The Federal Skilled Trade Program (FSTP) is one of the three economic immigration streams under the Canada Express Entry. IRCC launched the program to offer a dedicated immigration pathway to skilled trade workers. Under Express Entry, FSTP is an economic program that aims to welcome over 400,000 new immigrants annually, with an average of 11,000 annual immigration spots allocated to Express Entry. The Federal Skilled Trade Program is one of the many ways to pursue immigration to Canada.
The Federal Skilled Trade program was 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 requirements and conducts regular draws targeting federally skilled tradespersons. This program helps to promote labor shortage across trades and occupation sectors in Canada.
To be eligible for Federal Skilled Trade Program, an applicant must:
Applicants need to fulfil the requirements to apply for Federal Skilled Trades program:
An applicant must meet the following work experience requirements such as:
*Note: Applicants must ensure that work experience must be in a country where they are qualified to practice the trade
Language Proficiency
Job offer or certification
An applicant must have:
Sufficient funds
An applicant must demonstrate that an applicant must have enough money to support themselves:
Here is the detail of proof of funds required for number of family members:
| 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 |
Certificate of Qualification
Applicants must have a certificate of qualification or a certificate proving they are qualified to work in certain skilled trades in Canada. This means the applicant must:
Mostly, this certificate is issued by:
*Note: To get a certificate, the provincial, territorial, or Federal authority must assess the applicant’s training, trade experience, and skills to decide if they are eligible to write a certificate exam.
Residency in Canada
An applicant must meet Canada’s admissibility requirements, which assess factors such as criminal history, medical condition, and security risks.
The table has the list of occupations for the Federal Skilled Trade 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 the Federal Skilled Trades Program?
Step 1: Check your eligibility for the FSTP
Step 2: Sort out the requirements
Step 3: Create your profile via the official online tool
Step 4: Submit your Express Entry profile on the IRCC website
Step 5: Receive an ITA
Step 6: Apply for Canada PR
The processing cost to apply for the Federal Skilled Trade Program (FSTP) is around CAD 1,525. Here are the details of the 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) |
The processing time for the Federal Skilled Trades program (FSTP) is around six months, but it may vary depending on when the application was submitted.
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The Federal Skilled Worker Program is an Immigration program designed by Canada to attract foreign skilled professionals who can contribute to the Canadian economy by allowing them to apply for a Canada PR. FSWP allows skilled professionals who have work experience outside Canada and can apply for PR. FSTP targets professionals in sectors like construction, transportation, and manufacturing. Express Entry manages the Federal Skilled Worker Program. It is also one of the significant pathways that address labor shortage while offering workers a chance to build a future in the country.
The Federal Skilled Trade Program (FSTP) point calculator assesses potential immigrants based on factors like:
The table shows how Federal Skilled Trade program applications are evaluated based on the point system. Candidates must 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 |
|
A certification of Qualification is an essential factor to apply for Canada Federal Skilled Trade program. An applicant can get a Certification of Qualification for Federal Skilled Trade Program to obtain a recognized certificate from a Provincial territorial or Federal authority that must assess the applicant's training, trade experience, and skills to decide if you can write a certificate exam.
*Note: Canada does not accept international trade credentials. Applicants must find an appropriate work offer with a foreign trade certificate and acquire a Canadian trade certificate to apply for the certification of Qualification.
Essential points to get an FSTP Certificate of Qualification
Here are some critical points to get FSTP Certificate of Qualification:
It is not mandatory to have a job offer to apply for the Federal skilled trades program. However, it is preferred that the individuals applying for the program have a valid employment offer from a Canadian employer for a minimum of 12 months. Individuals who do not have a job offer must submit proof of qualification to work with a Certificate of qualification from a federal Canadian regulator or a province.
You can improve your Express Entry CRS score while applying through a Federal Skilled Trade Program (FSTP) through:
The general eligibility criteria for the Federal Skilled Trades program are as follows:
The Federal Skilled Worker (FSWP) and the Federal Skilled Trades Programs (FSTP) are two programs managed by the Express Entry system and are two well-known immigration programs for Canada PR. Though Express Entry and the score manage both of the immigration programs are calculated through a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) to choose the eligible candidate, there certain differences as well, such as:
| Criteria | FSWP | FSTP |
| Language Skills | The minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level for the first language should be 7, whereas it should be Level 5 for the second language. | The minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level for a first or second language should be Level 4 for Reading and Writing and Level 5 for Speaking and Listening. |
| Education | Certificate, Degree, or Diploma from a Canadian secondary or post-secondary institution; or Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) from a designated organization of your secondary or post-secondary institution (outside of Canada). | There are no education requirements, but having one can improve your CRS score and rank in the Express Entry system pool |
| Work Experience | Minimum of 1-year full-time, uninterrupted work experience in the last ten years under-skilled occupation skill level A or B or skill type 0; or Canadian job offer following the Labour Impact Assessment criteria. | Minimum of 2 years of full-time, uninterrupted work experience in the last ten years under one of the following groups: |
| • Major Group 72 – Electrical, construction, industrial 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 | ||
| • Minor Group 633 – butchers a | ||
| Target Audience | Skilled professional with managerial or technical experience | Skilled trade worker in a specific occupation |
Yes, you must fulfill the requirement to provide proof of sufficient funds to apply for the Federal Skilled Trades Program FSTP in Canada. In some cases, proof of funds is not required to work in Canada, which is:
Proof of funds is required for FSTP as it is necessary to demonstrate that you have enough funds to support yourself and your family upon arrival in Canada. The proof of funds depends on the size and is periodically updated by IRCC.
No, you cannot stay in Quebec with the Federal Skilled Trades program, as FSTP does not apply to Quebec as a province that manages its skilled immigrant programs. You must apply through the Quebec Skilled Worker Program (QSWP) to work and reside in Quebec. However, if you have a Provincial Nominee from another province, you must reside in that province upon receiving your nomination and subsequent permanent resident status.
FSTP eligibility points asses the eligibility points of the program, whereas the CRS score ranks applicants and offers an ITA for a Canada PR visa in Canada Express Entry.
Below is the difference between FSTP and CRS points system:
| Differences | CRS Points System | Canada FSTP 67-Point System |
| Score | Calculates scores for Express Entry | Initial eligibility calculator to enter Express Entry. |
| Application | 1200 points-based system | 100-point-based system |
| Minimum points required | The minimum number of points or cut-off score required to get an Invitation to apply (ITA) to apply for Canada pr changes for every express entry draw. | A minimum of 67 points is needed to enter the Express Entry pool |
| Cut off score | The recent cut-off score to receive ITA is 505. A CRS score can change depending upon the Draw | Minimum of 67 points |
