The Federal Skilled Trades program (FST) is a designated pathway within the Express Entry system for skilled tradespeople to obtain permanent residency in Canada. This program prioritizes individuals with relevant skills and experience to address ongoing labor shortages in skilled trades professions across the country.
Eligible candidates are assessed and ranked in the Express Entry pool based on a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. This point-based system considers factors such as work experience, education, language proficiency, and other relevant criteria. Only the highest-ranked candidates receive invitations to apply for Canadian permanent residency through the FST program.
Here’s the revised text for the “FST Program Requirements” section, adhering to the principles of informativeness, neutrality, and formality:
Eligibility for the Federal Skilled Trades Program
To be eligible for the Federal Skilled Trades (FST) program, candidates must meet the following minimum requirements:
- Work experience: At least two years of full-time, or equivalent part-time, work experience in a skilled trade within the past five years.
- Certification: Possession of a valid trade certificate or license issued by a recognized authority in the candidate’s country of residence.
- Recent experience: The required work experience must have been obtained after the candidate has been granted the certification to practice the trade.
| Major Group | Job Category |
|---|---|
| 72 | industrial, electrical and construction trades |
| 73 | maintenance and equipment operation trades |
| 82 | supervisors and technical jobs in natural resources, agriculture and related production |
| 92 | processing, manufacturing and utilities supervisors and central control operators |
| 632 | chefs and cooks |
| 633 | butchers and bakers |
Additional Eligibility Requirements for the Federal Skilled Trades Program
While possessing the necessary work experience is crucial, meeting other FST program requirements is equally essential. These include:
- Canada Employment Connection: Candidates must either have:
- A valid offer of full-time employment for a position lasting at least 12 months, or
- A certificate of qualification in their skilled trade issued by a Canadian provincial or territorial authority.
- Language proficiency: Candidates must demonstrate English or French language proficiency by achieving at least a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 4 on an approved test.
- Residence in Canada: Candidates must intend to live outside of the province of Quebec.
It’s important to note that meeting these requirements does not guarantee automatic eligibility. Candidates must also meet Canada’s basic admissibility requirements. Certain criminal convictions and medical conditions may render an individual inadmissible to Canada.
Applying for the Federal Skilled Trades Program
Steps to Apply
- Eligibility Assessment: Begin by carefully reviewing the FST program requirements to ensure you meet the criteria for work experience, language proficiency, connection to Canada, and admissibility.
- Express Entry Profile Creation: If eligible, create an Express Entry profile on the IRCC website. This profile will collect details about your skills, experience, language abilities, and other relevant information.
- CRS Score Calculation: Upon profile submission, you will be assigned a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score based on factors such as age, education, work experience, language skills, and others.
- Invitation to Apply (ITA): IRCC holds periodic Express Entry draws, where candidates with the highest CRS scores receive invitations to apply (ITAs) for permanent residency.
- Comprehensive Application Submission: If you receive an ITA, you will have a limited time to submit a comprehensive application package, including supporting documents and fees.
Required Documents
- Language Proficiency Test Results: Provide results from an approved language test taken within the past two years, demonstrating English or French proficiency at a minimum of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 4.
- Identification Documents: Submit valid identification documents for yourself and any accompanying family members, ideally valid passports for travel.
- Educational Credentials Assessment (ECA) (Optional): If you wish to claim points for education, provide a valid ECA report from an authorized organization, attesting to the value of your foreign education by Canadian standards. This is not required for credentials obtained from Canadian institutions.
Official Information: For the most up-to-date information and detailed application procedures, always refer to the official IRCC website: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/immigration-citizenship.html: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/immigration-citizenship.html