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
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.
Federal Skilled Trades Program – Eligibility Summary
To qualify under the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), you must:
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Meet minimum language requirements:
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CLB 5 for speaking and listening, CLB 4 for reading and writing (English or French)
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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
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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
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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
Skilled Work Experience
You must have:
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At least 2 years of full-time work experience (or equivalent part-time experience) in a skilled trade within the last 5 years.
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Experience that:
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Is paid (wages or commission — volunteer or unpaid work does not count).
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Was obtained legally in a country where you were authorized to practice the trade.
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Aligns with one eligible NOC group (see below).
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Includes most of the main duties and responsibilities listed in the NOC.
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Matches the lead statement of the NOC description.
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Eligible NOC Trade Groups (2021 NOC):
Group Type | NOC Group | Description | Note |
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Major Group | Group 72 | Industrial, electrical, and construction trades | ❌ Excludes Sub-Major Group 726 – Transportation officers and controllers |
Major Group | Group 73 | General trades (maintenance and equipment operation) | ✅ |
Major Group | Group 82 | Supervisors in natural resources, agriculture, and production | ✅ |
Major Group | Group 83 | Agriculture and related production | ✅ |
Major Group | Group 92 | Manufacturing and utilities | ✅ |
Major Group | Group 93 | Central control process operators & aircraft assembly inspectors | ❌ Excludes Sub-Major Group 932 – Production & manufacturing labourers |
Minor Group | 63200 | Chefs and cooks | ✅ |
Minor Group | 62200 | Butchers and bakers | ✅ |
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
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Definition: 30 hours per week, continuously
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Duration: 30 hours/week × 52 weeks/year × 2 years = 3,120 hours
🔹 Part-Time Work
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You can combine multiple part-time jobs to meet the 3,120-hour requirement.
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For example:
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15 hours/week × 4 years = 3,120 hours
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20 hours/week + 10 hours/week (from a second job) over 2 years = 3,120 hours
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🔹 Maximum Weekly Cap
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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
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Unpaid or volunteer work does not qualify (you must be paid wages or commission).
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Student work experience (e.g., co-ops or internships completed while enrolled in school) is not eligible, even if paid.
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Work must have been performed in a country where you were authorized and qualified to practice that trade.
Job Offer or Certification
To be eligible under the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), you must have one of the following:
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A valid full-time job offer in your skilled trade for at least one year, OR
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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:
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Successfully passed a trade certification exam
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Fulfilled all requirements to practice that trade in the province or territory where the certificate was issued
Certificates are granted by:
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The provincial or territorial trade regulatory authority, or
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A federal authority, if applicable
Getting Assessed for a Certificate
Before receiving a certificate, the relevant authority will evaluate your:
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Training
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Work experience
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Skills
This assessment determines whether you’re eligible to take the trade certification exam.
Things to keep in mind:
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You may be required to travel to Canada to complete the assessment.
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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:
- Alberta
- British Columbia
- Manitoba
- New Brunswick
- Newfoundland and Labrador
- Northwest Territories
- Nova Scotia
- Nunavut
- Ontario
- Prince Edward Island
- Saskatchewan
- Yukon
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).
Language Proficiency
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Language proficiency:
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You must:
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Take an approved English or French language test
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Meet these minimum scores:
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Speaking and Listening: CLB 5
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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:
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Canadian education: Points for certificates, diplomas, or degrees.
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Foreign education: You need an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) for immigration purposes.
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:
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are currently legally authorized to work in Canada, and
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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. |
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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 |
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.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Resources
- For the latest updates on the Federal Skilled Worker Program, visit the official IRCC website.
- For the latest Express Entry draw results, including category-based and general draws, visit the official IRCC page.
- Learn more about Express Entry programs
- Express Entry Draws