Close
  • 7015 Tranmere Dr Unit-08, Mississauga, ON L5S 1T7
  • [email protected]
  • Mon - Fri : 10:00 to 18:00

Any Questions? Call us

+1 905-462-9000

Book an Appointment

Federal skilled trades

feature image

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) started accepting permanent residence applications under its widely anticipated Federal Skilled Trades Program on January 2nd, 2013. 

 

Under the Federal Skilled Trades Class, eligibility is assessed on a pass or fail basis, and applicants must satisfy the following four requirements.

  • Have employment offers from one or two Canadian employers for a period of at least one year in an eligible skilled trade (NOC Skill Level B), OR hold certification from a Canadian provincial or territorial regulatory authority for that trade.
  • Provide evidence of sufficient linguistic competence in one of Canada's two official languages.
  • Have 24 months of professional experience in the last five years in the field of skilled trade, after being qualified as a professional, where applicable.
  • Be qualified, as defined by the NOC, to meet the requirements of the job offer(s) or trade in Canada.
  • The Federal Skilled Trades Class is not open to applicants wishing to establish themselves in the province of Quebec, which can select applicants in its own right.

Certification or Offer of Employment

In Canada, trade certification comes under provincial jurisdiction. Each province specifies which occupations will be governed and, where applicable, creates regulatory bodies. It is often difficult to obtain provincial certification from outside Canada and accordingly, this program would be most useful for traders who receive an authorized offer of employment from a recognized employer or who are already employed as temporary foreign workers in Canada.


Not all trades are regulated in all provinces, and applicants can perform the duties of those jobs without obtaining a trade certificate/license from the province.


Tradesmen who receive an accepted offer of employment from a Canadian employer for one year or more in their trade are also eligible to apply. The offer of jobs will be analyzed to ensure that it is an eligible trade and that the hiring will have a neutral impact on the Canadian labor market.

Requirement for Language

Applicants must provide proof of at least basic English or French language skills for all four language skills, including speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Only test results from an IRCC-designated language testing organization will be accepted to determine proficiency.

FST Application Procedure

If a person meets these requirements, a candidate can submit their profile to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Submitting an Express Entry profile does not guarantee that Canadian permanent residence will be given to an applicant. An applicant will be given a CRS score only after submitting an Express Entry profile and will be considered for permanent residence in future Express Entry drawings for Invitations to Apply (ITAs).
An FST applicant will be expected to include details from multiple documents when submitting an Express Entry profile:
Test results for Language Proficiency
All Express Entry applicants must include the results of an accepted language test taken within the previous two years.
Identification of Documents
Candidates will need to provide detailed identity documents. Applicant and all accompanying family members should have passports valid for travel.

While educational documents for FST are not needed, an applicant must have certain documentation to claim education points:
Educational Credentials Assessment (ECA)

To receive points for education, an FST applicant must have a credible ECA report attesting to the importance of international education by Canadian standards. Five organizations are approved to issue ECA reports in Canada. However, this is not necessary for education certificates obtained from a Canadian educational institution.


The lowest-ranked FST nominee to earn an ITA has had a CRS score of 199 points since the Express Entry system was introduced in 2015. If the CRS score of an applicant is below this score, they should actively seek options to increase their score.

Quick Links

Temporary Residence

Permanent Residence