Application eligibility for the Federal Skilled Trades Program (Express Entry)

The FST or Federal Skilled Trades Program is designed for skilled employees who are qualified in a skilled trade and wish to become permanent residents.

Minimum requirement

To be qualified, you must;

• Fulfill the language proficiency requirements for each language ability
• Writing Reading Listening Speaking
• Have worked in a skilled trade full-time or equivalently part-time for at least two years in the five years before applying
• You must have paid work experience (wages or commissions; unpaid internships and voluntary labor do not count)
• Meet the National Occupational Classification requirements for this skilled occupation, excluding the need for a certificate of competence
• Have a legal offer of full-time work for at least one year or a legit certificate/degree of qualification in a skilled trade from a Canadian provincial, territorial, or federal agency

Professional work experience

The National Occupational Classification (NOC) categorizes skilled trades for the Federal Skilled Trades Program into the following groups:

• Group 72, the industrial, electrical, and building trades, is a major occupational group
• Major Group 73 holds Maintenance and Equipment Operation Trades
• Group 82, supervisory and technical occupations in natural resources, agriculture, and production-related industries
• Group 92, Supervisors in the processing, manufacturing, and utility industries, and Central Control Operators
• Minor Group 632 is comprised of chefs and cooks
• Group 633, minor butchers and bakers

The primary NOC groupings are subdivided into a variety of jobs, all of which are skill type B. You must demonstrate that you carried out the responsibilities outlined in the NOC’s lead statement of the occupation’s description. This contains all the essential duties and the majority of the stated primary duties. If you cannot demonstrate that your experience matches the description in the NOC, your application will be denied. Find your occupation’s NOC code, title, and skill type or level. Work experience only counts if you are qualified to practice the occupation independently.

Education

The Federal Skilled Trades Program has no minimum education requirement. Nevertheless, there are two ways to improve your standing in the Express Entry pool.

• If you attended school in Canada, you could receive credit for a Canadian certificate, diploma, or degree: Secondary school (high school) or post-secondary school or
• If you have got a foreign education, you can score points for: a finished foreign credential and an ECA or Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report from an appointed agency demonstrating that your education is equivalent to a completed Canadian certificate, diploma, or degree: Secondary school or post-secondary institution

Language ability

You must;

Meet the minimum score requirements of CBL or Canadian Language Benchmark 5 for speaking and listening and Canadian Language Benchmark 4 for reading and writing; take recognized language tests for writing, reading, listening, and speaking; and include the test results in your Express Entry profile.

Your language tests are valid for two years following the test result date. They must be valid on the date that permanent residence is sought.

Evidence of funds

You must demonstrate that you and your family have sufficient funds to settle in Canada, unless you

You are currently authorized to do work in Canada and have a legitimate job offer from a Canadian business.

Admissibility

You must qualify for entry into Canada.