About Federal Skilled Trades (FST) Program
In 2013 IRCC launched its third Express Entry managed economic immigration program - Federal Skilled Trades (FST). The program allows foreign workers with a worker experience in trades occupation to obtain permanent residence in Canada. Unlike FSW or CEC programs, under Federal Skilled Trades the work experience does not have to be under NOC 0, or A skill level, but rather should be in one of the eligible trades occupations.
The Federal Skilled Worker Program offers a unique opportunity to obtain PR in Canada to those who would otherwise not qualify for Federal Skilled Worker or Canadian Experience Class programs. For example, FST applicants are not required to prove their level of education and as a result may receive lower CRS ranking compared to FSW or CEC applicants. However, this does not necessarily mean that FST applicants don’t stand a chance competing with higher ranked candidates in Express Entry pool. Often IRCC hold FST-specific draws and issues Invitation to Apply only to applicants who qualify for the Federal Skilled Trades program.
So, if you don’t have NOC 0, or A work experience, don’t have enough points to qualify for FSW or CEC, or your CRS score is too low to effectively compete with other candidates in Express Entry pool - consider applying for Federal Skilled Worker Program.
How does the Federal Skilled Trades Program work?
To apply for Permanent Residence in Canada through Federal Skilled Trades Program you must complete the following 5 steps:
Step 1 - Check your eligibility for the Federal Skilled Trades program.
Step 2 - Create an Express Entry Profile.
Once you create the Express Entry Profile you will be assigned a Comprehensive Ranking System score (also know as CRS score). CRS score is a different system used by IRCC to rank your profile. The CRS score is based on a number of factors including your age, previous secondary education, English or French language skills, foreign and Canadian work experience, marital status, adaptability factors, and availability of a provincial nomination. You can get a maximum of 1200 CRS points in the Express Entry System.
Step 3 - Wait for the Invitation to Apply (ITA).
All applicants with a valid Express Entry profile are automatically added to a pool of candidates and are ranked based on their CRS score. Approximately twice a month IRCC issues an Invitation to Apply (ITA) to the highest ranked candidates in the Express Entry pool.
Step 4 - Prepare and submit an Electronic Application for Permanent Residence (eAPR).
Once you receive an Invitation to Apply you must prepare and submit an Electronic Application for Permanent Residence (eAPR). You will have only 60 days to collect all supporting documents, complete the immigration application forms and submit your eAPR.
Step 5 - Receive your Confirmation of Permanent Residence and complete your landing in Canada.
If and when your application for Permanent Residence in Canada is approved you will need to obtain an immigrant visa and complete your landing process in Canada. Only after you officially complete your landing procedure you will obtain a status of a Permanent Resident.
Eligibility for Federal Skilled Trades Program
To apply for Permanent Residence in Canada under the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) Program you must have enough funds to satisfy the Proof of Funds (POF) requirements, you must intend to reside outside the province of Quebec, be admissible to Canada and meet the following minimum eligibility requirements:
Language skills
It is required that all Federal Skilled Trades applicants know at least one of the Canada’s official languages, either English or French. Your language abilities will be assessed by IRCC through one of the official language tests: CELPIP: Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program, IELTS: International English Language Testing System, TEF Canada: Test d’évaluation de français, or TCF Canada: Test de connaissance du français.
| 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 |
Work Experience in Trades Occupations
To be eligible for the Federal Skilled Worker program you must have at least two years of paid full-time work experience or an equivalent amount in part-time work experience in a skilled trade within the 5 years before you apply for the FST. All eligible skilled trades are organized in the following NOC B groups:
| Group | Description |
|---|---|
| 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 |
KEEP IN MIND
You must be able to prove that you 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.
The work experience only counts after you qualified to independently practice the occupation.
On November 16, 2022, IRCC will be switching the manner that they assess work experience. In particular, IRCC will switch from the previous NOC 2016 to the NOC 2021 structure.
The five groups of the NOC system - NOC 0, A, B, C and D will change to six groups under TEER – a new classification system that recognizes an individual’s Training, Education, Experience and Responsibility. You can search for the NOC 2021 versions that will take affect on November 16, 2021 here and selecting NOC 2021 under the drop down menu for version.
Other job-related FSW Requirements
On top of having relevant skilled trade work experience you must meet the job requirements for your skilled trade as set out in the NOC, except for needing a certificate of qualification. Furthermore, you must have either a valid full-time job offer for at least 1-year, or a certificate of qualification in your skilled trade issued by a Canadian provincial, territorial or federal authority.
As you work on meeting the minimum FST eligibility requirements it is likely that you will have to go to the province or territory to be assessed for the trade you’re working in. The general information about obtaining an assessment from the province or territory is normally contained on the website of the body that regulates trades for the province or territory where you plan to settle:
Level of Education
Similarly to CEC, there is no minimum level of education required to be eligible for Federal Skilled Trades (FST). However, in order to rank higher among other FST candidates in the Express Entry pool you might want to have your educational documents undergo an Educational Credentials Assessment (ECA) with one of the designated assessment organizations. The ECA is required only for educational credentials obtained outside Canada, and you won’t need an ECA if you completed your education in a Canadian educational institution.
If your trade is not regulated by the province
It is possible that your trade is federally regulated (for example, airplane mechanic). You can learn who regulates your trade in Canada by checking the website of the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials.
Preparing your own Express Entry application may be quite challenging - you’ll need to collect numerous forms, supporting documents, and make sure there are no inconsistencies in your information. That is why, it might be a great idea to retain an immigration lawyer to go with you over your application and proofread it before you send it off to IRCC. However, not all applicants can afford the legal fees for retaining an immigration lawyer in Canada…
This is why we created a complete video Express Entry guide and instructions. This is a video course that will take you step by step through the process of preparing and submitting your application.
This Express Entry Course is a one of a kind online immigration lawyer guided course that is full of video tutorials, checklists, templates, and sample documents all designed to make your Express Entry process as effortless as possible while giving you the tools you need to ensure your application is prepared correctly the first time because there are rarely second chances.