Federal Skilled Trades Program
Canada’s Federal Skilled Trades Program offers permanent residence to skilled workers who are qualified in a skilled trade.
It is managed through the Express Entry system. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducts draws aimed specifically at Federal Skilled Trades Program candidates.
The following jobs qualify for the Federal Skilled Trades Program under the National Occupational Classification:
- 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.
Federal Skilled Trades Program Requirements
1) Language
Candidates are required to have Canadian Language Benchmark 5 for speaking and listening, and 4 for reading and writing in either English or French.
2) Work Experience
Candidates must have at least two years or full-time work experience, or an equal amount of part-time work experience, in a skilled trade (see above) within the last five years.
The work experience only counts after the candidate is qualified to independently practice the occupation.
Candidates must meet the job requirements as set out in the National Occupational Classification, except for needing a certificate of qualification.
3) Job Offer
Candidates must either:
- Have a valid job offer of full-time employment lasting at least 1 year.
- Have a certificate of qualification in that skilled trade issued by a Canadian provincial, territorial or federal authority.
4) Education
There are no formal education requirements for the Federal Skilled Trades Program. However, candidates can add their education credentials to their Express Entry profiles to increase their score, making them more likely to receive an Invitation to Apply.
5) Proof of Funds
Candidates must show they have the required funds to settle in Canada.