Why apply for Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)

The Federal Skilled Trades program is specifically for skilled foreign workers who wish to become Canadian permanent residents, provided they qualify for a skilled trade in Canada. The program was first launched in 2013 to create a distinct pathway for skilled tradespeople. The program maintains streamlined processing, wherein applications are processed within six months. The program does not have specific educational requirements and conducts regular draws targeting Federal skilled tradespeople.

 

What is Canada FSTP?

The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) is one of the three Express Entry-managed immigration programs. Individuals who are looking to apply for Canada PR based on their qualifications and experience in a skilled trade are eligible to apply for the FSTP program. The program helps promote labour shortages across trades and occupations sectors in Canada. Candidates who fulfill the requirements and meet the eligibility criteria for the FSTP program can qualify to apply.    

 

An Overview of the Federal Skilled Trades Program

The table below has the eligibility factors and requirements for the FSTP program:

Factor	Requirement
Language skills	CLB 5 for speaking & listening and CLB 4 for reading & writing
Work experience	2 years of Canadian skilled trade experience
Job offer	Full-time employment offer for at least 12 months
Education	Not compulsory

 

Eligibility Criteria for FSTP

Candidates must fulfill the eligibility criteria given below to apply for the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP):

• Must be proficient in languages (English or French)
• Have work experience in skilled trades
• Have a minimum of two years of work experience
• Have a verified employment offer
• Have a Certificate of Qualification (if required)

 

Federal Skilled Trades Program Points Calculator

Federal skilled trades program applications are evaluated based on a points-based system. Interested candidates are required to score 67 points out of a total of 100 to qualify.

Factor	Maximum points
Age	12 points
Educational Qualification	25 points
Work Experience in NOC skilled occupations	15 points
Arranged Employment	10 points
Language Proficiency	28 points
Adaptability	10 points

 

Federal Skilled Trades Program Requirements

Given below are the eligibility requirements for the Federal Skilled Trades program:

Work experience in skilled trades:

To have eligible work experience, one must:

• Have at least two years of professional experience in a skilled trade occupation. The work must be full-time within five years of applying for the program.  
• The job requirements must be met for the chosen skilled trade.
• Prove that you:

• Have fulfilled the responsibilities given in the job description
• Have attended to most of the major listed duties 

A valid job offer:

You must have a full-time employment offer from a Canadian employer for at least 12 months.

Qualification certificate or Certificate of qualification:

A certificate of qualification or qualification certificate is an official document proving you are qualified to work in any Canadian skilled trade. This document can be submitted by individuals who do not have a job offer in Canada.

To get a certificate of qualification, one must have:

• Cleared the certification exam
• Fulfilled the requirements to be able to work in your trade in any of the Canadian provinces or territories.

Language Proficiency:

• The language test results must be valid for a minimum of 2 years from the date of test results
• The test must be valid during the PR application process.
• The minimum score must be met in English or French languages.

Language	Abilities	Minimum level
English	Speaking and listening	CLB 5
English	Reading and writing	CLB 4
French	Speaking and listening	NCLC 5
French	Reading and writing	NCLC 4

 

The language tests must be taken from any of the approved language tests given in the table:

English	French
CELPIP (General test)	TEF Canada: Test d’évaluation de français
IELTS (General Training)	TCF Canada: Test de connaissance du français
Note: IELTS One Skill Retake is not accepted by the Express Entry
PTE Core

 

Educational qualifications:

There are no specific educational requirements for the FSTP program. However, if you wish to boost your rank in the Express Entry pool, you can submit proof of educational qualifications in any of the ways listed below:

• Proof of Canadian degree, diploma, or Certificate from a Canadian high school or post-secondary institution
• If you have studied outside Canada, you must have the following documents:

• Educational credential
• ECA from a designated organization or proof of education that is equivalent to the Canadian standards

Proof of funds:

Candidates must have the minimum proof of funds required to apply for the program.

Number of family members	Funds you need
	(in Canadian dollars)
1	$14,690
2	$18,288
3	$22,483
4	$27,297
5	$30,690
6	$34,917
7	$38,875
If more than 7 people, for each additional family member	$3,958

 

Admissibility to Canada:

You must be admissible to Canada under the Canadian immigration laws

 

Federal Skilled Trades Program Occupation List

The table below has the list of occupations for the Federal Skilled Trades Program:

NOC groups	Occupation
Major Group 72,	Technical trades and transportation officers and controllers
Excluding Sub-Major Group 726	Transportation officers and controllers
Major Group 73,	General trades
Major Group 82,	Supervisors in natural resources, agriculture and related production
Major Group 83,	Occupations in natural resources and related production
Major Group 92,	Processing, manufacturing and utilities supervisors, and utilities operators and controllers
Major Group 93,	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	Cooks, butchers and bakers
Unit Group 62200	Chefs

 

How to apply for FSTP?

The application process to apply for the Federal Skilled Trades program (FSTP) is as follows:

Step 1: Check if you qualify to apply for the FSTP program

You must ensure you meet the eligibility requirements for the FSTP program and the Express Entry program.

Step 2: Arrange the required FSTP documents 

Gather the documents listed below to start your application process:

• Fully filled application form
• A valid passport
• Proof of identity
• Test results of Language proficiency
• Educational credentials
• Proof of professional work experience
• Evidence of sufficient funds and resources
• Certificate of qualification

Step 3: Create your profile via the official online tool

You can now build your Express Entry profile via the official IRCC website with the help of the online tool.

Step 4: Submit your Express Entry profile within 60 days of creating an account

You must fill out the online Express Entry form and submit it with the checklist of documents within 60 days of account creation. 

Step 5: Receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) upon being selected in the pool

Once your profile enters the Express Entry pool and gets selected, the Canadian government will issue an ITA (Invitation to Apply)

Step 6: Apply for permanent residence in Canada 

You can apply for Canada PR once you receive an ITA

 

FSTP Application Fee

The cost to apply for the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) is around CAD 1,525. The table below has complete information on the FSTP application fees.

Fees	$CAN
For primary applicant:
Processing fee ($950) and right of permanent residence fee ($575)	1,525.00
Your application (without PR fee)	950
For spouse or partner:
Processing fee ($950) and right of permanent residence fee ($575)	1,525.00
Include your spouse or partner (without right of permanent residence fee)	950
Dependent child	260 (per child)

 

FSTP Processing Time

The average processing time for the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) is around six months. However, the processing time may vary depending on when the application was submitted.

 

How can Y-Axis help you?

Y-Axis, the leading overseas immigration consultancy in Canada, has been providing unbiased and customized immigration services for more than 25+ years.  You can get assistance from top industry experts for any of the following services:

• Gathering and filing the checklist of immigration documents
• Filling out the required application forms
• Guidance with the documentation process and filing of petitions
• Bring up to date updates and follow-ups of your application process
• Job search services to help you find relevant jobs in Canada
• Assistance with the Canada PR process