Federal Skilled Trades

Federal Skilled Trades (FST)

This is another Express Entry based, Federal Immigration program that is meant for foreign workers who have acquired valuable work experience in one of the eligible Skilled trades. This program is especially helpful because the government can choose to use FST draws in a solitary capacity to manage the job market shortages at different times in a year. Similar to the other Express Entry programs, an FST applicant also creates a profile on the CRS pool and eventually applies for Permanent Residence when he/she receives an Invitation to Apply through one of the Express Entry draws.

Minimum Requirements

1. The program is meant to bring in Skilled trades people into the Canadian economy which is why this program puts an emphasis on Skills acquired On the Job. Accordingly, to be eligible, the Applicant must have a minimum of two years of full-time (or equivalent part-time) work experience in one of the eligible skilled trades, acquired within the last 5 years.

2. The Language proficiency requirements are very basic under this program and an applicant can become eligible if he/she meets or exceeds CLB 4 in Reading and Writing and CLB 5 in Speaking and Listening (in either English or French).

3. Needs to have an Offer/Offers of full-time employment supported by a LMIA (Labor Market Impact Assessment) with a minimum of 1 and a maximum of 2 Canadian employers totalling 1 year of employment and offering atleast 30 hours of work every week.

4. As an alternative to the Job Offer, the applicant can also submit proof of having acquired a Certificate of Qualification, supporting his Skilled trade.

5. The applicant must also meet the proof of funds requirement for supporting his entire migrating family (Proof of Funds requirement is waived if the applicant is already in Canada working legally on a Work Permit or has a qualifying Job Offer from a Canadian Employer)

Applicants wishing to settle in the province of Quebec cannot apply through this program, Quebec has a separate program aimed at inviting Skilled Workers to settle in Quebec.

TEER 2 & 3 groups that are eligible under this program:

*Major Group 72 – technical trades and transportation officers and controllers (Exclusion: 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 (Exclusion: Sub-Major Group 932, aircraft assemblers and aircraft assembly inspectors)

*Minor Group 6320 – Cooks, Butchers and bakers

*Unit Group 62200 – Chefs

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