Federal Skilled
Trades Program (FSTP)
The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) is a Canadian immigration program for skilled foreign workers who have at least 2 years of full-time work experience within 5 years in an eligible skilled trade. Examples of qualifying skilled trades include appliance repairmen, bakers, butchers, carpenters, chefs, crane operators, heavy-duty equipment mechanics, plumbers, sheet metal workers, welders – and more! Foreign tradespeople should also have the necessary post-secondary training relevant for their skilled trade, as well as satisfy the criteria for English or French language skills, good health, good character, etc. Applicants can become permanent residents of Canada through the Express Entry system after meeting all of the FSTP requirements.
Increased Demand for
Tradespeople in Canada
Over the years, Canada’s economy has been growing steadily and this has led to an increased demand for skilled tradespeople. As the economy continues to grow throughout the country, thousands of Canadian job opportunities are being created, particularly in the technical and skilled trade fields.
There is, however, a skills shortage and rising need for skilled workers to take up these new jobs in Canada. For this reason, the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) was developed.
This program aims to help skilled foreign tradespeople who have met the program’s requirements for English/French language abilities, work experience, character, health, training, and other criteria that Canadian employers are looking for to attain permanent residency.
Eligible Skilled Trades
The skilled trades that are eligible under the Federal Skilled Trades Program are found in six groups of the NOC or National Occupational Classification. Every skilled trade is recognized as a Skill Level B occupation and they require the applicant to have completed at least two years of post-secondary education at a vocational school, community college or technology institute, or an apprenticeship or other relevant training for the specific trade.
Below, is a list of the six NOC groups that qualify for the Federal Skilled Trades Program:
- Major Group 72 (industrial, construction and electrical trades)
- Major Group 73 (equipment operation and maintenance trades)
- Major Group 82 (technical jobs and natural resources and agriculture supervisors)
- Major Group 92 (manufacturing, processing and central control operators and utilities supervisors)
- Minor Group 632 (cooks and chefs)
- Minor Group 633 (bakers and butchers)
All of the major NOC groups have Skill Type B skilled trades listed under them. Some examples of the high-demand skilled trades that belong to the NOC Skill Level B and qualify for the Federal Skilled Trades Program include: aircraft inspectors and aircraft mechanics; automotive service technicians and mechanics; cabinetmakers; carpenters; bakers; butchers; chefs; electricians; crane operators; air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics; elevator mechanics and constructors; gas fitters, glaziers; yard and railway locomotive engineers; power engineers and power system operators; ironworkers; heavy-duty equipment mechanics; logging machinery operators; gas and oil well drillers; machinists; plumbers; pipefitters, sprinkler system, and steamfitter installers; supervisors for chemical, gas and petroleum processing and utilities; forest products processing supervisors; tool and die makers; supervisors for quarrying and mining; welders; water and waste treatment plant operators.
FSTP Requirements
To be eligible for the Federal Skilled Trades Program, you must:
- Attain the required language levels for English and French. To prove adequate language skills, foreign workers are required to attain a satisfactory score from an authorized language assessment test like the IELTS for English or the TEF for French. You need to take approved tests for speaking, writing, reading, and listening and the scores must be less than two years old.
- At least two years of full-time work experience in an eligible trade in the past 5 years.
- Proof of Funds – This shows that you have adequate funds for you and your family to settle in Canada. There may be an exception made if you have a valid job offer from a Canadian employer or are presently and legally able to work in Canada.
- Satisfy the health requirements.
In addition, foreign workers may be required to provide police certificates and medical examinations to show their good character and good health. They may also need to be assessed for their skilled trade by the territory or province where they want to live and work in Canada.
Getting an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) may prove handy for skilled tradespeople, since more points could be received on the Express Entry Comprehensive Ranking System. Furthermore, having a positive ECA may be beneficial when applying for jobs in Canada.
You should also note that various fees need to be paid during the process, including medical exam fees, language evaluation tests fees, and the Canadian Visa Application Fee.
Application Procedure
In order to apply for this program, one needs to create an online Express Entry Profile. If an applicant is eligible for the FSTP, they will be placed in the pool of candidates for Express Entry.
To leave this pool and get an Invitation to Apply (ITA), the applicant needs to attain one of the highest scores on the Comprehensive Ranking System, or get a qualifying Canadian job offer or be nominated for a Provincial Nominees Program (PNP).
Once issued with an Invitation to Apply, the candidate will have a maximum of 60 days to present the Canadian immigration agency with a complete Canadian visa application along with the necessary documents and fee(s).
After the Canadian PR Visa application is submitted, it will usually take less than six months for immigration officials to decide whether to approve the applicant for Express Entry. Skilled tradespersons who are approved for Canadian immigration will receive the Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR). Their valid passports will also be stamped with the Canadian visa for permanent residency. The new immigrants will present these documents to the Canadian immigration authorities when they move to Canada.
Benefits of Permanent Residency
Foreign skilled tradespeople and eligible family members who have been approved for Express Entry immigration to Canada via the Federal Skilled Trades Program are eligible for several benefits:
- They can live, work and study in Canada for an unlimited time period
- Option to purchase a home or any other property in Canada
- Access to free public healthcare
- Being allowed to get a driver’s license in the territory or province of residence
- Opportunity to establish a Canadian business
- Sponsor family members to get a Canadian visa
- Open a bank account in Canada
- Become a Canadian citizen after living in Canada for at least 3 years within a 5-year time period and meeting other criteria
- Travel to and from Canada
- Being allowed to live in an immigrant-friendly country that is renowned for its peacefulness, scenery, prosperity, and high living standards
To receive your assessment for a Canadian PR Visa, click here!
