Federal Skilled Trades Program ( FSTP) – Immigrate to Canada

Pathway to Permanent Residency for Skilled Trades Workers

The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) is one of the three immigration programs under Canada’s Express Entry system, specifically designed for experienced tradespeople seeking permanent residency based on their qualifications in a skilled trade.

Table of Contents – Federal Skilled Trades Program
Federal Skilled Trades Program Canada

Federal Skilled Trades Program – Immigrate to Canada

What Is the Federal Skilled Trades Program?

Launched in 2013, the Federal Skilled Trades Program offers skilled trade professionals a direct route to Canadian permanent residence. It addresses ongoing labour shortages in key sectors like construction, manufacturing, natural resources, and transportation.

This program is ideal for individuals with hands-on training and experience, including apprenticeships. Federal Skilled Trades Program candidates can often obtain permanent residency in six months or less once they receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) through Express Entry.

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Federal Skilled Trades Program – Eligibility Summary

To qualify under the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), you must:

  • Meet minimum language requirements:

    • CLB 5 for speaking and listening, CLB 4 for reading and writing (English or French)

  • Have at least 2 years of full-time work experience
    (or equivalent part-time) in a skilled trade within the last 5 years

  • Meet all job requirements for that trade as per the NOC, except the certificate requirement

  • Have one of the following:

    • A valid full-time job offer (from up to two employers) for at least 1 year, or
    • A certificate of qualification issued by a Canadian province, territory, or federal authority

  • Work experience must be:

    • In an eligible NOC trade group
    • Paid (wages or commission)
    • Gained legally in a country where you were authorized to work in that trade
    • Can be non-continuous, but must total 3,120 hours (if full-time)
    • Acquired after qualifying for the trade

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Skilled Work Experience

You must have:

  • At least 2 years of full-time work experience (or equivalent part-time experience) in a skilled trade within the last 5 years.

  • Experience that:

    • Is paid (wages or commission — volunteer or unpaid work does not count).

    • Was obtained legally in a country where you were authorized to practice the trade.

    • Aligns with one eligible NOC group (see below).

    • Includes most of the main duties and responsibilities listed in the NOC.

    • Matches the lead statement of the NOC description.

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Eligible NOC Trade Groups (2021 NOC):

Group TypeNOC GroupDescriptionNote
Major GroupGroup 72Industrial, electrical, and construction trades❌ Excludes Sub-Major Group 726 – Transportation officers and controllers
Major GroupGroup 73General trades (maintenance and equipment operation)✅
Major GroupGroup 82Supervisors in natural resources, agriculture, and production✅
Major GroupGroup 83Agriculture and related production✅
Major GroupGroup 92Manufacturing and utilities✅
Major GroupGroup 93Central control process operators & aircraft assembly inspectors❌ Excludes Sub-Major Group 932 – Production & manufacturing labourers
Minor Group63200Chefs and cooks✅
Minor Group62200Butchers and bakers✅

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How Work Hours Are Counted for FSTP Eligibility?

To meet the minimum work experience requirement (2 years), you must accumulate at least 3,120 hours of paid work experience in an eligible skilled trade within the 5 years before you apply.

Here’s how IRCC allows you to count those hours:

🔹 Full-Time Work

  • Definition: 30 hours per week, continuously

  • Duration: 30 hours/week × 52 weeks/year × 2 years = 3,120 hours

🔹 Part-Time Work

  • You can combine multiple part-time jobs to meet the 3,120-hour requirement.

  • For example:

    • 15 hours/week × 4 years = 3,120 hours

    • 20 hours/week + 10 hours/week (from a second job) over 2 years = 3,120 hours

🔹 Maximum Weekly Cap

  • Important: Any work done beyond 30 hours/week is not counted toward the required hours — even if it was paid.

❌ Work That Doesn’t Count

  • Unpaid or volunteer work does not qualify (you must be paid wages or commission).

  • Student work experience (e.g., co-ops or internships completed while enrolled in school) is not eligible, even if paid.

  • Work must have been performed in a country where you were authorized and qualified to practice that trade.

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Job Offer or Certification

To be eligible under the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), you must have one of the following:

  • A valid full-time job offer in your skilled trade for at least one year, OR

  • A Certificate of Qualification issued by a Canadian provincial, territorial, or federal authority

What is a Certificate of Qualification?

This certificate confirms that you’re officially licensed to work in your skilled trade in Canada. It shows that you:

  • Successfully passed a trade certification exam

  • Fulfilled all requirements to practice that trade in the province or territory where the certificate was issued

Certificates are granted by:

  • The provincial or territorial trade regulatory authority, or

  • A federal authority, if applicable

Getting Assessed for a Certificate

Before receiving a certificate, the relevant authority will evaluate your:

  • Training

  • Work experience

  • Skills

This assessment determines whether you’re eligible to take the trade certification exam.

Things to keep in mind:

  • You may be required to travel to Canada to complete the assessment.

  • You might also need a Canadian employer to help you gain experience or training.

Each province and territory sets its own criteria and process for certification.

👉 To begin, visit the official trade regulatory website of the province or territory where you plan to live and work:

If Your Trade Is Federally Regulated

Some trades (e.g., aircraft mechanics) are regulated federally instead of provincially. In these cases, you’ll need to follow the assessment process outlined by the federal authority.

📌 You can check which authority regulates your trade through the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials (CICIC).

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Language Proficiency

To be eligible for the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) under Canada’s Express Entry system, you must meet the following minimum requirements:

  • Language proficiency:

    • You must:

      • Take an approved English or French language test

      • Meet these minimum scores:

        • Speaking and Listening: CLB 5

        • Reading and Writing: CLB 4

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Education (Optional for Eligibility)

FSTP has no formal education requirement.
However, to increase your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score in Express Entry:

  • Canadian education: Points for certificates, diplomas, or degrees.

  • Foreign education: You need an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) for immigration purposes.

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Proof of Funds

To meet the requirements of the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), you must demonstrate that you have sufficient funds to support yourself and your family upon settling in Canada.

You do not need to show proof of funds if you:

  • are currently legally authorized to work in Canada, and

  • have a valid job offer from a Canadian employer.

Minimum Necessary Income (MNI)
This table shows the minimum amount you need to immigrate to Canada.
Number of
family members		LICO – 6 Months (2024)LICO – 12 Months (2024)
1 Person$14,690$29,380
2 persons$18,288$36,576
3 persons$22,483$44,966
4 persons$27,297$54,594
5 persons$30,690$61,920
6 persons$34,917$69,834
7 persons$38,875$77,750
If more than 7 people, for each additional family member$3,958$7,916
You may use the LICO table for both settlement funds and minimum necessary income. Here are some examples.
* FSWP & FSTP – 6-month LICO for settlement funds
* Super visa for parents and grandparents – 12-month LICO for minimum income
* Start-Up Visa – 6-month LICO for immigration, 12-month LICO for work permit
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Admissibility

To immigrate to or enter Canada, you must be admissible.

Some individuals may be barred from entering Canada for various reasons.
Common grounds for inadmissibility include security concerns, criminal history, and medical issues that could pose a risk to public health or safety or place an excessive demand on health or social services.

If you are found inadmissible, you may be denied entry or refused immigration status.

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Where You Can Live in Canada

When immigrating through federal programs, you must intend to live outside the province of Quebec.
Quebec manages its own immigration programs and independently selects skilled workers.
If you are planning to settle in Quebec, you must apply through the Quebec-selected skilled worker program.

When completing your immigration profile, you will be asked where you intend to live in Canada.
However, you are not obligated to settle in the province or territory you initially select in your profile.

Important:
If you immigrate through a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), you are expected to live and work in the province or territory that nominated you.

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Frequently Asked Questions

The FSTP is one of Canada’s Express Entry immigration pathways designed for skilled tradespeople. It allows eligible applicants to become permanent residents based on hands-on work experience in certified trades.

You must take an approved English or French test. Minimum scores:

  • CLB 5 for speaking and listening

  • CLB 4 for reading and writing
    Your test results must be less than two years old at the time you apply for permanent residence.

You must have at least 2 years (3,120 hours) of full-time or equivalent part-time paid work experience in a skilled trade within the last 5 years. The experience must be:

  • In an eligible NOC trade group

  • Paid (wages or commission)

  • Gained while you were qualified to practice in that location

You need a full-time job offer of at least 30 hours/week for a minimum of one year. It can be from up to two employers. Most job offers require an LMIA unless exempt.

This certificate proves you’re officially licensed to work in a specific skilled trade in Canada. It’s issued by a provincial/territorial or federal authority after you meet their requirements and pass a trade exam.

You must be assessed by the provincial or federal trade authority. This may require:

  • Documenting your work and training

  • Writing a certification exam in Canada

  • Possibly working with a Canadian employer to gain additional experience

If your trade is federally regulated (e.g., aircraft mechanics), certification is handled nationally. Visit the CICIC website for more.

Yes, unless you already have:

  • A valid job offer, and

  • Are legally working in Canada

Otherwise, you must show you can support yourself and your family.

Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) allow provinces to nominate immigration candidates. If you receive a nomination, it adds 600 CRS points to your Express Entry profile—almost guaranteeing an invitation for PR. You can apply directly to a province or through the Express Entry pool.

Yes. Entering the Express Entry pool makes you eligible for PNPs and targeted draws. It’s free to create a profile and gives you a chance at future opportunities.

  • Complete an ECA for foreign education

  • Gain work or study experience in Canada

  • Retake language tests for higher scores

  • Use your spouse/partner as the principal applicant if their score is higher

Trades include roles like electricians, welders, carpenters, and cooks. Over 300 trades are recognized, with 54 Red Seal trades allowing mobility across provinces.

No degree is required. But having educational credentials (especially from Canada or with an ECA) can boost your CRS score.

The Red Seal is a national trade certification allowing certified tradespeople to work anywhere in Canada without further exams. It applies to 50+ trades.

Typically 3–5 years, including:

  • 6,000–9,000 hours of hands-on training

  • 8–12 weeks of in-class training per level

Contact the trade authority in your chosen province (e.g., Skilled Trades Ontario). You may need to submit work history, proof of training, and pass an exam. Some trades offer Red Seal exams for added mobility.

Yes. Canada needs over 250,000 new apprentices in coming years due to retirements and industry growth. High-demand trades include electricians, pipefitters, heavy equipment operators, and welders.

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Related Resources

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