permanent residency in Canada and, with it, the right to live and work there permanently.
General Eligibility for the Federal Skilled Trades Program
An applicant must have at least two years of full-time work experience in a skilled profession to be
eligible for FST (or an equal amount in part-time). Only work experience received after an individual has
been awarded the certification to perform the trade in their country of residence is taken into account,
and it must have been acquired within the last five years.
The following occupation groupings are considered skilled trades according to Canada's National
Occupational Classification (NOC) code:
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) and Minor Group 633(butchers and
bakers).
So, if you fall under any one of the above categories, Starleaf can assist you in completing the FST
Program. In addition to the primary criteria, there are a few secondary criteria you are required to fulfill
to apply.
- Must possess a certificate of certification in their skilled profession that has been issued by a Canadian
province or territory government, or have a legitimate offer of full-time work for a position lasting at
least 12 months.
- Must Achieve a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level of at least 4 in either English or French.
>Must have the intention of relocating outside of Quebec.
- Candidates should be aware that they must fulfill Canada's fundamental standards for admission. A
person may not be allowed into Canada if they have certain criminal convictions or health issues.
How can we at Starleaf help?
In addition to properly guiding you through the eligibility and doing our utmost best to make sure you
qualify; we will also be with you through the entire procedure. If you fulfill the aforementioned criteria,
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will accept your Express Entry profile. Express Entry
profiles are not a guarantee that applicants will be granted Canadian permanent residency. An applicant
will only get a CRS score and be taken into account for the next Express Entry drawings for Invitations to
Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence after submitting an Express Entry profile.
An FST candidate will need to supply information from numerous sources when submitting an Express
Entry profile:
Results of a language proficiency test
All applicants for the Express Entry programs are required to provide the results of a valid language test
performed within the last two years.
Identification Paperwork
Information from identity documents must be provided by candidates. The candidate and any
accompanying family members should ideally have current passports.
Educational Credentials Assessment (ECA)
Although they are not necessary for FST, an FST applicant must provide a valid ECA report attesting to the
worth of their overseas education in comparison to Canadian norms to receive points for education. For
qualifications earned from a Canadian educational institution, this is not necessary.